Well, here we are 2022. 2021 was a lot for me. My life felt like a roller coaster. There were so many ups and downs, physically, spiritually and emotionally. I am definitely one of people that couldn’t wait to shut the 2021 chapter! As I sit here and type, I wonder, what will I do to not allow myself to fall down the rabbit hole again this year.

I do not believe in any of that new year, new me bullshit. I know who I am, but I could use some strategies when dealing with adversity. One of the biggest things I learned about myself is that I actually have a breaking point. All the yoga, mindfulness, positivity and journaling in the world couldn’t stop the anger I felt in 2021. I had to find a way to channel that negativity towards something positive.

Here is where I was at, I had something going on in my personal life that was eating me alive. All the covid, the way the world is being run, the constant fighting, half truths all over the news and internet is turning me into a crazy conspiracy theorist. My daughter, left for college and my husband and I became empty nesters, this made me evaluate my purpose. Something had to give. I enjoyed the new found time with my husband when the kids left, but what I did not enjoy was how lonely I felt with no kids around to take care of. I decided I needed a job, a purpose.

In the middle of October I became the Activities Director at LA Fitness. I teach anywhere from 10-15 classes a week and manage instructors and classes for 21 clubs. I absolutely LOVE my job! I finally sent in the first draft for my book. Hopefully, within the first 6 months of 2022 I will be a published author! I am partnering up with an amazing woman to host a wellness retreat in early September. Stay tuned for more information on that! After years of advocating for lupus, I have finally found my niche! I am going to be moderating a lupus support group along with a few other amazing lupus warriors sponsored by ANCAN. We are going to begin working out the details this week!

All of these amazing things came about starting mid-October. I set my mind to something special and here I am! This year will be different. Letting go of things that do not serve me well are no longer allowed in my head/heart space. Revisiting a situation I cannot change is like a dog chasing its tail. I will get nowhere other than maybe the hospital for stress or an insane asylum, LOL!!! Learning how to take a situation and compartmentalize it has become my best friend. Sometimes, things just are and I need to learn to adapt or let it go.

2022 is the year I am going to work on my mind. My heart is huge and full of love. I have found people take that trait for weakness. Becoming bitter and nasty was not working for me. It hurt me to act that way. Once I recognized this behavior was toxic and I channeled that energy someplace else, amazing things started to happen. So, watch out 2022, I AM COMING!!!!