The new year has started with more snow on the ground. It seems like a great day to snuggle in, watch movies, have soup, and just be quiet. Of course I will be crocheting as well. My to do list is ever growing for crocheting. I like it that way.
For the past two years I’ve been very focused on school to the near exclusion of everything else. I know the new year is traditionally the time to set goals but right now I just want to look forward to not having a crazy schedule. In general writing and crocheting are my goals for the year but getting more specific than that seems like too much at this point.
Reflecting on the last year I realize I’ve been very stressed out with school and getting things done. I was playing Collapse last night and realized (even in the silly game) that I have very high expectations of my performance. That is good in that it produces some really good work but it also puts a lot of stress on me. I see that in the last year I’ve done that a lot (particularly this last semester). I don’t see that standard changing as I move forward but finding a balance will allow me to be less stressed. Not everything has to be PERFECT.
This last year my girls have accomplished a lot. Vicki got a job, Virginia lost a job and got two better jobs. Stephanie has advanced within her job. Ken and I are truly empty nesters now with none of our daughters at home. Mostly I am enjoying the quiet. This year I’ve seen my daughters more, which is wonderful. We met up at Vicki’s for Memorial Day and Thanksgiving. The Georgia girls made it home for Christmas. Stephanie also flew home for weddings in the state and stayed with us. Vicki has been back a couple of times as well. I love visiting because we get to have the “Yeah I’m happy to see you” without the “I’m tired of being around you”.
This last year I’ve still managed to get a few things published even though I wasn’t focused too much on that. A poem in the Muse and articles in Circle Magazine, the big deal for me was to get paid for a small article in Woman’s World.
Overall it has been a good year full of good times. There are always struggles but it is how we manage them that counts. I believe we have done well with that – it is never easy to handle sorrow or difficulties but to come through them is what counts. I’ve gotten through 2013 with more on the positive than on the negative and that is the best I can hope for.