Looking Back at 2015…

Remembering back to where I was on the first day of 2015, it’s funny how much life has changed (again).

I think I’ll dub 2015 the year of opportunity.

I started the year with such hope for good change and I got it! and I got it quickly! By February I was given several opportunities to do things I’ve been wanting to do for years and I grabbed hold of the ones I thought fit best and let go of ones that just weren’t working… And I went for it.

I was going to do it all!

Then I crashed.

I thudded into the summer completely burnt out. I took on too much, too quickly, and thought that I could juggle it all. New job, new work schedule, new agent, book revisions, kids, family, friends…

I didn’t realize the toll all of this change would have on me and my family and I stumbled halfway through the year and had to slow waaaay down to get back in control.

But then it happened. 

I found my rhythm.

Work stopped being so overwhelming.

Writing stopped being a chore.

Even the kids stopped being so annoying (which I know was a direct result in how my attitude changed).

It’s easy to get frustrated at what I didn’t accomplish in 2015. I didn’t manage to get my book revised to the point where it can go on submission. (This was due to the fact that the first round took me over five months to complete.) Which means I didn’t sell a book in 2015—a huge goal that didn’t happen. Then I wanted to finish drafting my WIP in 2015… that didn’t happen…

In so many areas of my life, I feel like I was given an opportunity and I couldn’t muster up the final push over the edge to success. But here’s the most important thing for me to remember: I didn’t go backwards.

• I got a literary agent who is championing my book
• I wrote tens of thousands of new words
• I got a fantastic new job that I truly love that gives me a ton of flexibility
• I read amazing books
• I took my family on a dream of a Disney World vacation for 8 days
• I deepened friendships with new friends whom I adore
• My husband and I celebrated 10 years of marriage and we’re still in love
• I kept a freelance client that’s been awesome for extra cash
• My kids are thriving
• I became an aunt for the 8th time
• We went through a financial course to help us with our budget
• We paid off 3 credit cards and paid for our Disney vacay in cash
• My husband got a great promotion at work
• I’m happy.

That last one is a big deal because over the last few years, happiness has been a struggle. I remember as I was setting my 2015 goals that this was going to be a focus for me. That finding my happy place had to be imperative even if it meant drawing boundary lines with people I love or saying no to awesome opportunities. I had to get to the place where I didn’t feel like I “survived” the week.

I’m happy to say, I feel like I’ve gotten there. To that proverbial happy place…

But don’t take that as a place of contentment. I have big dreams, people, and I aim to see them accomplished.

Maybe 2016 will be the year? Maybe it won’t.

But I’m headed into January with a smile.