I am seeing lots of social media posts sharing life events of the past decade. As a new decade begins (although some people even have to argue about whether it is indeed a new decade or not yet) it is fun to look back at the past 10 years.
While I saw my son graduate from college, went back to college myself and graduated, did countless plays, made new friends and strengthened old friendships, saw the loss of my mother in law and then my own mom, and much more, the changes in the past year are what I have actually been focused on.
At the end of 2018, Tim and I celebrated the start of 2019 by going out to dinner. Tim was having severe health issues and that dinner, while nice, had its challenges. I saw a future that looked troubling as I watched him struggle.
This year we again celebrated the change from 2019 to 2020 with dinner out, this time with friends. As I watched Tim being the designated driver, the person we all trust to get us where we want to go safely and then saw him talking to the restaurant owner, one of the many friends he has made over his lifetime, I realized how much things have changed in one year and I am beyond grateful.
Where would any of us be if the doctor hadn’t figured out what the problem was, if he hadn’t eventually been able to help? What would we do without this great guy not just in our lives, but helping us all to have better lives? Where would I be without my moral compass, my rock? What a difference a year has made!
At the end of 2018 my son Jon was just starting to date a young lady he had known from work for several years. He seemed happy and it seemed like they might have a future. In 2019 they continued to date and grow together. They traveled a lot and enjoyed lots of adventures together. By the end of 2019, they had each sold their houses, bought a new home together and were married. They ended 2019 with a trip and begin the new year with more adventures ahead. What a difference a year has made!
I begin rehearsals for the next play I am directing in less than a week. Last year at this time I was in the middle of directing a play and I felt a bit unsure of what I had chosen to direct and how it would work out due to my own insecurities and my concerns over Tim. This year, I am excited and feel way more confident and sure about what I want this production to be. I have already picked out other plays I want to direct. Last year I wasn’t sure if I ever wanted the pressure of directing again. What a difference a year has made!
We never know how things will go on any given day, much less 365 of them. (366 this year, right?) The changes that can happen in a year are mindboggling! They can be scary or exciting to think about. They can be life changing. The one thing that is certain, things will happen. The other thing that is certain is that we have no idea what those things will be.
It will be interesting to see what I will write about in 366 days, to contemplate what has happened, what I did, what I saw, what I experienced. Looking backwards, I see nothing but positives this past year, although I am sure I experienced negative things I just can’t remember. All I know for sure is that there is no telling what a difference this next year will make!
