Closing 2011

As 2011 comes to a close, I am grateful to put the lessons learned behind me and look forward to the new year. I know it will have its own challenges: extra classes each quarter in order to graduate in August, so that I can transfer in Sept to complete my degree; health issues with my parents and living so far away from me; and balancing life in general so that I remain healthy, lose weight, workout several times a week, stay focused with school, generate income from home, spend quality time with my husband, attend social events, travel, partake in fun activities, and maintain some spiritual connection. This coming year, 2012 is all about BALANCE for me.

I think about friends who also have their challenges with life: their kids, aging parents, relationships, jobs, money, and their own health and give thanks as we support each other through each phase as we relate to one another. It seems to me that for the most part we all have the same problems, they are just varied. Some issues are more serious than others, but in the end I think the scale is balanced. While none of us has all of the answers, together we can piece it all together to come up with a better solution.

I tend to be a home body, particularly on New Years Eve, a night my dad always called "Amateur Night" for those who don't normally drink take to drinking on this night to make up for the rest of the year. Last year I went to a great party at a friends house, but was home by 11:30pm - well ahead of when the drunks would be on the road. This year, my husband and I will start out at that same party, but will meet up with other friends at another location to ring in the New Year. We will head home shortly thereafter.

I wish for all of you a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!

Minetta