2018 – Finding (and Sometimes Losing) Momentum

by | Dec 31, 2018 | 50 before 50, All About Family, All About Indiana, All About Me, All of Us, Bucket List, Florida Dreaming, Redefining Perfect

Honestly, until last year, I’ve never picked a word for the year before. Not for lack of trying, but being the verbose nut that I am…coming up with just one word for a whole year seemed impossible.

Then, last year at the end of 2017 – a pretty darn good year where I kicked a few bucket list items out of the park, after I’d planned for some big things in 2018…I kept hearing this one word in my head.

MOMENTUM.

I thought that’s just too weird a word for an annual selection.

Still, the word kept coming back to me…and so, I ran with it.

A friend of mine does word art for year words and so I requested she make me some art with this crazy off-the-wall word.

And boy…what a YEAR it has been!  There’s been ups and downs, all with such high intensity.

Books were released and re-released.

Friendships were ended.

Friendships were deepened.

We decided to make a HUGE change in our lives and are now planning to move to Florida to be near our son – and we’re working on it. Hard.

Our washer went out.

Erik had some pretty hefty health concerns.

I took big steps to further my career and learning.

I took a step back from writing.

My momentum crashed somewhere around September…and sort of went in reverse for a while.

I bordered on depression, but didn’t feel tipped over the edge.

I got to see my son 3 times – but didn’t get to see Florida once (~sigh~)

I found a great challenge near the end of the year to help me deepen my faith.

I quit smoking.

I failed to quit pop.

I’ve begun to refocus on my Oola again.

I’ve been up beyond ups….and pretty damn down at some times.  This year passed by like it was on warp factor 9.9 with no time to breathe sometimes.  I overworked myself, and then underworked myself. I struggled to find happy mediums, but happily spent some time in peace and quiet.

It’s been time to pick my word for 2019 again for a little while – and I did so about a month ago.  It’s another weird one…but it has me pretty darn excited for what’s going to come in the new year.

 

You’ll see…pretty soon. 😉

My Happy Place

by | Sep 14, 2017 | All About Erik, All About Family, All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Disney, Disney Mom, Florida Dreaming, Redefining Perfect

 

Florida.

Sun. Sand. Palm Trees. Oh, and those little places called Disney & Universal.

My son is down there now, and I have every intention of packing up to follow him as soon as is possible. (Unfortunately I’m no longer 19 and packing up to take off is a bit more complicated than it was for him).

Now, before you go saying, “it’s your vacations that make it so relaxing.”

It’s not about that.

It’s about a sensation. An instinct.

I’ve been there for other purposes. I’ve worked my ass off there for a week & never saw a single vacation destination. Never saw anything beyond the convention center.

I still felt it.

Recently Erik and I got to go down for his 50th birthday (for my 40th we took a trip around the state & visited a haunted spot. He got to drink around the world for 50 😉 ).

We got to spend some time with our son after not seeing him for six months.

Within minutes of seeing him, he was already annoying us with his antics, his puns, and snark. I loved every annoying minute.  He planned surprises for hubby. He planned out our perfect spot for the fireworks shows. He showed us where he lived, where he worked, and in general spent a lot of time with us.

It was fabulous.

Erik and I got to lay out in the sun.

Go on a date.

Relax.

Talk about moving.

Or not.

When, or how.

Enjoy the sun.

Enjoy the parks.

Discuss our next trip.

Next time we go back will be at Christmas.

This trip will be about a lot more than Disney. Of course, we will go for a couple of days…but we’ll do more.

We’re going to take the girls to see more of Florida.

Take Erik to see more of Florida.

Because there’s more to life than the theme parks (though they are awesome).

And if I ever hope to move there, I want to see it all.