There are a lot of good things that come with age.
No, really.
- You don’t sweat the stupid stuff (much)
- You find it easier to laugh at yourself (after all, there’s a lifetime of material)
- You appreciate the little things in life (like warm, fuzzy socks)
After the way the end of 2012 fizzled on the business front, I was surprised how calm I felt when the calendar flipped to 1/1.
I am either really laid back or flat-lining.
You be the judge.
Smokin’ Start
The start of 2012 had me pounding the keyboard hard.
- A first-time retainer fee with a long-time client (guaranteed income, right?)
- The highest quarter of revenue since starting my business
- More projects than I could shake a stick at (not sure why I would want to)
Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Then Life Happened
The rug went flying out from under me.
- A top client’s marketing department disintegrated
- Another’s monthly projects disappeared
- The retainer fell apart with no income for the last quarter
And I had an Emergency Room visit that had me actually paying that high deductible (for the first time in four years).
That was followed with a “routine” eye visit that turned into a damaged cornea. On the day this posts, I’ll be going for the final (I hope) visit for my damaged cornea – the refractive visit.
As 2012 limped into history, i refrained from kicking its butt along – barely.
Flash Forward
For all of its craziness, 2012 does not leave me down.
Stressed? I’d be lying if I said, Not at all.
But, it’s manageable stress.
I like to think my age lends a certain calm that this, too, shall pass.
And there was so much to like about 2012.
- A trip to Chicago for a relative’s wedding and a long-overdue reunion with cousins
- My 9th 3-Day, 60-Mile Walk for the Cure with my great Fight Like A Girl teammates
- A great 1st & 2nd quarter so I could pay that deductible and medical bills
- Notre Dame football going 12-0 – Go Irish!!
- A fun, family get-together at Christmas
And a whole lot more.
I’m looking forward to getting this party started in 2013.
- So, am I laid-back or flat-lining?
- Or just really, really fortunate?
You be the judge.
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Live…Laugh…Love
Sharon Hurley Hall says
That’s a nice, balanced attitude, Cathy. 🙂 No point hanging onto stress; far better to focus on making 2013 a great year, right?
Cathy says
You got that right, Sharon. Focusing here. 🙂
Lori says
I think it’s laid back. And it’s welcome, isn’t it? Maybe you didn’t react so strongly because you know you’ve overcome similar things in your life? And life often throws us a curve. We have to be willing to accept that our plans are at the mercy of a higher power.
Cathy says
Amen to that, Lori. 😉 And you are right – laid back is welcome. Why sweat what’s already behind you?
Thanks for stopping by, Lori.