2016: THE LEARNING YEAR

2016.

To say that this has been a heck of a year is an understatement, don’t you think?

Personally it’s been a good one.  Globally, nationally and publicly it’s been nuts.

Our country seems to have gone crazy.  The most ridiculous election cycle in history.  Police officers shot.  The public afraid.  Amazing people like Prince now dead.

It’s not a year to be soon forgotten.

But I have learned a lot.

Haven’t you?

I have learned that I have an amazing support system of people around me.  When I needed help, I found it.  When I moved I had people around me helping me pack, cleaning my refridgerator, and letting my daughter and I sleep over when we were without a home for almost 3 weeks.

I have learned to be patient.  This election has taught me that people like to categorize everyone. If you are conservative, you are XYZ, and if you are liberal, you are ABC.  This generation does this, that generation does that.  And it seems like distrust is the way to go.  Taking a deep breath before I respond has been a life-saver.  Trying to understand where a person is coming from goes a long way.  And simply ignoring ridiculous categorization and one-sided opinion has made me a generally happier gal.

I have learned that music is a cool thing that stays with me.  David Bowie and Prince are knit into the fabric of my life.  Sounds silly to say, but it’s true.  My teen years would not have been the same without looking forward to partying like it’s 1999, and feeling Under Pressure.  How awesome to think that a person’s life work changed who I am as an individual.

I have learned that even though life does not even remotely go my way, it’s still full of goodness.  The fact is that the day after the election, life continued on.  Not that anyone really felt good about how things turned out (was there any good way for it to turn out?), but we still have family, friends and beauty. Those things can never be taken away.

I have learned that if I want to see something change in this world, I need to be the one who starts changing.  Sitting around and talking about issues doesn’t do much to make things happen.  Get up.  Get involved.  Get busy.

2016.

It’s been a year.

One that has taught me a lot.  One that I am OK with waving goodbye to.  And one that I will never forget.  For better or for worse.

Here’s to 2017!