A Year Of Hope

I have lots of friends who I talk to and see quite a lot. I subscribe to a number of blogs that range in content quite a lot, from perfumed oils to total geeks to renowned authors and photographers. Seems to me like 2010 was a year of mention.
I entered 2010 with a foreboding feeling that the bottom had dropped out and I rang in the new year as cheerily as I could...which was not nearly cheery enough, especially for me. As the year progressed and I tried to figure out what to do with these uninvited emotions, I ended up forming a new, extra-steely bond with my husband and a couple of very close friends who I now hold even dearer. Closer to June, I hit breaking point and with as much dignity as I could possibly muster, I straightened up and screamed at the top of my spiritual lungs, "ENOUGH ALREADY! I'VE HAD IT!" I took steps that scared the bejeezes out of me and I did it knowing that if I didn't, part of me was going to die. Thank God for the people in my life who reminded me through the year that it was all going to be ok. I ended 2010 and entered 2011 rather proud of myself for sticking out the tough times while upholding my "moral fiber". It was of the utmost importance to me to maintain an amount of dignity in my trials and though I can't say I wouldn't do a few things differently, I think overall I did pretty ok.
Is this sounding familiar to anyone? Because the more I read and the more I talk to people the more I hear the undertones of my own tale told back to me in different circumstances. I'm not saying anyone is out of the woods yet, but it's sure nice to be in a place that feels fresh and hopeful. It's like a brand new room with nice carpet and fresh paint and now we're all ready to start adding squishy furniture and pretty paintings. I'm ready to join my comrades in making 2011 a really place to live.