This is a Woman

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2011 has been quite a year. Among other things, I separated from my husband, lost my mother and had to handle her affairs, had some scary-but-not-dangerous health issues, and had to navigate everyday life in between all that and a bunch of smaller stuff, too. I AM SO GLAD 2011 IS OVER. Srsly.

But I was telling my acupuncturist last night that even though this year has been hell, and even though I am SO GLAD IT’S OVER, I can’t deny that it gave me some gifts along the way. You don’t go through a year like that without learning something about yourself and growing wiser and more mature. And probably also getting PTSD.

The image above is from my favorite blogger’s most recent post. Even though she and I live very different lives and had very different years, I think her sentiment there is very similar to what I’m trying to get at. Life is hard. And that is beautiful.

It turns out that, even in my darkest days, if I just keep putting my one foot in front of the other, I come out at the end of the tunnel. And it. is. beautiful.

I hope you had a much better year than I did, and that you grew more wise and mature, anyway. And here’s to a fucking FABULOUS 2012. Because I just know it’s gonna rock.

See you next week with your usual Weekly Awesome. And if you haven’t yet promised to be kind to yourself, go here and do so.

Happy new year!