2012

Another year down!

2012 was one of those "eh" years. Nothing earth shatteringly great, no real surprises, no real hardships. So all in all, not so bad. I ended with a few too many speeding tickets (ironic, considering I'm not a fast driver, but I do live in a small town, surrounded by small towns, with very slow speed limits.)

Dustin is a senior in college and Haley is a senior in high school, and I am mostly an empty nester. Dustin has been home for the holidays with a month off, and WOW....I forgot how quickly a room can be trashed. Takes minutes. Literally. And I have gotten used to laundry/shopping/cooking for one. I did laundry for an entire day over the weekend. Piles of it. Like old times.

It was a good election year, with a lot of BAD politics. Crazy stuff going on there and we stand divided as a country. That, is truly sad.

My New Year's resolution is relatively simple. I'd like to practice more yoga. It does wonders for my spirit/mind/body as it is expected to do, and I have neglected my personal practice. I can change that.

I will bring in the first four months of 2013 painting Georgia O'Keeffe inspired paintings and loving every minute of it. This is the most excited I have been about painting in a year. Nothing like a fresh, exciting project to fire me up.

Embrace your friends and your family, because it's really true that they can walk out of your life at any moment, either by choice, by illness or death or by relocating. Funny how quickly it can happen, and it's always crushingly sad.

I've learned that boundaries are important. And as long as you set your own boundaries, they are absolutely right. Self-respect is always more important than pleasing others. To thine own self....and all that. A great quote that was given to me a few months ago, to which I cannot determine an author, goes" Give the gift of your absence to those who do not appreciate your presence." That one gives me peace.

Happy 2013, hope springs eternal, let's make it memorable!