Looking Back at 2018

The last day of 2018

It is strange that it is already the last day of 2018.  I guess the saying is true, “The days are long, but the years are short.”

Looking back at 2018, I guess the word I would use to describe it is change.  The year was filled with joy, loss, new beginnings and the end of somethings.

The year started out quietly, at our cottage.  My daughter, her boyfriend and my husband and I brought in the year in a small town of 4000.  No television, and no heat!  But it was a good start to the year.

We traveled a lot this year.  I mean a lot in 2018!

  • We had a girls weekend in Chicago.  
  • My husband and I spent a cold, winter 24 hours in Pittsburg.
  • My husband and I attended a conference in the Bay area in February
  • My traveled to Chicago again to celebrate my birthday.
  • I traveled to Mexico, where my husband was working in April
  • We ran our first half marathon in Nashville, where our daughter Amanda cheered us on.
  •  My husband and I went to New York City so I could attend a female entrepreneur conference in July. Holy crap was it hot in Manhattan in July!
  •  My husband, Aaron and I ran our second half marathon in Chicago in the pouring rain in July. First time we had to run in the rain, hoping it is the last!
  • My husband and I ran our third and last half marathon in San Jose in October. Both of our daughters came with us and we enjoyed the bay area with them.
  • I attended another conference in Nashville with my husband in November. I really love this city!
  • We celebrated our 25th anniversary with our youngest two kids, with a Southern Caribbean cruise. What a great vacation!
  • I attended one last conference back in Nashville in December. I wish my husband could have gone with me. The city just isn’t the same when you are by yourself.
  • We then spent the end of December in Southern Florida with all of our kids. It was two weeks with no agenda and just a lot of family time.

Oh, and we spent a lot of weekends at our cottage in northern Michigan. Does that count towards vacation?

We did a lot of exploring the past year.  Some places were new, some we return to each year.  I am pretty sure 2019 won’t be quiet as filled with travel, but I do seem to put a priority on it, so I guess we will see.

It was also a year of great losses. 

We lost my father-in-law this past year.  A man who truly loved life. It still doesn’t seem real to me.  I am not sure I have dealt with his loss yet.  I am so sure my husband has either.  But maybe we both are going through this as best we can.  

Maybe that is why we traveled so much this year.  Wanted to make sure we travel while we are healthy enough to do so.  Knowing life is finite.  Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to any of us.

We also lost both of our lab puppies this year.  It is strange to come home and not have either of their faces to greet me.  There is a quietness here I am not sure I even knew would happen. 

I know now, I truly appreciate each time I see a dog.  Their incredible unconditional love of their families.  There is nothing quite like it.  I miss having a dog, but I also know, that I am not ready to have a new one.  I can’t replace the fur babies we lost, and I am not yet ready to make the loving commitment they require.  For now, our home is just a little bit quieter and maybe a little bit less happy.

On a happier note, my son graduated from college.  It is an incredible parenting experience to watch your child achieve something they worked so hard for.  I am incredibly proud of him for the work and dedication it took for him to achieve his degree.  It is a time of new beginnings for him and an end of an era for my husband and I.  We are no longer his main support system.  Not that we won’t continue to support him, just that he doesn’t need us to do so.  It is both a sense of pride and maybe a bit of sadness.  I’m not sure if that even makes sense.

I have also slowly been working on building a company.  I am doing this while still working full-time. I would like to be able to say it has taken off and I am now self-employed, but that isn’t the case.  For right now, it is more a daily grind with no revenue yet.  I know it will take patience and a ton more work, but it is a little disappointing that it hasn’t grown the way I had hoped it would.

I am not sure what 2019 will hold for me and my family.  I am sure that there will be more changes in the future.  It is the one consistent thing in life, change.  

I will be spending the rest of my time off from work, working on plans for 2019.  I know that goals are more likely to be achieved when you write them down and then spend the daily time working towards them.

My priorities for 2019 are family, health, my new company and adventures.  Although, maybe adventure best describes what time with my family, health and new company really are. 

Life really is just one big adventure, isn’t it?

Here is hoping your 2019 is filled with all of your favorite adventures.  May you look back at 2019 a year from now, and know you lived your best, happiest and joyful year.

Blessings.

Catherine

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