This year has passed by literally faster than any year of my life (at least those I was old enough to remember).
I'm not sure why, I guess probably because there was so much change and I was just so busy. I learned so much in 2011. The last couple of years have pretty much defined the person I am today.
Just a few things I've done this year:
Became a runner
Learned to scuba dive and dove with sharks
Got engaged and married
Got my masters degree
Traveled further than I've ever traveled, pretty much across the globe
Became debt-free and financially secure
Did my first presentation at a regional conference
Completed my first Triathlon...then did another one
Completed my first 5K....then did another one
Etcetera, etcetera.
I can probably think of more but it's making me tired just looking at it! It's been a wonderful year, and a year of my life I will never forget. I am so incredibly blessed. I know that God had all of this in the plans for my life, and more in 2012. I just needed to understand what he was offering to me and learn how to respect my life.
I am finally in a place where I can do his work: meaning I am aware and grateful and safe - things that can have a major difference in your daily well-being and health.
I no longer care about what people think about me, because I am confident in myself. I know that I am making the right decisions and I am comfortable with that. I do not participate in gossip, drama, or any other negativity that surrounds us. I am not so sensitive - I know how to carefully react to others and how to guard my emotions. I am careful about my actions and choices.
Looking back, there are many choices I wish I wouldn't have made, and things I wish I could re-do. For example, if I had the choice to re-do high school I would do it all completely differently. But I wasn't in a place emotionally to do it then. There are things I didn't know. I love myself and now I feel sorry for the me I was as a child and in high school. Instead of feeling embarrassed or ashamed of my actions, I feel sorry for that rebellious girl and I have compassion for her. I understand why she acted the way she did.
Now I understand how she then, later, got caught up with a rebellious young man and married him. Another choice I wish I could take back (and I did, by divorcing him), but again, I wouldn't be who I am today if I hadn't been through that. I am just so glad I was able to grow and learn and come out of it all (relatively) unscathed.
All the information I have now arms me with what I need to make a positive difference in the world. I know how to help my students, and I have the information I need to be a great parent someday as well. God was carrying me then, just as he has carried me through the last couple years of my life.
Thank you so much to all of my wonderful family and friends who have also surrounded me during these last few years!
Thank you to my wonderful husband, Kyle, who has given so much of himself to make me happy: Safety, comfort, friendship, laughter, and so much love.
I am so looking forward to 2012.
Blackbird
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,
