This Time Last Year...

In my head, I've been composing a look back at the past year, as so much has changed. And now I'm finally sitting down to write it.

This time last year, I was in the deep depths of a depression after getting the boot from my job. I won't say, "It was the best thing that happened!" because it wasn't. I had never been so down on myself or on my future, and it was just a generally dark 6 months. I was truly unhappy at the job, but I liked the people with whom I worked, so going in every morning was a little less cumbersome. But now, I am finally in a place where I feel like I have direction, where I am truly appreciated, and where I feel like I am important, not just as an employee, but as a person and a friend. While it wasn't ideal, I see now that I am where I am supposed to be.

This time last year, we were living in our first apartment, eagerly anticipating moving out. After a no-win scenario concerning our downstairs neighbors and the living noise of us being 20-somethings with a kitten, we just had to go somewhere we didn't feel afraid to move in our own home. So we came here, where we are much happier with the layout, with the apartment itself, with not having to go outside to get to the laundry machines, and with the fact that two of our greatest friends are across the lawn.

This time last year, John (unbeknownst to me), would be picking up my engagement ring in 2 days. We were planning our trip to Central Park to explore the zoo and to hunt for Shakespeare's statue. I can't believe we're already coming up on the one-year anniversary of getting engaged. We've come a long, long way from talking about a fall 2011 wedding, and now we've got our church, reception, and photographer lined up.

This time last year, I couldn't imagine how it was all going to get better, but here I am: 365 days separated from that self. I am surely stronger, happier, and maybe a little more happy-go-lucky. All in all, I feel like I've come out of the darkness, and landed on a sunny beach in Florida. I'm just soaking it up because I know hard days will come again, and I'm sure I'll forget that things will right themselves, and I'll always get back to feeling just like this.

So now, I offer a look forward: this time NEXT year, John and I will be married and off on our honeymoon in Disney World!

And with that, goodnight.

Until next time...