It has been such a long time since I sat down to write in my blog. Likely my mind was taken over by holiday preparation and, writing just wasn't a priority. However, this was a pivotal week. I began to pivot from post-holiday tear-down to a New Year mentality. I just love the process of returning to order, all the while rearranging my house to have a slightly new perspective. For me, having my house in order doesn't mean a return to the same. It's kind of like mixing and matching your wardrobe- not that I'm good at that at all! It's funny how there can be a new appreciation of something you have just by placing it in a new location. This can also happen, on some level, with people!

During this week of transition, I happened upon a message on FaceBook from an old friend. I don't spend a bunch of time on Facebook, and somehow I missed this birthday greeting back in November. A connection was made and a pivot from the past to present was formed. We haven't spoken for decades, which sounds so crazy! We were friends in high school when we were 15 to 18 years old, and remained in touch through college, but then life took us down different paths, and like so many friends, we lost touch and slipped into our own world.

I believe my conversation with Donna was another trigger to pick up the proverbial pen and pivot back into the practice of writing. We had a Cliff Note summary of a few decades but also managed to strike a chord with some less superficial topics. The conversation allowed me to do a quick scan and press the refresh button of my life. When you start to talk about the bullet points of the last decades, you're able to eliminate the insignificant chatter and hone in on what is most important.

I think the overarching sentiment that began to stir inside of me during the process of returning my house to normal and reacquainting with an old friend is the deep feeling of gratitude. I'm so grateful for the life I have and, sometimes we all need a reminder, which may just come from a conversation that gives your own brief version of, It's a Wonderful Life! (I try to watch that movie every year- but I didn't get to this year, well- last year! Maybe January 2022 will be a perfect time.)

So now I move into 2022 focusing on what lies ahead. There is so much to look forward to, (weddings) but I still need to take the time to remember and appreciate not what I have but who I have in my life. It may come in the form of family, current friends, or the rekindling of something old. Either way, gratitude allows you to pivot with a deeper appreciation of the past and feel hope for the future. 

So welcome to 2022. I sure hope it’s a pivotal year!