Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Gone in a blink...

The morning alarm went off as usual and I found myself sitting on the edge of my bed scratching my head and catching my fingers in that matted mass I call my hair. Another day of work, I thought.  Time to get going and stop putting off the inevitable. And with an old heave ho, I launched my rather large bottom off my rather high bed and landed on the floor with a thunderous thump as I started what would be the last eleven days of 2011.  

Stumbling into the wall, tripping over my slippers, I lethargically dragged myself to the glaring light coming from my bathroom. I stood staring in the bathroom vanity mirror for several moments surveying the rather large pimple that was flashing it's white neon head at me from the inside of one of my flaring nostrils.  With tweezers in hand I tried to get at the little bugger, but eventually gave up when I realized it was on an angle in my nose that I and the tweezers could not quite comprehend.

With a resounding sigh, I jumped into the shower and turned on the soft warm heat of the soothing water and closed my eyes and thought.... "where did this year go?"

Moments of this year flashed furiously by like a movie in fast motion. And there, in a blink, it seemed to me that the year had disappeared as quickly as it came.  Things had changed drastically in my life in twelve short months.  I have watched my mother's little pooch go from being spry to being geriatric, I have seen my older niece turn into a vivacious confident woman, my younger niece turn into an Audrey Hepburn beauty with the lady-like manners to match, my grandmother revert back to child-like senses and my sister-in-law struggle over the possibility of not living till the end of the year.  I have put my house up for sale, and have taken it down, I have struggled with my own health, bad news and moments of despair.  I have shut down my blog, opened it back up and taken time to reflect on the things that became important.  I have cleansed my poor body and learned to work with it as oppose to against it. I have put some things into play and sat idly by while I let more important things pass me by.

All in all, it's been a year of learning. 

Ironically, I can remember that 2011 was to be the year about me.  And while a small part of it was, mostly it wasn't. Part of it became about the battle between myself and my all encompassing nemesis of my daily life, pain.  

But mostly, it was about the connection with others thru social media and what it brought to me.

It was about finding joy in small places, simple ideas and everyday situations.  It prompted me to start my 500 days of Happiness Page on Facebook.  Funnily enough, I never thought I would make it past day 50, and here I am at day 243, with a small but loyal group of followers who regularly contribute and do wonderful things by posting pictures, and writing songs and creating art, all in the name of Happiness.  It still makes me smile.

I found out thru the year who I could rely on and who I couldn't, I experienced joy in the reconnection of an old friendships, I found joy in the connection with new friendships, I found joy just sitting at my bistro table watching the birds in my yard.  Who knew?

I realized it wasn't about the big things in life, it was about the simple joys of living.  It was about those every day moments like reading, singing, twirling in the yard, listening to music, digging in the earth and walking hand in hand with my better half.  Sometimes it was even more simplistic than that.  Sometimes, the joy was sitting in a lawn chair watching the clouds go by.

This year wasn't the Year about Me, as I so boldly tooted in January.  This year was the Year in finding joy.  And I did.

And as 2011 starts to wrap itself up, I am excited about what 2012 will bring.  I have found that over the past year nothing is better than working together in harmony with others. It has been far more enriching than I ever expected.

And as 2012 creeps quietly upon me, I feel a creative journey ahead of me.  And it makes my toes tingle, my heart flutter and my soul aching in anticipation.

And even if I head into 2012 with a pimple in my nose, a rash on my bum and pain in my neck, I can honestly say "so what", because this year really gave me what is important in life.  It gave me YOU!  And how lucky am I! 

Happy Holidays my friends.  

Thank you for your continued loyalty, support and friendship.

You all touch my heart.

Cheers
Tracy

35 comments:

  1. trace, it's been a great year to know you even though it didn't turn out to be the year of tracy like you'd anticipated a year ago. sometimes what we need aren't the things we want or look for and in the end they're better.
    my year certainly hasn't turned out as expected either. not even a little bit.
    love ya!

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  2. Very uplifting post! It is the little things that make us te happiest. Peace.

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  3. 2011 found me the most beautiful friend in you. Your wonderful 500 days of happiness, your lovely funny and sweet observations of your everyday make me thankful for having met you in this online world.
    I dont know if we will ever meet in real life but I certainly wish we might
    A very happy christmas and a wonderful exciting new year to you and your family
    With hugs and love
    Txx

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  4. We had the same year--the year of me that became instead the year of joy. So happy for both of us.

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  5. Lovely post Tracey.

    Well written. I have not been with you all year, but share your ups and downs. Your cries, and your laughter.

    2011 was not a year that I want to remember but will, for in hard times and frailty is where I find growth.

    This year I hope to watch the clouds go by and hear the birds sing.

    looking forward to more, melissa

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  6. Thank you all... I love ya guys, I really do... you make a difference in my life. And Mynx, I do plan one day to hop that plane and come down and see you! Thank you all again! xoxo

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  7. And it gave us you! Thanks for the memories BABE.

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  8. There is so much in life that we really hate at the time, but in the end I don't think we can hate what happened. It brought us to where we are right now. It equips us to deal with whatever life throws at us. It shows us what really matters and what really doesn't.

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  9. So beautifully put Ruth!!! And you know, thank you so much for all your contributions to the 500 days of happiness page!!! You make it so much better there! And here!

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  10. Well let me put my two cents in here too Miss Tracy. You have been my 2011 funny girl. You know like "that girl" that we loved so much. Marlo Thomas? well your the real deal. And your Canadian.
    Thank you for your friendship Tracy. With all you go through, you keep smiling and that's what I LOVE. Your smile, even if i haven't seen your teeth or feet yet ; )
    xoxoxoxoxo

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  11. LOL!!! Oh Claudie, you so funny girl!!! I love and adore you too my friend! xoxo

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  12. Awww, that's sweet of you to say Tracy.

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  13. It was the best of times, it was the worse of times.. I am looking forward to putting 2011 behind me.
    Wishing you continuing joy for 2012. Glad to have met you :)

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  14. Very thought provoking Tracy! Yes, I think that we like to kid ourselves that we are in control of our lives, but in fact the opposite it true because life just comes at you from all directions, sometimes smacking you in the face, sometimes giving you unbridled joy and all you can do is take the good stuff and be grateful and learn to cope with the bad stuff! We just never know what is coming next and so, as you say, we have to take pleasure in every little moment and be happy if we can. More to the point, we can try to make other people happy and Tracy, you certainly have done that this year. You brighten my day! Please keep going! :-) xxx

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  15. I hate it when I get one of those nose pimples! I don't think Id leave the house until I finally popped it. The fact that I know it was there would annoy me all day LOL!!

    Im delighted you are taking the steps to a creative path in 2012, It brings me much joy (and frustration when I cant get the time to get crafty!!)
    It will also help you take your mind off the pain for a while, so that's another good thing! :)

    Im also looking forward to finding the joy in the everyday life in 2012, so thank you Tracy for 500 days of happiness!

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  16. I agree, where did 2011 go?!

    http://pablosangel.blogspot.com/

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  17. Well I am glad that I am not alone on the pimple front Mandy! LOL!!! and thank you Sandy and Mandy for those kind words. As for you Little Sprite, I hope this year brings good health to you and your family, with everything you go thru, you are such a trooper!!! And as you get older sweet Hazel, you will find everything goes as fast as the speed of light! For which I say "ugh!" :)

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  18. I am so glad we have met via the internet too! That is a gift in itself. 2011 was probably one of the toughest years for me as well. Physically it was horrid. Pain sucks doesn't it? Emotionally,it was so bad living without income and struggling with my relationship with Bruce was horrible. Yet it is ending on a good note so let's hope 2012 is better for us both. Remember that Myrtle Beach is your one stop vacation fun place! Merry Christmas and a great New Year! Hugs.

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  19. Life has a funny way of slipping by when you're not paying attention. I had goals for this year; some happened, most didn't. But, like you, my life is full of joy and so what if things didn't go as I planned! My life is very full and I am very blessed and that's all I can ask for. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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  20. I hope it is better for you Barb, I really do and some day you may find me on that beach with you!!! and I love hearing how wonderful it has been for you Leslie, that makes me smile! Thank you for sharing that!

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  21. It's been an interesting year to say the least! Hope 2012 is your year hun:)

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  22. I just adore you! Here's to a 2012 filled with magic and dreams. Much love to you, always!

    *Hugs*

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  23. I will say two things about this post. #1, your blog party and your subsequent challenge turned me from a bumbling blogger with five follwers to a bumbling blogger with 35 followers. I met a whole new circle of really neat people, and saw what a blog COULD be used for. #2, my end of year is usually capped off with multiple watchings of Counting Crows' A Long December and tears as I try to convince myself that "there is reason to believe/maybe this year will be better than the last." While I don't expect the tradition to change any, you've helped make it a little easier to believe. Merry Christmas!

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  24. Right back atcha!
    If the world ends in 2012, as the Mayans say (who are dead, I might add)... well, as they said on the Titanic (no, not "Knock that crazy bitch off the raft and save yourself, Jack!"): I'll have this to say to my Blogger friends, "It's been an honor playing with you."
    Looks like our days started differently.....
    The morning alarm went off as usual and I found myself reaching for the phone to call in sick to work.

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  25. Same to you lovely SI. And I so adore you to Frisky!

    And Chris... I will send my good vibes your way that 2012 is awesome for you, because you are amazing and deserve the best!

    Oh Al, my better half is convinced we aren't going to make it to December 22, 2012, as such, I hope to get as much of your blog as possible, just so that I can share it in the after life with all the ones that made it to Heaven, and those of you (oops did I say that), whose writing got them band from Heaven! LOL!!!

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  26. What a fantastic post. I think it's been quite an interesting year for many of us...and many of us have been able to find the connections we've been missing...I know I have. I'm so thankful for your kind comments and for the chance to get to know you via our blogs.
    May your 2012 continue to be happy and also be pain free.
    Love,
    Stephanie

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  27. Thank you JDay and your hard work at connecting us all this year, and thank you sweet little Sprite... and what lovely lovely words Stephanie!!! I am so glad to have gotten to know you too and all the best for you in 2012 as well! xoxox

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  28. Aw, what a nice year end reflection post. Great attitude for the new year!

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  29. Why thank you Gia!!! Appreciate the kind words!

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  30. Wishing you a very happy Christmas, Tracy!

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  31. Thank you beautiful Yvonne! Same to you my lovely friend xo

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