The end of the year is always a time for reflection and retrospection. It is the chance to look back on the year and remember the highs as well as the lows, to view your personal and professional growth, and review your progress on your goals. I have been doing that and have come to the conclusion that 2016 rather sucked all the way around.
It did not start out this way. The first half of the year was pretty darn good. Holly and Connor were kicking ass in their various activities. Jim got a great new job. I was riding high at work. I was making progress on my 2016 One-Word and in general having a lot of fun with friends and family.
At some point in the summer, things started declining. Friends moved away suddenly without saying good-bye. Connor had his worst year ever in cross-country. Holly did not achieve her dance goals. I got a new manager and found myself stymied at work. Jim’s new job turned out to be a lot more stressful and problem-filled than even he thought possible. I forgot about my One-Word and stopped taking care of myself. Things stopped being fun and started becoming a slog.
By the end of the year, it was even worse. Jim and I lost three grandparents between the two of us. There were sudden spousal deaths among several of my coworkers. The kids are not living up to their potential in school. Jim’s bonus went the way of the dodo bird. The election happened. The loss this week of two of the most influential celebrities of my childhood has been the proverbial nail in the coffin. 2016 officially sucked.
2017 has to be better. We have two weddings, Connor’s graduation, a family trip to Germany, and taking Connor to college in 2017. That is as of right now and is on top of the regular dance competitions and recitals, tryouts, and lessons as well as work and school-related activities. It is going to be an insanely busy year, but it has the makings of being a fun year as well.
In order for that to happen though, I know some things need to change. I thought my word from 2016 was perfect, but obviously it was not since I forgot about it most of the time. I am still working on my One-Word for 2017 and am hoping to select a word this year that will stay with me and drive me towards personal growth, something that speaks to the person I want to be in mind, body, and spirit.
I never set professional goals because I honestly do not know what I want to do with my life, but I think it is time for me to do so. I like the idea of working, but I do not necessarily like my job or my chosen career. I really need to sit down and think through some things in that regard. I also need to take a long look at this blog and ask some tough questions. Why am I doing it? What am I hoping to get out of it? What do my readers like? Am I fulfilling their wants and/or needs? (I will be sending out a survey shortly to get some feedback from my readers.)
A new year means a fresh start which means a chance to do some major tinkering in all areas of my life. 2016 was not so hot, and I feel like some of that is my own doing. If 2017 is going to be a much better year, it starts with me. Will you stay with me on my journey?
Meeting you IRL at Book Expo last spring was one thing that did NOT suck in 2016! But I cannot remember a year so many people are so glad to see OVER. We’ve got 365 days of fresh potential ahead of us, and hopefully 2017 will not be as eager to mess with us as last year was. Here’s to the New Year, Michelle!
BEA and meeting you and everyone else was probably THE highlight for me for 2016.
I think the New Year provides us all with a chance to reset and get into a better frame of mind to be able to handle the challenges we know 2017 is going to bring us. Yes, it is an arbitrary method of keeping track of time, but psychologically it is so powerful. Happy New Year, Florinda!
I wish it’d been better. I know it went to shit for a lot of us, but I must say, you’ve had a heap on your plate! Sending love and badass vibes because you are. You know it. <3
Same here. I’ve been saying that November and December is really what did me in but it started way back with the death of my FIL and my new boss coming in. Half the year was a challenge for me which totally sucks. And then the only, only time I have off is spent in the most stressful way possible. I’ve had glasses of wine with no effect. It’s like my body is numb. My husband had this week off, a first and we spent the entire week bickering. Everyone has these expectations of how I am supposed to be so last night I just gave up trying. It’s okay for me to not be me. It’s okay for us to eat leftovers. It’s okay for the clean laundry to sit in the dryer for two days. I’m allowed. It just sucks because one thing you cannot get back is time and I’ve had all this time off and I will be returning to work no better. Major suckage.
Oh, honey. I don’t look at it as giving up. You are taking some much needed rest for your own mental health. Do NOT look at it as wasted time. It is okay for laundry to not get folded and to eat leftovers. It is good for your family to take care of themselves for once. Use the time instead to reflect, maybe journal even. Read. Zone out at the beach. Then this is not wasted time off at all. We are going to get through this together, and 2017 is going to be a great year for both of us.
I’m sorry the end of the year was so hard for you. The election alone (and the effect it is having on my family), has been enough to overshadow so much the great things that happened for us earlier this year. It’s so hard to loss grandparents; they are really our ties to our past. Here’s hoping things will go better for the kids, with your careers, and with your happiness in 2017!
Thanks, Lisa! 2017 is going to be a good year. I can feel it!
I’m right there with you, Michelle! This year definitely had it’s ups and downs, and I’ve spent the past few weeks really thinking about my future. There are things I want to change in the new year, some really scary changes, and I need the courage to make that leap.
We got this! We are going to set goals and crush them, make some much needed changes, and have a much better year.
Here, here! I’ll help you if you help me, Brandie, and we will get through 2017 and its changes together!
My year was different. I focused on the things that were facing our family, my son graduating and moving to college and my girls ever growing up and being on their own. I played so very hard in my new planner world that I let my book world slip away, and I’ve missed it. I can tell a difference in my brain, I am less in touch with that part of me, the one that loves the written word and writing too. While I made great new friends, I also so petty crappy stuff. I missed my book blogging friends and the authors I enjoy. My blog has been quiet and it’s a damn shame! The politics got me down…I didn’t see it coming quite so hard. I knew early on how the conservative side was going, I kept staring in disbelief, but it all happened. Now I worry for so much, and I just keep praying it doesn’t pan out.
I’m also working on choosing my one word for 2017, and I’m hopeful for a better year. I’m always here….for you 😉
Thanks, Anita!
It was fun to watch you get involved in the planner girls world, but I did miss you and your blog. The politics got everyone down, I fear. Here’s to a much better 2017 for all of us!!
I can sympathise with you as well. I hated this year. We are currently having issues with our heat, which is just an AWESOME way to settle out 2016. Bet it will be expensive, too, so that’s fun… It has just been a year of ‘if it can go wrong, it will’. I am having higher hopes for 2017, too. And, I also have issues setting professional goals. I like working from home, but I am bored of my job and really would like to work elsewhere. But then winter arrives and I think how nice it is to not have to drive in snowstorms. I need to make goals in the spring before winter reappears. lol
I get it. The winter makes everything just a bit more difficult. I hope your heating woes end up being an inexpensive fix for you. Here’s to a great 2017!
I sympathize as well, having had a horrible year both personally and politically. I think you are right: 2017 HAS to be better!
Here’s to a fantastic 2017 for both of us!
As you know, I can REALLY sympathize here. This year was just…yeah. Especially as it moved into the second half. I’m currently also looking at all those introspective things past and future. I need to figure some things out. I’ll be taking your reader survey later (it’s not even 7 in the morning, I’m up way too early to prep for a doc appt and I think the coffee is the only reason I’m typing right now, and I don’t want to answer your survey when I have very little idea what I’m saying, haha). I do hope you’ll stick around at your blog!
Oh, I’ll stick around. I do like posting. I find myself really unmotivated to write reviews though, so I think that might be where things change, if at all. I just feel like I am stuck in a rut lately and have spent no time really figuring out whether I am doing things that make me happy or not.
I hope the doctor’s appointment was satisfactory!