Goodbye, 2015

Goodbye, 2015. Thanks for your delightful twists and turns. It's been nice knowing ya. Thank you. Go away now.

I can't even tell you how happy I am to see 2015 end. There have been so many ups, but just as many downs this year. What. A. Year. It doesn't even feel like December to me. The weather is unseasonably warm here. We've been so busy with life that the holiday has showed up with almost no warning. I couldn't even get stoked about decorating this year, but I finally did. Much, much later than usual. I finished the gift shopping on Dec. 20. While I did pick up a few gifts earlier (as in Black Friday) most of the shopping was done the weekend BEFORE Christmas. My first gift was placed under my tree on Dec. 20 as well. Geez.

So as this year winds down, I'm focused on 2016 and how we will make it a million times better. It's starting to come into focus, and I can just see all of the possibilities. 

I see a March wedding that I have dreamed about for almost 13 years. I see the man of my dreams giving me his last name. I see my new initials. I see a marriage that lasts a lifetime. I see a honeymoon full of smiles. I see a family vacation that our children will speak fondly of for years to come. I see 12-year-olds becoming teenagers. I see my son finally earning his first degree black belt. I see career success and professional fulfillment. I see a sweet little niece that I get to meet. And, I see 365 unwritten days that I get to make the very best of, filled with endless possibilities with of the people I love.

Sometimes life gets so hectic and busy that I forget that I get to decide how the day will go. Heavy stuff happens in everyone's life. There will be ups and downs all of the time, but I get to choose how it affects me. It's so easy to let the downs drag me down, but it's my choice to let it. Or not allow it to create my mood. In 2016 I choose to be happy, positive and present. Hello, 2016. I'm glad you're here.