Our year is almost over. It is time to celebrate New Year’s Eve, to say goodbye to 2019 and say hello to 2020. But this year, it’s a new decade, not just a new year. We are saying goodbye to the 2010’s. Have you looked at what has happened in the world in the last 10 years? There have been so many world events that have changed our lives - September 11, 2001 was near the beginning of the decade, Obama was re-elected in 2012, Trump was elected in 2016, the world has taken down powerful terrorist leaders, earthquakes and tsunamis have devastated countries, temperatures have been rising. The internet has blossomed, clouds have appeared in more than the sky, music is being streamed, the Supreme Court passed marriage rights for LGBTQ, the Me Too movement began, and the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA championship. What has happened in your world? World events matter but I find it more beneficial to consider where I was in 2010 and what has changed in my life. As 2010 began, I was a hospital nurse educator, three of our children had graduated college, two were married, and we had one grandchild. As 2020 begins, all five of our children have graduated and are married. We now have seven grandchildren and are expecting two more before the end of March. We lost both of my husband’s parents in 2012, and this past summer celebrated my mother’s 90th birthday. I retired from my nursing career in 2016 and have started Stretching Forward LLC. We think of how there are days that never end, some we can’t wait for, and some we hope we never see. Reflection of where we have been is important only so we can look forward. When we live each day of our journey, we are able to let go of yesterday and not worry about tomorrow. And then, life happens. Both good and bad, happy and sad. Yes, January 1 starts a new decade, but it’s just another day! Make it count for you.
Each day is a blessing!
Look for peace within yourself.