That's great, Zen! That is quite an accomplishment.

What an appropriate name.

Oh. Oh. I just got that. Yes, And oh.

Oh, fuck.

I had some good times this year, but it's been tainted by loss, and by my father's decline, and my own health issues. But I did finally land a permanent job, and I got a new dog, and a kitchen. And I started singing with a community chorus. I can't do the math on all that, though.

I received a box of goodies from Greater Good today! Chocolate covered expresso beans, Brownie mix, a chocolate bar, and a ring. So cool and so nice on a day when I can't breath due to this darned cold. I'm assuming this is from my Santa. Thank you muchly!!! I will wait until I can actually taste things again before I taste the noms.

This was a year with more than its fair share of grieving for me, with both one of my closest cousins and ita passing away. But overall it's been a good year for me—I seem to be in a good place depression-wise, got out more to visit with friends and travel, have work under control, got a substantial raise, am enjoying my pets much more, and my parents seem to be in pretty good health for their ages.

This thread title is amazing and heartbreaking.

And yet this year has been...kind of awesome for me personally, mostly for my writing career.

Well, my grandfather died, but besides that.

I feel weird being all "2015 was GREAT" right now so I'll wait to do a thing.

Oh ita

It's been a year, hasn't it?

Damn. Perfect but damn.

I am not ready to do a full recounting of my year, and some of it I probably won't say here, but it was certainly a big year.

Aww.

Please don't hesitate to share the awesome and wonderful events of 2015. We need the balance and it lifts my spirits to hear of my loved ones successes.

2015 was a stressful year. I didn't used to be a person that felt or acknowledged stress. My friends teased me for being so cheery when the world around me was falling apart. I didn't see how it helped anything to be miserable on top of all the rest. The last couple years I have lost touch with that perpetual positive side of my nature and I have felt the stresses and losses to a much more pronounced degree. I'm working on compartmentalizing them again.

2015 left me in a worry and stressed out mode on business and family fronts. But at this point I am ready to put the worry and stress and other purposeless emotions aside again. I'll do what I can do to resolve issues and difficulties, and let go the things I have no control over.

I don't like to resolve, but my focus is on making better choices. Driving the beach instead of the highway. Walking away from my desk for a few minutes to watch the sunset. Maybe even eating at the table instead of the desk, but that might be a stretch.

So more dimples and less grinding of teeth in the new year.