2016, You Don't Suck

Recently I have seen Facebook posts by a number of different friends, along the general lines of "2016, You Suck!" Friends and family who have posted this sentiment are generally lamenting the loss of beloved celebrities - actors, musicians, authors, etc. - if not the far suckier things like economic uncertainties and violence around the world. I know that most, if not all, of those sentiments are written in the moment, and a careful examination of 2015 or 2014 or 2013 would reveal the same number of losses, the same number of incidents in our individual communities and around the world which invoke fear and uncertainty and disgust. Social media has a tendency to make us think things have never been this bad in all the history of mankind (they have) and we've never lost so many actors and musicians and authors as we have this year (we have - go to Wikipedia, type in the year, scroll down.)

Life is hard. Sometimes it's harder than it is at other times.

Life is wonderful. Sometimes it's more wonderful than at other times.

Sometimes it's both. For myself, 2016 has been both. I pushed myself outside my comfort zone a dozen times and found myself pushed outside it by unwelcome forces. Forgotten fears resurfaced. New fears tagged along. There have been health concerns, both for myself and in my family, and a couple of those were downright frightening. There was stress at work. I changed residences and even after downsizing I still have way.too.much.stuff. And if anyone is actually looking for sucky stuff, one only has to turn on the news (it is debatable who portrays doom and gloom the best: social media or the "real" media.)

Pushed outside my comfort zone, I found forgotten strength to handle those forgotten fears. Rifts were healed, friendships renewed. Health scares turned out to be less frightening than when they first appeared, and health returned. Babies were born - beautiful, precious babies - a grandnephew and children of friends, and I got to hold them, and did I mention they are beautiful and precious? (Seriously, people, if you think this or any other year "sucks", you need to go ask to hold someone's baby, and hold that baby until your perspective is reset!) I taught 3-4-5 year old children at church this year and I'm pretty sure I have less hair than when I started but oh, how I have grown to love those children! Work got better - considerably so - not less challenging, but less stressful. "Stuff" is making its way out the door faster than it's coming in. I read more, and found books which made it to my "favorites" shelf. I wrote more (not on my blogs; I know you just checked that, admit it!) - and - I submitted my work. Okay, so it was rejected. But I submitted! For the first time in a decade.

I woke up. 364 days so far this year, I woke up. I have wonderfully supportive friends and family who are there at times of crises and there for the good times. I have a job. I have food on the table and in the pantry. I have what a coworker refers to as "The Over 50 Disease" but overall, my health is good. I live in a free country where I get a say in who runs it, even if ofttimes those choices are less than stellar. The tough parts of this year I handled, occasionally with finesse and decorum, and those tough times put me on paths I wouldn't have found myself on otherwise.

One of those paths took me where I needed to be for my heart to be open to a relationship with an absolutely amazing woman. The relationship is yet in its infancy and I am still astounded at the exquisite comfort and joy of having this incredibly loving and lovable person in my life, who loves and cherishes me and allows me to love and cherish her in return. And before I break out into song, I'll just say I am a truly blessed man.

No, 2016, you don't suck. You totally rock.