Another Year

So.

I am taking a breather and looking back on the past year since today is my "true" 33rd birthday. Boy. What a ride. I kind of find myself smiling though...but that shouldn't surprise many of you. Sometimes I think I am the Joker with a plastered on smile. ;)

Thankfully...I am blessed today with a calmness and serenity that I haven't felt in awhile. It's a new year for me and I need to make this another new beginning.

(I shake my head and laugh) My...how many of those have I had? Changes and renewals are definitely part of the Pisces "lore". And I am listening to the song, "Wasted" by Carrie Underwood and I don't want to spend my life jaded and wasted. I closed off a part of myself after the "David Debacle".

It's time to move on. And though I have said I have before, I don't think I believed it. I felt kind of "demonized" by him at the end of things. Some self-doubt creeped in but after a funny conversation with my friend Larry...I kind of realized something.

So I have always believed that you can tell a lot about a person from his friends. I wanted to have a big party again so I set things up, got the venue, and the caterer. Of course, I do throw good parties ;) But I am very happy with the number of people showing up to wish me well :) If the reward for getting older is having the number of people in your life grow...then bring it on :)

Thankfully I have been gifted with a youthful face (the other day I was told I didn't look a day over 26...they need to look closer at the laugh lines ;) and I do definitely try to keep myself in shape.

The things I have learned this year I think will be some lessons that will hopefully shape my future:

• Sometimes loving myself means letting go of someone else
• Never loan money out. Things get...tainted.
• The best friends are those that know I am doing something stupid, but support me anyway, especially after I get burned.
• I take a compliment when I get one, but I don't need one to be feel good about myself

So...I'm going to go eat. My old old college friend, JohnJohn, and I are going to go out. But tomorrow...tomorrow is the night to paint the town RED. :) Stories and pictures forthcoming!