2015 reinforced for me just how very lucky I am to have the people in my life that I do, including all you people. The losses of ita and Ginger were so hard and, while I truly regret never having been able to be able to meet either of them in person, I'm so grateful to have gotten to know them here in a very real way.
I started the year in a job that was increasingly making me miserable. But, after much prodding from my rock of an awesome husband, I finally resolved to quit it and then went into therapy and on medication and into job coaching with a friend so that I actually had the tools to do so! My last day was in May and, while not having a full-time job is scary still, I've never been happier about a choice since I agreed to marry Bob! My leaving work in the corporate world ended up being good timing with the organization I've been involved with as a volunteer and fundraiser for years. I did some projects with their new development director over the summer, using my skillz from my corporate job, and then have taken on various paid work since September as they experienced some staffing upheaval. It's been fantastic for me to be able to get paid (a little1) to learn about how the non-profit world works and, I will say with no modesty, that it was incredible for them to have someone like me--who knows the organization well and can be trusted to take on virtually any task--to step in. None of the jobs I've taken on are really ones that I want to do full-time on a permanent basis (too junior and/or not the best use of my talents) but that is not a problem at all. I'm not sure what's going to come next, work wise, but I'm feeling set up to do any number of things and have been making some great contacts!
Other than work, the pets are still young and healthy (knock wood) and hilarious. Friends are doing well over all. One of my closest friends just moved away on the 1st to be closer to her folks in Colorado and take on a new career leap kind of job. I'm super excited for her but I'm going to miss her being physically nearby terribly.
My folks are still relatively healthy although my dad (FINALLY!) got a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease and started medication. The medication seems to be helping his mobility issues so I'm hoping this is a positive move. The rest of my family is doing well. My cousin's twins born super prematurely in fall 2014 are thriving and two more of my first cousins had baby boys this year. Baby bonanza!
We were able to travel quite a bit this year internationally--Tulum, UK for 2+ weeks, and we just got back from Iceland, of course--as well as to Michigan & Chicago a number of times, California, New York, and Boston. And quitting my job meant I could spend a week in NC with my nieces and nephew, who I don't get to see nearly enough, while my brother and sister-in-law went on their first vacation alone in 17 years!
I'm hoping to be more healthy and active in 2016. I may start running again and have a plan to maybe do a 1/2 marathon with my brothers in March. We'll see! I need shoes that don't kill my feet first. I also want to do yoga on a more regular basis, daily is the goal, combining home and class practices.
Mostly I want to continue to be grateful for the bounty in my life and to express gratefulness regularly to those that provide it. So, thank you!!!