Let's share a coffee and good cheer

This is genuinely my favourite time of year. I probably love this time of year more than my birthday, which is quite a stretch given that my birthday is at the beginning of summer, so everything is green and sunny and life is just overall better in the summer.

The romantic writer in me loves this time of year. Maybe it's my love for hallmark movies and Christmas miracles. Maybe it's the holiday cheer and the simple fact that people tend to be nicer, more cheerful and more giving. Maybe it's a combination of all of those things with a sprinkle of hot cocoa and cozy fireplaces and a Christmas tree with twinkly lights. Maybe it's the fact that every year, I return to my hometown for a few weeks and I re-visit the local bars where I run into all my old friends and we catch up on our lives. This time of year always makes me feel just a little more grateful for my life, what I've accomplished and what I am capable of doing. It makes me feel just a little more hopeful that everything will work out, no matter whatever hardship I might be enduring.

More so than anything, this time of year and especially this year, makes me think of where I was at in life last year right around this time. Without the need to get into the sad shit, let's just say that I was experiencing a really sad time. I guess it sort of set the tone for the type of year that I would have and if you know me, you know I'm one superstitious bitch. I started the year with a kiss to my champagne flute and a selfie sent to a guy who also kissed his glass but somewhere in Florida. Needless to say, I wanted to kiss him instead. Needless to also say, that did not happen.

Weirdly enough, I kissed quite a bit of glasses this year, and not a whole lot of guys. Probably better that way cause I'm honestly sick of my heart hurting.

I've read 13 books this year, visited 6 countries and 11 cities, pet an abundance of dogs and drank somewhere around 400 cups of coffee. I rode a skateboard, held hands with strangers and danced the night away. I've vowed to never lose myself again, not for anyone.

It took approximately 6 months of working on myself every day to find a balance. I only cried 10 times this year. I made a handful of new friends and lost just as many. I re-connected with old friends and flames. I fell back in love with writing and I started working on a novel. I gave up writing that novel. I started again... and I gave up again.

I finally live on my own and I bought myself all the things I thought would make great "boyfriend gifts". Why was I waiting for someone else when I am fully capable of giving myself all of those things? Even so, some days get lonely and it would be nice to share life with someone. I don't want to though if that person will be temporary.

I'm at a place where life is good and I am on a good path. I have everything I need and maybe even a little more than that. I'm comfortable but also at a level of comfort where I can embark on new adventures with the peace of mind that I have a safety blanket to fall back on. I have a lot of things I want to do in the year to come, now is just a matter of working through the scattered ideas I keep on having.

Over the next few weeks, while I get ready for the holiday season, I want to give some thought to the things I want to accomplish in the year to come. The person I want to be, the people I want to attract, and the places I want to travel to.

If you're reading this, let's connect over a coffee cause I'd love to hear about your plans for the year to come.