Feel-good Friday: Hello 2017!

I’ve been waiting for you! You’re a welcome change and a new chapter waiting to be written. A fresh start to learn from past mistakes and strive to improve all future aspects of life.  I welcome you with an open heart and a commitment to further enrich my life and the lives of those around me.

Well it’s a good place to start.

As it so happens my year end 2016 did not go as planned.  While traveling I very suddenly developed a virus that left me incapacitated for several days, having to make an emergency visit to a doctor in Oregon and take antibiotics.  I had a fever, chills and could hardly swallow without feeling pain.  Also sooooo lethargic. This from someone who rarely if ever gets sick.  But I’m over it now.  Still have an annoying dry cough but other than that I feel almost back to normal considering I was ever normal.  So instead of celebrating with friends in the wine region I was stuck in a hotel room in my pajamas with a party hat & party favours (I didn’t dare put on my glitter outfit which I brought if you can believe that) waiting for the ball to drop on Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Years Eve with host Ryan Seacrest live from New York.  Except just before the ball was about to drop and they were starting the countdown the station cut to a commercial.  Who does that??  So when they cut back to the live programming it was already over – at least in New York.  Then off to sleep I went.  I really feel l missed out and was going to call the station to complain.

But then when I woke up it was already a brand new year…..whew!  I never made the call.

So I checked my mail and FB to see who was celebrating where and with whom.  Then I see a message from a very dear friend who lives in Florida who I haven’t heard from in what seems like months.  To find out that for almost one year now she has gone totally sober. She went to rehab and re-discovered herself, made new friends and realized that she doesn’t need alcohol after all.   I’m so proud of her for having taken the first step towards twelve steps and beyond.  I think it must be very difficult to overcome addiction and even more difficult to stay sober but I’m certain she’ll stay sober now because she has the support of others in the same situation.  Support is everything.

I realize that everyone has their demons, their setbacks or unusual circumstances but also their dreams. Life is full of ups and downs and we make choices, made do, rise above it, stay put or move ahead.  Only we decide how to live our lives.  Once in a while there are circumstances beyond our control of course but for the most part…..

So today is a brand new day.  I missed the deadline for getting accreditation to cover the Palm Springs International Film Festival by only 3 days so that was a bummer.  But I was told to come by the press office once in town and they gave me media passes for the festival anyway.  Score!  It’s a fabulous line up of entertainment that awaits.

That’s all to say I’m going to enjoy whatever sunshine comes my way and see a few movies in the meantime.  I’ll be in touch very soon.

Happy 2017!

Things are about to get a whole lot brighter