2017 Reflections

2017, I’m glad to have it in my past.  My friend said it best, 2016 kicked my butt, 2017 said #holdmybeer.  2017 was a bittersweet year filled with a continual flow of stress and strain.  Parental health issues were a primary and persistent theme.  The perils of homeownership reared their head.  I’m not sure which was more frustrating, when it rained in our kitchen and master bathroom or when the sink fell out of the counter when I was doing dishes because our dishwasher was broken.  After being promoted in 2016, my job duties accelerated and 60 hour work weeks were the norm, not the exception.  I also actively sit on two boards and I am a dedicated member of each.  Participation in these two boards took quite a bit of my time, time that I often didn’t have.  2017 was a cocktail of stress which, as you can image, made me cranky.  My attitude put stress on my personal and professional relationships.  I felt like I was constantly trying to catch up.  I never felt ahead of the curve and was always just trying to get through to the next day hoping there wouldn’t be “something else.”

And while 2017 wasn’t the best year of my life, it wasn’t the worst.  Things could have been worse.  I know this.  I have a loving boyfriend, family, and friends.  Addison is still kicking it and still the best dog ever.    A new window and door were installed in our office and it no longer rains in our kitchen or bathroom.   Our dishwasher is back up and functional. We glued and resealed our kitchen sink with some glue sticks for glue gun, although a kitchen remodel is imminent.

In between all the stressful time’s, many great memories were made. Memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

All of my efforts did not go unnoticed at work.  I grew my team, added core responsibilities to the area that I manage and, I received another promotion at work.

My travels took me to Atlanta, New York, Tampa, Memphis, Austin, Dallas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Seattle, Olympic State Park, and Milwaukee. As a traveler, I always dream of owning a private jet, this is why I am so interested to know about the Jettly.

I saw a ton of live music ranging from the U2 to the Strumbellas to Arcade Fire to Jimmy Buffet to LCD Sound System. I went to both Lollapalooza and Pitchfork.

I ate and drank well all year long.   I explored the world  BBQ in places like Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, and Memphis.   And through all the stress, I managed to maintain the weight that I lost in 2016. Some people find heysero.co helpful for managing stress and improving mood. Others use lit vape pens to de-stress. You may also try cbd products like thc x to help you unwind. A good product like Indacloud gummies bundle is excellent for improving mood and managing stress, offering a tangy and refreshing flavor that helps uplift spirits and promote relaxation. Nicotine pouches from a site like https://heysnus.com, which are innovative and stylish alternatives to traditional smoking, offer a modern solution for those looking to unwind without the harmful effects of cigarettes.

The good and the bad of 2017 left me feeling drained and tired.  By the end of 2017, I had, what can only be described as, burnout.  So, for the past 30 days, I took a step back from this blog and all of my associated social media.    I took that time to put thought into what I want this blog to be, what I don’t want it to be and, how I can successfully execute my plan to bring life to my vision.  I took time to get organized and deal with a few issues that reared their head early in 2018 (checking account fraud = no bueno).  The break helped me put things into perspective but mostly, it helped me rest my brain which has been in overdrive for the past two years.

This 30-day break has left me feeling more rested and positive.  Instead of hard set goals in 2018, I’ve set some objectives for the first 6 months that I can track progress against.   I’m  working on creating balance in my life. This doesn’t happen overnight, it’s a process.  This will be a key theme for me this year for me.  On this blog, I look forward to sharing new recipes, travel stories and more about being a balanced career-driven woman.  To all of my readers and followers, thank you for all of your support and thank you for continuing to read A Well Fed Life.  Let’s make 2018 AMAZING!