Cheers! Here's to one year of WTF...

And here we are … a year later.

Aug. 13 marked the one-year anniversary of my first blog post. It’s hard for me to digest that a whole year of sharing my thoughts, feelings and experiences has gone by. A year of healing and “unhealing” as I take steps forward — and back — and attempt to figure out my life.

Some days have been easy. Some days not so much. But I did so much work in my first year of widowhood that this second year seems less overwhelming and, for me, more familiar.

I’m getting used to making decisions on my own. For a person who really doesn’t like to make decisions, that’s been a challenge. I’m getting used to being more unstructured. Before I was married, I was more carefree, less schedule-driven. But working for an airline and being married to a man who was very structured, I found myself living a more rigid life. Nothing wrong with it at all but reverting back to a bit of my bohemian lifestyle has felt like an exhale.

I’ve shared a lot of this with complete strangers in my blog. I’ve chosen moments to be vulnerable and live out loud. I’ve shared — not because my life is fascinating or amazing or remarkable to anyone other than me but because, if I was going to build ties with people who were also grieving and healing, I was going to do it as authentically as possible. 

I’m proud of what I’ve shared. I’m proud of what I’ve written. I’m proud of who I am.

If you’ve felt connected to me because you can relate to my experiences I’m glad we can share that bond. I feel connected to so many of you with what you’ve chosen to share as well. All of our experiences combined mean we learn from each other as we live our lives going forward.

I’ll keep writing for as long as it feels right and as long as it brings me joy to share. I’m not afraid to live my life out loud (parts of it anyway) because life is an adventure to share.

❤️