A General, Non-Specific Tribute to Two Thousand Eleven.

Generally at this time of year, I’m ready to say farewell to the current year without looking back.  I’m not one to look regretfully on time passed and wish for something different.  I’m a proponent of looking forward and savoring anticipation as it approaches.  This year didn’t start out well – I was rather depressed about my upcoming 38th birthday and I seemed to be tired all the time.  I started to think that I was going to need some drastic changes in order to be happy.  So right around April, after my birthday, things started to change.

As I worked on a new life plan, things started falling into place.  I focused more at work, lost a bunch of weight, and decided that my new life plan was to be happy with myself and to live with joy, no matter where I was or who I was with or not with. (I’m glossing over the gory details, which are banal and uninteresting, generally speaking) And then!  Then.  I decided that you know what?  I like where I am and what I am doing.  I like who I am.  And even if my life situation never changes, that is okay, because I am happy.  Just like this! 

Two weeks later, I made a peanut butter pie and long story short, I met this really wonderful, amazing person!  BAM.  It happened kind of suddenly and completely unexpectedly and totally knocked me off my feet, to be honest.     But what a pleasant surprise!

So for me, 2011 is going to be a year that I remember forever as being the year that I found true happiness in myself, and then was so fortunate to share that happiness with someone else.  I’m looking back on it, not with regret, but to savor the good moments.  I’ve never quite had a year so wonderful as 2011.  But if your 2011 was not wonderful, don’t sweat it.  Your year is coming up.  I promise. 

Whether you will remember 2011 with fondness or with chagrin, I wish you all a very happy new start in the new year!  Eat well, friends!