2017 in Review

Hi! How are you doing?

How has life been treating you?

Have you had a chance to sit down and think about it lately?

When you keep as busy as you do, that’s not always easy to do. I know. I’m right there with you.

The distractions are constant. The distractions are everywhere. To be real, we kinda like the distractions. Thinking about our own situations can be … well, less than fun.

Most of us don’t even realize we’re addicted to the distractions. We fill every moment with work, conversations, texts, checking up on social media … anything to keep from sitting still and thinking for a moment about important questions like, am I taking care of myself as well as I should?

Yeah, I don’t blame you. Stress comes with the emotions stirred up by those types of questions. Life seems to be zooming by us and when we keep ourselves constantly distracted it’s like stepping on the accelerator.

Another year has passed. Wow. Where did it go?

Sure, I can take a minute to reflect on that to help you avoid thinking about your own year:

2017 was a bitch. Filled with lots of unexpected blessings mind you, but filled with change … and change is often painful.

I started the year out at a job I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy (litte secret: I don’t really have any enemies … no room in my heart for hate anymore. I outgrew that.). I’ll discuss that more in August when my gag order is lifted…

Long story made very, very short … I lost the job, or the job lost me … the transition was tough, but eventually I got the kind of job I’ve wanted for years. So THAT part is all good.

But the blessings come during the tough times. When things are dark and you feel like the world has cast you aside, no longer seeing any worth in you, and your best efforts keep leading to dead ends … that is a great opportunity for perspective.

I met countless wonderful people while driving for Uber and Lyft to fill the gap. What a wonderful re-affirmation of the human spirit to learn that the vast majority of people are kind and friendly … and encouraging! There were many people who struck up very open and personal conversations and connected on a level I never expected possible from a total stranger.

They were going through drama, trials, pain, loss in their own lives and needed that kind of connection as much as I did. We would offer each other empathy and well wishes before parting ways forever.

There was a woman living in a shelter who was trying desperately to secure an apartment so she could be reunited with her children. There was a young guy who was on his way to see his estranged wife to try to work out their problems so he could be with his three young daughters again. One night I picked up a retired man from a bar that had closed late on a Wednesday night who told me to take him to any bar that’s still open. His wife was gone and they had no children and he just wanted to be anywhere but home. Although nothing was open that late on a Wednesday night I drove him around for another hour having a lovely conversation.

So I guess I’ll offer this little piece of advice here in the Christmas season, as 2017 is winding down … just be kind. That’s really all most people need. Take your nose out of your screen now and again and offer a kind word to someone … to anyone. It’s well worth a break from the distractions.