What I learned in 2010...

“This has been a hard year”… I’ve said that alot this year and I’ve heard it said back to me by many people I know.  By all accounts, it wasn’t the BEST of years.  When your town experiences a “1000 yr. flood”, you know that things got kinda screwy to put it mildly.  No, our house did not flood.  Thankfully the hill we live on (that Mike has quietly cursed under his breath as he attempts to mow it every summer) saved our little house.  Unfortunately our neighbors weren’t so lucky.  Many folks we know lost everything.  But through the tragedy, we got to see the BEST in people come out all around us.  It was truly amazing and inspiring to watch strangers helping strangers , neighbors helping neighbors.   There were some beautiful moments through the “ugly” around us.

 However, our town is still recovering.  Many are still not in their homes.  Many businesses have never re-opened their doors.  Opry Mills Mall, which was a HUGE tourist attraction here in Nashville is still closed and there doesn’t appear to be a “re-open” date.  Bummer.   I read a report that stated that when an area goes through something as tramatic as our May floods, for months after the event, there will be emotional repercussions.  I believe it.  It seems this year has been filled with more sickness, relationship breakups, emotional breakdowns, and stress induced problems than I’ve ever seen among my friends and colleagues.  And that says alot considering I hang out with a bunch of musicians!!  LOL  

I felt quite a bit of loss this year too.  I went to more funerals this year than I had gone to in my whole life combined before 2010.  From a sweet little baby who only lived for 7 hrs., to a brave girl who fought cancer with all she had, and two sweet guys who struggled with demons for years that finally over-took them.   It became apparent to me that death does not hang around nursing homes, choosing who it takes next.  No, not one single funeral that I went to this year was anyone who was elderly.   They were all young, deserving of more time on this earth.  So sad…..

This is the time of year where I always look back on the previous months, trying to evaluate if I actually accomplished anything or made a difference in any way.  Then I try to take any lessons learned and look forward to the future with a renewed sense of energy and hopefully a little more wisdom. 

Anyway…. Here are a few things that I learned in 2010.  Some are big and some are little, but they were all new revelations to me. 

TOP TEN THINGS I LEARNED IN 2010:

1.    Remodeling a kitchen takes MUCH longer than they lead you to believe on HGTV.

2.    Homeopathic remedies really DO work.

3.    Autumn is the best time of the year to go to Disneyworld.

4.    There IS a difference in face creams, and I LOVE “Hope in a Jar” by Philosophy.  I’ve also become a big fan of Microderm Abrasions.  Check out Bellevue Medi-spa for a great one!!

5.    Living a successful life is good… but living a significant life is even better.  And yes, there is a BIG difference!

6.    All the Drano, Liquid Plummer and Bleach in the world cannot really unclog pipes that are 50 years old under my house.  They are clogged forever.  It’s just time to get new pipes.

7.    Getting older really isn’t a bad thing.

8.  Plain old white table sugar, mixed with my favorite facial cleanser  

     is the best exfoliant there is for my face.  I have spent a TON of 

     money on expensive exfoliants, and NONE do as good a job as

sugar…… Plain Ol’ Sugar.

     9.  Going someplace where the weather is still COLD is not a great   

          idea for your spring break vacation.

                                                AND

   10.  Starting each day with prayer and bible study, and ending each  

         day with praise and thanksgiving makes my life much more

         peaceful and joyful!

I’m sure I learned many more things in 2010, but those are just a few that come to mind off the top of my head. 

What did YOU learn in 2010?