Stories from a Country Girl: A Look Back on 2014
This post is inspired by an entry from fellow blogger Kate Alvarez. First work day of the year. I cannot believe it is 2015 already. In around a month I will be 38 (gasp!)…time flies by so fast doesn’t it? In a previous post I mentioned the life lessons I learned from 2014. This time around I want to share the highlights of my past year; the moments that put those little exclamation points in my life that I would like to remember. Here are five of those highlights:
I had a one-day vacation with the family in what could very well be my dream home. I remember watching Under the Tuscan Sun and wondering what it would be like to live away from everything and just plant my roots someplace where I could farm and just enjoy a beautiful home in peace and quiet. Apparently I have a relative who does just that. They opened up their lovely home to us where they have a farm, a pool and home interiors that I could only dream of having. Sharing a good day with family is always fantastic but having that day in a beautiful place makes it even more amazing.
My nephew, KB. Watching him grow up this year and spending so much time with him makes me wish I had a little boy (or girl) of my own. Having him (and my other nephew and niece) around is the next best thing. Watching him break into a smile when he realizes I’m home and wanting me to walk with him or carry him just melts all the stresses of the day away. I feel so blessed to have him and the other kids in my life.
I got promoted at work. Well, technically I have been performing in the responsibilities of the position I was promoted to for a few years already but this year I FINALLY got the salary that I was hoping to get. I have been working very hard and have faced a lot of obstacles to get this so I am very happy to finally get something that I believe I deserve.
Convention week. It was one of the busiest moments of my life, but it was also one of the most fun. There was so much to do during our convention but working with people that I enjoy spending time with makes everything fun. It is true that if you are doing something you enjoy (or in this case, with people you enjoy doing it with), work does not feel like work. It was so tiring and I felt like I could lie in bed for days after that, but it was worth it.
Making my peace with my love life (or lack of it anyway). I had several realizations about love this past year. I was talking to someone about love and relationships and my friend expressed a fear of commitment because his parents were separated and he was afraid to become like his father. It opened my eyes to the fact that I was also afraid of the same things: I was afraid of becoming my parents. Not that they were awful people, but because there were a lot of things about them and how our life ended up that always makes me wish that I would not put my own children through the same situation. It made me take a good look at myself and face the things that were holding me back from having a relationship. I cannot allow myself to let things like that hold me back. I am my own person. I need to take ownership of that. My family (and friends) know another thing holding me back is someone from my past. The one who got away. I may be open to dating and meeting new people but I always seem to compare everyone to him. Last year, while I was out with someone, I felt an ease with this guy that I only felt with my ex. It felt right, not forced or awkward the way it is with other guys I’ve dated. That made me realize that I can move on from the ex. Given the right person, I can find someone new…the one who will not let me get away. It did not work out with that guy who made me realize that. Still, it gave me hope. It can still happen, no matter how skeptical I am about it. Who knows, maybe my 2015 highlight would finally include a love life! What about you? What were the highlights of your 2014?
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