2012: A Year of Celebration

What a growing, transitional year!  It has felt soooo good-- like my soul is a boxer that's decided to take up yoga.  Ha!  :)


2011 was a huge year for me in regard to letting go and moving forward.  It's been a year of what I call 'doing the work'-- trusting the unknown, learning to be alone in the healthiest of ways, having the courage to take a painful step forward and say yes to love & possibility & hope & life when everything in my being wanted to cling to a past of darkness, fear, familiarity and sadness. 


It's been a miraculous & empowering year full of ups and downs.  From healing heartbroken wounds & job firings to trips to Hawaii & the creation of the (soon to be world famous!!! haha) Salted Caramel Creme Brulee cupcake, I couldn't begin to be more grateful for all of it.  Where I was a year ago and where I am at today are two completely different places.  I have a life!  I have a great job!  I make a difference! 
Reflecting on this year and looking forward to 2012, I told BF that this could possibly turn out to be the greatest year of my life.  By my birthday in October, everything, everything, everything will have changed:


1)  I will have officially worked myself out of FIVE YEARS worth of credit card debt and I will be off of my debt consolidation program, the one that I've been making rent-worthy sized payments to for years.  I've gone from being a struggling, stressed-out, bitter and resentful person that pays for meals in change to being a struggling but joyful person that while still paying for meals in change find herself inspired by all the beauty around her. This financial battle has been one of the most dramatic & defining story lines of my life and...  I can see the finish line!!!  I CAN'T WAIT TO WRITE THAT BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


2)  For you astrology folk, Saturn, the planet that puts you through the ringer for two years to cause you personal growth, will have left Libra. What a perfect and horrible time to go through a heartbreak or to start a business!  Ha!  She makes you do the work. She doesn't give you any easy answers but like a good teacher, you come out prepared, capable, confident and completely on top-- and able to take on anything. This confidence is soooo exciting!!!


3) Finally, I'm going to kick ass at my job!!!  Since I've been at the tea shop I've grown the company 13.4% in sales over last year.  I just have a gut feeling big things are going to happen for me professionally with this tea shop in 2012 and it excites me!  I have the best team & the cleanest, prettiest store in Chicago.  I'm so, so proud!  I know this turns out incredibly well.


So while I am barely scraping by and I'm still paying for meals in coins, I can't not be RIDICULOUSLY excited for 2012.  My life is going to continue to change dramatically and this is only the beginning!!!


As I told BF in a ginormous realization a couple of days ago... "BF, I feel like the work I've been doing is over.  I feel like I'm ready.  It's just about enjoying it now."  And UGH.  :)  What joy!!!  What freedom!!!!   

"THE WORK IS OVER.  THIS IS A YEAR OF CELEBRATION!!!" 
Let the countdown begin.  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)   


Happiest of New Years, everyone!!!  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)
MandiCrocker