Happy Birthday To Me . . .

Yes! It is my birthday today.

A hard day during a normal year.

Particularly different this year.

Not only is today my birthday - a day that would normally be spent celebrating with my (soon-to-be-ex) husband -

but tomorrow is our "legal" anniversary.

Crazy.

 

 

However -

I am surprisingly happy and filled with hope and excitement.

Yesterday was a hard day.

It seemed that everywhere I went and everyone I talked to led me down a path of dredging up unhappy thoughts.

I admit - I shed some tears last night.

But then I called a friend.

We talked. I vented. I cried some more.

And then we laughed.

And by the time I hang up - the cloud was starting to lift.

 

And today, I awoke to the sound of birds.

I felt as if I was moving in the right direction.

I felt light and happy.

I sang songs and danced in my room as I got ready for work.

I am looking forward to festivities planned for the weekend with friends and family.

I feel joy.

 

JOY!

 

Not just happy - but JOY!

Something I have not felt in many, many years.

Ironic, right?

The way we adjust our version of normal.

And then when the change happens - and we see and feel the change - we recognize what we had been missing.

 

It has taken one of the most emotional, hard experiences of my life to lead me to joy.

 

So here's to me and a new year. New routines. New adventures.

My first started with my trip to California that I have just returned from.

My next adventure will come later in this month - a road trip up into Washington for a weekend to see a concert of my all-time favorite vocal jazz group.

Other things on my horizon -

I WILL sky dive.

I will engage in a zipline adventure somewhere.

I will go white-water rafting.

I am starting the planning process for a trip to Italy.

All of these will be first time adventures.

I want another road trip - this time to Yellowstone - a place I lived in my early 20's and haven't returned to since.

I am working on changes for my business - new changes that make me excited.

I am looking for ways to take care of myself and giving myself permission to let unimportant things go.

I am moving forward.

So watch out world - Laurie Miller is back and excited!

Here is to a new year. And new adventures.