Goodbye 2013

Hello there. 2014 has already begun in some parts of the world, though it won't be here for another 13 hours in my neck of the woods. I've spent a couple days drafting a post about all the ups and downs of 2013, though it ended up being really long; so it will just remain in my drafts. I really struggle to find the right words sometimes. I will try to keep this short and sweet, beginning with the difficult parts of the year (I have always been one to enjoy getting good news after bad news).

My boyfriend's grandfather passed away on Saturday night. Death is never an easy thing to accept. It is so hard to lose someone. At this point, it still does not feel real. We have also lost two of our hamsters very recently. December has been a month full of loss, and only time can heal that.

The other difficult part of 2013 has been dealing with being sick all the time. I don't want to elaborate too much on it, but I've been tapering an awful medication that I've been on for five years. Now that I'm at a very low dosage, I feel sick often (physically and psychologically). It's without a doubt the hardest thing I've had to deal with. There comes a point when you get sick of tired of being sick and tired, and I've hit that point quite a while ago. The silver lining is that I will finally be medication free in 2014. It won't be easy, it will actually only get harder, but I think it will be worth it in the long run.

My new career is definitely the major positive of 2013. I love my job, and it truly gives me hope for the future. I have spent a lot of time and effort to finally get to this place, and I'm so thankful to be where I am.

Our dog entered our lives earlier this year, and that has also been a blessing. I love her very much, and I'm really glad she is part of our family. She is so loyal and such a loving animal. I really think fate sent her our way on the day we found her.

My boyfriend and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary this year. I can't believe how lucky I am to have him in my life. He is my best friend and the most incredible person I've ever met, and having him in my life will always be the highlight of every year I spend on this earth.

In conclusion, dear friends, any given year will be bittersweet. But my wish for 2014 is that you are blessed with happiness, good health, and moments that take your breath away. I also hope that you have the strength to endure the moments of darkness. Cheers to a brand new year!