I have been searching for that one perfect word that can sum up 2017.  I think the word for me is BALANCE.  It’s felt like a rollercoaster of a year and most times it feels like I have been off balance.  Today is December 16, 2017 and I am happy that we are days away from 2018.  However, I do have empirical proof that I must have had some balance in 2017 as evidenced by the following:  my child is still alive, I am still married, and I have a job.

This year I tried to provide my daughter with memoriable positive experiences.  She traveled by train for the first time to NYC, rode on the carousel in Central Park, stayed in a hotel, went to art camp, learned to play LAX, took dance lessons, rode a waterslide, picked fresh blueberries and apples, trick or treating with neighborhood friends, attend a theater event with some of her favorites characters and the list goes on.  What I want her to get out of these experiences is to alway seek new and interesting things to do and know that she is not limited by anything and exposure to culture, places, and phyical activity does the mind and body good.

Looking back now, I managed to get in few cool things this year too.   I travelled to Chicago to visit with friends.  My trip to Chicago was the first time I got to experience beyond a conference room, i.e. fly in/fly out business meeting,  created pottery and had my work displayed and sold in a gallery, attended an event to see Michelle Obama, updated my resume for the first time in many years, went on a school fieldtrip for the first time in decades, and held our second annual Christmas Cookie party with good friends.

Lots happened in 2017 both positive and negative.  But it definitely feels like the positive out weighed the negative.   Looking forward to positive outcomes in 2018!

New discoveries in this year

Coconut Exfoliating Sugar Cubes by Harper + Ari

Malabrigo Rios (866 Diana) beautiful yarn

The Longevity Economy: Unlocking the Worlds’s Fastest-Growing, Most Misunderstood Market by Joseph F. Coughlin (my must read)

Surpringly the best Hot Cocoa ever!!

Making Magazine (New favorite discovered a knitting shop)

Merino wool socks are the best!