2009 Post Mortem

I’ve been around the blogosphere over the last week and several news sites, and everywhere I look it’s as if people are excited and thrilled to discuss what a crappy year 2009 was.

And while I’m not in complete disagreement over that, I am personally seeing this year as a period of growth, opportunity and abundance, even though what we’ve gained has only come through loss.

Politically, I’ve matured. You probably know I’m a liberal so this year has been greatly disappointing to me in numerous ways, but at least a healthcare bill is being passed now that will eliminate pre-existing conditions, and while other parts of it may not be strong, that is something.

In retrospect, I’ve learned many unpleasant things about politics and that makes that one of the things I’d like to increase my activity in next year.

2009 was difficult financially, but I’ve learned to trust God more and trust in my own skill.  I have to say that I’ve come out of this year feeling like a professional more than I ever have before and confident in both web design and writing.  I’ve grown so much in my own self-esteem that I’m walking out of that low pricing, “do for free” box that so many women entrepreneurs that I know find themselves in.  I’ve got mad web skills, don’t you know?  (Just ask me to debug IE6, because I can-ha!  Bill Gates, do your worst.)

In addition, while I’ve not yet completed my novel, it’s coming along just fine. I will be setting deadlines for wrapping and pitching, and I want to get started by spring on my next novel (an intelligent, historical romance).  This means I’ll be reading some good stuff.  It’ll be set in England and The New World, so we’re looking at the mid- to late-1700s. I’m totally thrilled by this one.

I have two more novel ideas following that, and a great non-fiction idea, which I hope to get into an ebook teaser for you to download.

What else came from 2009?  A very important lesson – that we have so much.  Yes, here, now, today, in America, we still have so much. We may need to still fight for liberties or decent education for our kids, but take a look at any 3rd world nation and think of what we do have.  If you pass on, your kids will likely be provided for and not have to be sold into slavery or pick garbage for a living.  If you have a roof over your head, it’s probably not made of cardboard.  And if your dinner pickings are slim, at least you have dinner.

That said, I’m focusing 2009 on giving.  I’m looking into churches that will force me to be involved.  I’m looking for outreach wherever I can find, and I’m trying to give in the little ways too.  I don’t know about this, but I will try.

Looking back, it’s been a year of personal, spiritual, and professional growth that has outstripped the  past.  I’m getting better with age.  I still need some balance, and I want to put health and diet up on the board as critical too. Tomorrow I’m going to spend some time goal-setting for 2010.  BRING IT ON.

And if you think this was a crappy decade, well, not for me!  In the last decade, I healed from a stroke, had 2 beautiful kids, celebrated my 10 year wedding anniversary, bought 2 homes, made some amazing friends, reconnected with old friends, made money off my writing, wrote a novel, started a business, and launched the #1 ranking mom blog. Not. too. shabby.

Share your stories: have you found abundance in this economic wilderness?  Did you get back to simplicity, God, family?  Was your decade filled with some good things? Shine a light in the dark and share.