I’m curious about your 2012. Was it overall good, bad or indifferent? Strangely, I keep seeing statements on blogs and Facebook that 2012 wasn’t so great for a lot of people. I find that disturbing. Now, I had some rough times in 2012 including my mother’s stroke, the death of my pet, and losing a friend who I found had really never been my friend in the first place but truly, the good totally outweighed the bad. I have happy and healthy children, I traveled to England and Scotland, saw a favorite cousin’s son marry, wrote some great stories (that hardly anyone read but I enjoyed writing), had fun with friends, held myself together and pulled off an amazing conference in March even through some personal stress, had an amazing year in the legal job and have my own health as I’m rarely sick and take no prescription medicine. All in all, a very good year.
We should certainly not forget the hard times. They make us stronger and hone our sympathies and empathies for our fellow men but dang, it makes me sad that so many folks were ready to see the end of 2012. Mayhaps they should’ve gone off with the Mayans?
Jillian Chantal 
That’s an attitude I need to have and I appreciate the pep talk. I do think I’ve been a bit focused on the down side of 2012 the last few days and not enough on the positives.
By: Laurie Ryan on January 1, 2013
at 3:03 pm
Sorry about the down-side focus for you Laurie. I have to keep fighting mine off as well. My mom invited us over to have shrimp thermadore and forgot how to make it so we got there to shimp in butter with a double dose of boiling spices (which you don’t use in thermadore) and black eyed peas and cornbread. Made me sad again at all she’s lost since June.
By: Jillian Chantal on January 1, 2013
at 3:25 pm
I hope things look up for you soon, Laurie
By: Jillian Chantal on January 1, 2013
at 3:26 pm
Sorry. Didn’t mean to give you the idea that anything was amiss. It’s not. I just felt like I was not looking at the positive side of the year and needed to adjust my attitude. Overall, it was a good year. 🙂
By: Laurie Ryan on January 1, 2013
at 3:33 pm
Ahhh. Glad to know. I was worried about ya.
By: Jillian Chantal on January 1, 2013
at 3:42 pm
2012 was a hard year for us. But we look at it as a challenge and experience. We are still going through the first’s in losing Jack. This was the first Christmas and first vacation but we are experiencing a sort of different outlook in that he is so much with us, just in a different way.
We got back from Cancun last night so I am still catching up and getting re-organized. The trouble with saying “we’ll do that in January” is that January eventually gets here. 🙂
By: Lavada Dee on January 1, 2013
at 3:30 pm
Yeah, you had a very hard 2012 and I’m sorry that you lost Jack. That first year is soo hard. At least that’s what I hear. I’ve admired how strong you’ve been and how brave, Lavada. You’re a super role model. Hang in there and yep, it’s January. Glad you made it home okay and are safe in the states. Hope you had a nice trip.
By: Jillian Chantal on January 1, 2013
at 3:44 pm