This Blog

 This blog has been a lot of things over the years. 

• A place for religious reflection
• A travel Blog
• Wedding planning
• More travel
• Processing of grief 
• A space to heal 
• A place where I could put everything out there 
• More travel
• A place to look back on the good
• A place to grow. 

The the last 12 months the blog has had over 6400 views. Compared to 4000 in the 7+ years prior combined.  Knowing people were "with me" thought was helping me through some of the pain, but what I've started to realize, is that people didn't check in on me that many times- not even remotely close to that.  Reading my blog gave people a way to feel connected to me without having to actually connect with me. And in 2025, I'd rather connect with people, face to face, over the phone or at the bare minimum the texts and memes my besties and I send to each other daily. 

I'm not saying I'll stop blogging all together. I think it is a great spot to talk about travel, recipes or favorite things, but the sharing so much of my life, I'm going to pull back on what goes out to the world.  If you want to know what's going on in my life ask. Go out for a drink or a coffee with me. Call me. Do more than just click a link or like a post. 

Signing off for now

C

Memories

 13 years ago I was in a really bad car accident. A friend had taken me out for my birthday. At the end of the night we were sitting in his van at a stoplight on a street I've now probably driven a hundred times, when we were rear ended by a drunk driver who was texting. She blew 3x the legal limit and it was not her first rodeo with DUIs. The force with which she hit the van with pushed it clear through the intersection and into the next block turning the van into a compact car. I know all of this from photos and reports as I have no memory of that night or frankly the surrounding days leading up to or after the accident. 

I don't think about it often anymore, except when I have pain flares, usually as a result of re-injury to similar areas.  This week it's my left hip. I was wearing a seat belt in the crash and have had left hip and right shoulder pain as well as neck and back pain on and off for years. However this weekend I took a fall on the hike and landed hard on my left hip. That jolt of pain is a clear reminder of why hands free devices matter, of why drinking 1 glass of water for every drink matters, why getting home before the bars close was some of the best advice my mother ever gave me.  

So this year the reminder of the accident came in the form of a sore hip. But this memory like so many others are things I'd rather forget. But like so many others the reminders come in unusual ways, at unusual times and the universe doesn't seem to care about the impact. 

Thankfully with this particular situation it's only physical pain. The others not hurt much more. 

Signing off for now

C

New Years Resolutions 2025

My only real goal for last year was to survive. This year I'm looking to thrive. 

Goals 

1. Remove that which does not bring me joy. I have TOO MUCH CLOTHING.  Case could be made I had too much going into this year, and while I got rid of a lot I brought in a lot. If it doesn't bring me joy it needs to go. It wont go all at once, but it's time to reduce the wardrobe to things I actually take advantage of wearing. 

2. Complete at least 1 tech course outside of work. I've got a series of Excel classes for work in the spring to be able to make better use of my data and also to better instruct the parts of my course that include excel, but I'd like to complete an online course in something tech related so I can build professional skills outside of education. I love what I do, but the next 4 years and the impact of them are making me nervous. 

3. Get involved in local political action. My sphere of control isn't huge, but I'd like to work on making and impact closer to home.

4. Go to church consistently and volunteer at church (or bake) at least once a month.

5. Leave work at work and have balanced time with the people in my life that matter. I've honestly made huge progress in this area and just want to keep it up. I learned in December how easy it can be to be sucked back in. To have toxic or unhealthy conversations and to have that anxiety creep back into my life. 

6. Work out 3x a week