As I watch the New Years Facebook status reports and Tweets come across the screen they certainly reflect a wide range of sentiments but one thing seems to show up over and over. The comment, “that 2013 has got to be better than 2012.” So I began to wonder where 2012 fits in my ‘best of years/worst of years.’ Only those who know me really well know some of the challenging years I’ve had; some of them ultimately my own doing and some of them not. Intermingled with those were many wonderful years. I don’t know that I have ever thought that “it could only be better.” I have always known that it could always be worse.
Most of my life, I have nurtured ideals of great achievements, great self-sufficiency and a great future ahead of me. This has been offset by periods where I achieved nothing, felt significant insecurity and doubted my future. To help me along the way, I’ve always had, I’m proud to say, a capacity to rechannel my energy toward a goal and I’ve always been the most impetuous and stubborn person I have ever met. That has gotten me through those periods of difficulty. When I look back I ask myself what one thing has been common to all of those periods. It is simply that I can adapt; that I can be resilient. But what I know more than anything is that whatever I am is a result of EVERYTHING I have lived, EVERYTHING I have done, ALL of the people who have been in my life and ALL of the moments I have had. I wouldn’t change it for the world!! And that resiliency will take me forward into 2013. Whatever comes my way I will welcome it, learn from it and use it to better the lives of my family, my friends and my community. So 2013 here you come; my new friend, my new challenge, my new gift and most of all my new teacher.
Nancy's Notes 