New Year, New Lessons

Dear 2017,

 I feel like I owe you an apology. You see, I've been secretly cursing you under my breath for months, blaming you for hard times I've had and times when I've felt not quite enough. In reality, those things were never your fault. Nobody is to blame, if I want to be perfectly honest, because stuff just happens and much of it is out of our control.

 So, instead, I'd like to thank you, 2017, for all the hard lessons that I've learned from you. I may not have seen it coming, and some of those lessons hit hard, but it is hard to deny that I've grown in the process. It's easy to be grateful for all of the wonderful things we have, but it has been an uphill climb to be appreciative for the times that I didn't choose to experience.

 Thank you, 2017, for teaching me that sometimes my strengths need to be challenged in order for me to remember that I don't have to be perfect. Thank you for reminding me that there will always be circumstances that are out of my control and that it is my reaction to those situations that can make the world of difference (for me and those around me). Thank you for continuing to offer me days that only have 24 hours so that I am forced to make a conscious decision with regard to how I spend my precious time. Thank you for putting me on a constant path of difficult decisions so that I may hone my skills.

 But most of all, thank you for providing me with the opportunity to meet and connect with people all of the time, whether they bring me joy or sadness. The truth of the matter is, our connections with others, positive or negative, provide us all with the chance to grow and develop as humans. The relationships that I choose to cultivate and nourish lift me up and be the best that I can be. There are people I come into contact with who do not necessarily support me, but I continue to believe that they contribute just as much, if not more, to who I am and who I am becoming. Everyone who touches our lives leaves an impression, and it is up to each and every one of us to make the most of that imprint.

 I've learned a lot in 2017, and I intend to open myself up to learning a whole lot more in 2018. I feel more prepared, more focused and more ready to stand my ground. That is the gift of each new year... an opportunity to build on the lessons learned and become the person I want to be.

 Dear 2018...


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