It's A Wonderful Life

I would normally save a post like this for the new year, but when a major revelation dawns via the wisdom of a television show you just gotta say, "To hell with the time of year! I'm writin' this down!"

I was recently watching an episode of How I Met Your Mother, a beloved TV show that I keep watching in hopes that Ted, the main character, will finally meet the woman who later becomes his wife. I assume by the title that the protagonist will, in fact, meet the mother of the children his future self is telling all the stories to, but after 8 seasons it does make one wonder. Aaaanyway, I was rewatching an old episode and listening to Ted tell his future kids how "that" year was the year he lost his job, broke up with the love of his life, and essentially lost his dog, fishing boat, and any other item listed in a country music song and I found myself nodding along in commiseration awaiting the crescendo of a spectacular mope. I was waiting to hear him wrap up his monologue with words similar to, "I couldn't wait for that year to be over." Or, "But next year was THE year for me." But he didn't. Much to my self-loathing dismay, his exact words were, "And it was the best year of my life."

The thoughts that immediately ran through my mind in a matter of 10 seconds or less: It was the best year of that guy's life?! He lost everything! His life was in shambles! Everything he knew to be right and good was turned on its side and any ounce of comfort and dignity he had left was ripped away from him! Are you effing kidding me?! Who's writing this show, anyway?

And then a small voice inside my head whispered: Was this year really all that bad for you?

It wasn't.

This year really wasn't all that bad. Parts of it weren't great, but it didn't outright kill me either. No one died. I didn't get diagnosed with a life threatening disease. And, lo and behold, the world didn't implode. I've been so consumed by the idea that this year was so hard that I neglected to see that hard does not necessarily mean horrible.

Difficulty does not equal disastrous. And life being easy does not equate to a wonderful life.

This was the year of making new friends that I really like, a new home in a fabulous location, learning how to love someone for better or worse, and new business endeavors that are actually working out quite well. This year may not have been the easiest year, but darn it if it wasn't full of twists and turns that got me that much closer to becoming the amazingly gracious old lady that I want to be someday.

And this year isn't even over yet!

I may not be able to smile and say just how delightful the past 365 days have been, but someday I will look back at THIS year and say to my future children how this year was ultimately one of the best year's of my life. Someday this year will truly make sense and won't that day be wonderful.

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

During my drive home tonight on the long stretch of highway to my place at The Beach I began thinking about all the things I wanted to list out for each Day Of Thanksgiving. Starting last year, I try to write down at least one "something" per day that I am thankful for during the turkey month. The end of the year can become so tiresome, especially as I always feel like it's another deadline to be met and I can't help but take stock of what did or did not get accomplished in the last 11 months. But tonight all I could think of was how I could probably come up with hundreds of "somethings" to be thankful for; enough to last me a whole year!

Today my day consisted of choosing whether or not to work (for the most part, I chose not to), followed by leisurely taking phone calls and emails while catching up on my favorite TV shows; then later a facial and an early dinner with friends. And while not every day looks that way, I do work in trade with friend of mine who gives the most delicious massages, which I try to schedule in every week. Every sunset and sunrise I go to sleep and wake to the sound of the ocean crashing its way on shore. A noise that most people pay hoards of money to hear for only a few days during their vacation. And if I feel like taking a lunch break, I sometimes walk across the street, organic food in hand, to enjoy a half hour of seaside rest while soaking in the sunshine and warmth that hangs over this fair city almost every day.

This is my life.

And I know there is much more to come, but for right now what more could this City Girl want?