Thursday, December 29, 2011

New Year's Eve, red panties, life lessons and a toast!

I've been struggling with this particular post for the last couple of days.  Maybe it's because this will be my "So long 2011!" post, or maybe because some of what's happened to me this year is still too painful to face.  Or, maybe because I hate goodbyes.  Who knows really.  Certainly, not me.  This year began quite promising for me.  I had my list of New Year's resolutions.  I knew what I had to do to get those things crossed off my list.  I was ready, eager and full of hope.  Here's the thing, what "we" plan, and what life actually allows to transpire, are two totally different things.  The key to succeeding, however, is how we choose to handle what life throws at us.  You know what I'm talking about right? Those pesky curve balls.  So I've never really been a great catcher.  It seems the more life kept throwing at me, the more I took, but also, the more I dropped.  And sadly, because of that, I hurt people I care for along the way and was hurt by people who I thought cared for me.  I learned quite a bit about myself as well.  I learned that I am stronger than I know.  I learned that it's okay to stand up for myself, to be my own advocate.  I learned that saying goodbye to someone you love with all of your heart, and genuinely care for, is in fact, THAT painful.  I learned that mourning the loss of a friendship is normal.  And has no time restraints.  I learned that hate is a wasted emotion.  I learned that just because you give 110 percent of yourself, doesn't mean that everyone else will, and sometimes, that's okay.  More than anything, I learned that life is much too short to stay angry or bitter or unhappy.  As I look back at 2011, I could wallow and be sad for all of the misfortunes to happen to me and my family.  But I won't.  Instead I embrace the stupid curve balls.  Learn from them and hope that things will get better.  They have to. 

Change scares me.  I like familiarity.  But I know that change is necessary to grow.  With the new year literally days away, I am looking forward to it with trepidation.  Change makes me anxious.  I don't have a list of things I need and want to do this new year. I instead wrote down what I want my life to be like.  And what steps I need to take, to make my life that way.  Will I succeed?  Time will tell.  But even if I don't accomplish everything, I won't see it as a sign of failure.  How can do-ers, be failures?  It's those non-do-ers that fail.  At least, that's what I think.  Besides, resolutions are overrated. 

So tell me, what are you hopeful for this new year?  Do you have any regrets?  I try not to but unfortunately, I do have one very grave regret this year.  Since there is nothing I can do about it now, I just write about it.  You may or may not have read some of it in posts pasts.  Heh.  I'll never tell!

I have a question though, for you.  What the hell does Auld Lang Syne mean and why is it sooooo  depressing? Or sound so depressing?  Good lord!  I dunno, I've never liked that song.  I read about it tonight somewhere, on MSN I think.  They were doing a story about New Years Eve and that stupid song came up.  It doesn't give me the warm fuzzies at all!

So that's it then.  In a few days we will be ringing in the new year.   I will be out celebrating with the "Usual Suspects", we will all be wearing red panties no doubt.  What? It's a tradition or a folklore or maybe just something else to give us singles something to hope for!  I don't know where it started but it's been said that every NYE, if you're single and female, you are to wear red panties (though, we recently discovered that it may be yellow instead) and that will bring you love in the new year.  Of course, it has yet to work out for me, so this year, one of the Usual Suspects suggested we wear red AND yellow panties -just in case!  Hey, a girl's gotta do, what a girl's gotta do!  At any rate, wherever I am and whatever I am doing, at the stroke of midnight,  I will raise a glass to all of you,(unless I'm kissing someone, if that's the case then you guys are just going to have to wait) the oldies, and the newbies.  For coming to visit my blog, for giving me advice, for your comraderie and solidarity (heh), and for helping me grow as a writer and a blogger.  May the new year bring you good health, a lot of  love, happiness and laughter, and may none of you know pain and sorrow in 2012!

Cheers!

7 comments:

Cinderita said...

Oh. This post is so full of hope. Even though it doesn't sound like it. The fact that you are still, even though it has yet to work for you, go out in red panties, that says something about who you are. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you this past year and reading your blog and just sharing stories. It has made such a difference to know that I'm not alone in the craziness that is the life of a single gal. Thank you for always cheering me on and making sure I knew that I wasn't alone. You are awesome and I can't wait to hear how you and your red (or yellow) panties ring in the new year and I am almost giddy with excitement for the new year to come.

Belle said...

Part of life is learning and growing from that knowledge and you can feel good you have done that. Some people never learn a thing! I hope this year will be a happier one for you and for me.

What am I hopeful about? I am hopeful we will go on a great vacation again. We don't know where yet, but it is something I look forward to every year. Regrets? Yes, I have a few. I regret not exercising and dieting. I hope I do better this year. Happy New Years, Yvonne.

'Yellow Rose' Jasmine said...

Yes, you have definitely learned so much- and obviously not always the easy way. Life is full, but not always a bowl of cherries!
I love the way you share so openly. It makes you very real.
My only regrets seem to stem from not getting the lessons soon enough and having to repeat them. But at least I get them eventually! ;)
I am looking forward to yet more travel in the new year and hopefully a major purchase full of fun. We'll see!

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

It is a very strange song and I don't understand how or why it's the New Year's theme song. Hope you're rocking those red panties. Here's to a better year ahead.
Happy New Year, Yvonne.
xoRobyn

BragonDorn said...

Cheers again?! I should probably be getting sleep instead of being up this late drinking. *falls out of chair*

Yvonne said...

Rita- we're sisters from another mister! Here's to an awesome year for boths of us!!!

Belle- Happy New Year! May it be amazing for both of us in every aspect of our lives! Love you!

YRJ- Definitely we are learning something every day. I hate that I don't always "get it" the first time either. But we live and learn, and live and learn...

Robyn- OMG! I know right? It's a stupid song!!!! :)

BD- Thanks for the follow! And I hope you didn't have far too fall from that chair! haha

kristi said...

I like that as we get older, we get wiser!

Chapter 56

The sunlight peeping through the curtains, stir her from her sleep.  Her eyes open and she rubs them a bit before sitting up in bed.  Eyes n...