This year has been incredible. It’s amazing, in the thick of it, in the midst of the daily grind, it’s easy to overlook all the growth and changes taking place as you go about your routine. So many little achievements get lost, so many happy moments overlooked as the next “crisis” pulls our attention away. Even our greatest moments get overshadowed by the everyday stress that builds up and keeps us looking forward to a time when everything will be “settled”.
Today is a day not only for setting goals, but for reflecting on the previous year and taking time to celebrate all our victories…now matter how small.
So, before I tell you guys all about my dreams for the year ahead and the exciting things I have in store for you, let’s take a look back, shall we?
I started off 2015 by going to see Hairball with my mom as we do every year, followed by my awesome Rocky Horror Picture Show themed birthday a couple weeks later. I spent some time working in my friend’s studio. I went to St. Louis to see Marilyn Manson and had a glorious child-free weekend. We got some pet fish…that didn’t last long. I revamped a dresser (and learned some valuable lessons about making the best of things along the way!). I survived 2 tornadoes (only one of which got written about). We bought our first house after years of crappy rentals. We adopted our big ol’ beast of a dog. I went on my annual trip to Chicago for Beatlefest. I started a new job. I finished the first draft of my book, after years and years of sleepless nights and early mornings spent typing away . I’ve read some great books and learned a lot about remaining present and keeping a positive outlook.
And that’s just the stuff I’ve written about!!
I’ve (mostly) quit smoking…that’s not to say I haven’t slipped up and bought a pack or two, but I always get back on track quickly and it’s a marathon, not a race. I’ve begun taking control of my health.We finally set a wedding date. I’ve spent many hours laughing and talking with friends and family. I’ve learned to let go of fear and really be me. I’ve grown in my self-confidence and in my ability to handle stress, and I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a parent as well. I also feel that I’ve grown a lot as a writer and have watched my blog grow into something that I am extremely proud of.
All in all, it has been an amazing year and I am confident that the next twelve months will be even more fantastic!
Of course, I have many of the same goals as everyone else. I want to be healthier and more organized. I want to further reduce my stress levels and get a smooth routine going. I want to get more spiritually grounded and do a better job instilling those values in my child. I want to stop being the “yelly” mom so much. But, these are kind of free-floating goals and lifestyle changes that must happen in small increments, so I’m not going to force myself into some sort of timeline for these things to unfold. Instead, I will make more of an effort to be mindful of these things and do what I can. That’s not to say I don’t have some big goals, though!
This year, I am focusing on continuing to work on some long-standing ambitions and really take things to the next level. Aside from the wedding and working to make this site even better, I will finally be releasing the first novel in my series and (hopefully) some music in 2016!
In light of that, I’ve created a brand-new website that launched this morning: BrandynBlaze.com. I have worked hard to get this set up and am so excited for this new venture! While this new site contains a blog, I will still be publishing posts regularly here as well. I wanted to create a place where I could be a bit more unfiltered and keep my followers informed of events and information pertaining to my various products. I encourage you all to check it out and follow the new Facebook page for updates!
This is the year I take control of my life and begin creating the life of my dreams. No exceptions!!
I hope you all have had an amazing year as well and that your celebrations were wonderful. As we go forward into this new year, I wish you all luck and light and love. May your actions be bold and your achievements be great!
Happy New Year!!!