Happy 2010....FINALLY!

I hope this finds you having a remarkable start to this promising New Year!

After sleeping in (a delicious treat, no matter how many times I indulge!), I am enjoying a lazy morning in my fluffy bath robe and slippers, watching bowl parades while having a cold coffee drink (YUM!), and reading the news and some of my favorite blogs. Amid all this decadent, Id-driven behavior, I find myself dreaming of all the exciting things the new year will bring while also reflecting on the year past. I can start those resolution-thingymajigs TOMORROW - after all, I have a whole year to take care of that stuff, so why be in a big rush?

Right now, I have contemplation at hand. Then in a flash, I remembered -- I now have a BLOG! I can tell the entire world what is on my mind....WOW! Thank you again, Bestie! :-)

When I think of 2009, my experience is best summed up by a quote from an obscure movie from the '90s, That Old Feeling, where Bette Midler's character goes on a rant and prophetically asks: "I know when life gives you lemons you make lemonade, but what are you supposed to do when life gives you SHIT?!"

Sadly, 2009 was the year of a fair amount of proverbial shit for me. The biggest pile of doo-doo arrived when I rather unexpectedly (understatement of the millennium!) had my heart ripped out and stomped on by a man (and I use that term rather loosely) I gave my love and trust to without reservation; unfortunately, I had given a precious gift to the wrong person. It has taken me 6 months of hard road to get to today...and some days are still better than others...but enough about the ICK, since - thankfully - not everything in 2009 was caca!!

Kinda' serendipitously (or was it?) within a week of the shit-hitting-the-fan, I came across a book written by an insightful Buddhist monk, Ajahn Brahm, Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung? Can you believe the irony of the title?! This little book helped me put perspective on what at the time seemed like my entire world crumbling in around me. If you find yourself dealing with a rough patch, or just want a good read, check it out! Ajahn Brahm also has a series of Dhamma talks on YouTube that I find thought-provoking.

While trying to survive the misery that comes with the whole heart-ripping thing, I also gained a genuine understanding of what it really means to be a friend -- from the kind angels who came forward and let me rely upon them to help me keep my head above water when I couldn't do even that for myself. Words cannot begin to express how much I treasure my dear "friend-mily" and all the love and support each one of them gave -- and continue to give -- me. From 3 a.m. "I can't breathe" phone calls, showing up at my house on my birthday with cars full of food, a homemade cake, and gifts, to guilting me into getting up off my butt to come over and eat a homecooked meal....I continue to be grateful for every little thing, and pledge to pay-it-forward each and every time I have the opportunity to do so! Their encouragement has allowed me to make my way through a life-altering experience.

Even though I was a bit of a mess for the second half of the year (see heart-ripping, above), I still managed to find a great house on the water (I am a fire sign, but thrive around water -- go figure?!), and survive a grueling interview process to be selected for a highly-competitive professional position -- a big promotion for me! Made me realize I actually am pretty slappin' good at what I do for a living, since I beat out all those other candidates...and after weeks upon end of no sleep, a sick stomach every time I tried to eat, and all my worldly possessions -- including my interview suit! -- heaven-knew-where in a house stacked full of boxes! GO ME! :-)

Looking forward (the view is much better that direction!), my plans for the New Year include cherishing every bit of time I have with my friend-mily members (including an upcoming visit from my Bestie -- WAAAHEEE!), continuing to nurture and heal my heart, and reminding myself regularly that while things don't always turn out the way we believed they would, there is some bigger plan we aren't necessarily supposed to understand as we walk the path.

Whew! With all these lofty aspirations, I better go for now. Not to start on that BIG stuff yet (remember, we have a whole year to get that done!)! Right now, the Rose Bowl Parade is about to begin and I don't want to miss a single cheesy float or marching band!

I dare to dream of many more relaxing, robe-wearing, coffee-drinking moments in the year ahead -- now THAT'S a resolution I might actually be able to meet! -- and wish for the same (actually, your personally-defined, equally-exquisite moment of serenity) for you and yours.

Until next time....