How I’m feeling about 2014 so far: lots of blue skies and opportunities as far as the eye can see. Work hard and you’ll make it to the top – absolutely.

Holy crap – the year’s already almost a quarter way complete? April begins next week and I can hardly believe how quickly the days appear to be flying by. Add to the list of proven cliches everyone tells you: “the older you get, the faster the time goes.” I find it utterly astounding that we’re three months into 2014 already and yet it seems that I’ve accomplished so little. How can this be? So to remind me of where the time went, I revisited some of my posts from last year. And what did I find? That almost to the date exactly, it has been one year since my father’s cancer was diagnosed. It’s been five months since the hardest time of my life began. And it’s been one month since my Dad got the “no cancer!” confirmation from the doctors.

2013 was one of the worst years of my life. It was the year of layoffs at work, doctor appointments, rounds of chemo, hospital visits and voluntarily nursing my Dad back to health while he lived with us for the better part of two months. It was the year I learned to live with disappointment in myself and others. It was the year I learned to say no to obligations I could no longer bear. It was the year I rediscovered the healing power of nature (in both the Highlands and the UP). And it was the year I confirmed just how strong I could be. 2013 left me exhausted.

So imagine how thrilled I am now to be in the midst of 2014. Right out of the gate this new year came on, bold and strong like a charging horse. Full of energy and unexpected opportunities, 2014 has proved to me how quickly fortunes can change. Yes, things may be terrible rightnowathisverymoment, but if you stop. If you work hard. If you breathe. You will get through it and come out on the other side changed for the better.

I am so thankful for this year. I am thankful for change. I am thankful for the opportunity to work hard, doing things that interest and inspire me, and I suppose, more than anything, I am glad that 2013 is at long last behind me. Yeah, life is good.