Instead Of Complaining About How Hard 2018 Was, Try To Be Grateful That You Live To See 2019
January 1, 2019
I swear if I see one more post, comment, or tweet about 2018 being the hardest or worst year of someone’s life I seriously may blow a gasket.
One of the things that grind my gears is when people complain. You can complain about your family, friends, financial situation, job, etc. we are all guilty of it, but once you start complaining about your life as a whole that is where I draw the line.
Life is good!
I’ve heard and read people saying that 2018 was the hardest year of their life and I’m sorry to sound like a bitch but I really just want to call bullshit on that statement.
In my large circle of people, I can count on both hands the ones that have the right to say that 2018 was their worst year.
In the universe as a whole, I can think of thousands of people that have had a hard year.
Stand up if you’re town, state, school, friends, family members, church, bar, etc. were victims of a mass shooting.
Stand up if you’ve lost a loved one to any sort of disease, illness, or life circumstance.
Stand up if you got diagnosed with a terminal disease or illness.
Stand up if your home was destroyed in the California fires that left people homeless.
Stand up if you got separated from your family at the border.
Stand up if you were sexually abused or assaulted.
If you’re not standing, stop complaining.
Yes, I get that everyone has a different definition of what is “hard” or “difficult” for them but before you start complaining be grateful for what you have.
I have a tattoo on my right wrist of a less than sign that is always there to remind me that no matter how bad my life may seem someone is always going through something worse. The tattoo is also an arrow pointing up to remind me to always look at the bright side of things. My tattoo reminds me to be grateful.
I could list all the crap that I went through in 2018 but what’s the point? I don’t want to rehash it and no one wants to hear it again.
In all honesty, 2018 was a great year for me and if I could do my 2018 over I would wish for all the bad things again if that meant I could keep the good.
I got to travel to Ireland, London, and Scotland with my friend.
I got to visit my old students in Charlotte and received so much love for them.
I got to spend the summer at the beach with family and friends.
I reconnected with people I hadn’t talked to in years.
I created stronger relationships with old friends who helped me through this year.
I escaped an escape room with 5 minutes to spare.
I had Thursday night sleepovers with my friend because we played on a kickball league together.
I meet some of the kindest people while going through treatment.
I realized there is so much good in the world if you only take the time to notice the small acts that exist every day.
Most importantly, I got to learn how strong I am.
So sure you can complain about your year but is that really going to get you anywhere? The past is in the past and you can’t do it over. You want the “I had the worst year feel sorry for me” medal? Fine, you can have it but just think of the students and parents from Stoneman Douglas High School who I think would take your year over theirs.
I want the medal that says “Yeah, my year wasn’t great but I survived it. 2019 throw whatever you have at me I can handle it.”
Last night for approximately 37 seconds tears fell from my eyes. It’s not because I was sad that my year was so terrible or tough, instead, these were tears of extreme joy because I knew I’d get to see 2019. And if waking up this morning to 58-degree weather that allowed me to go for a run on the boardwalk isn’t a good omen for 2019 I don’t know what is.
Maybe 2018 was no walk in the park but I have a family who loves me, friends who support me, a roof over my head to protect me, and myself to get me through any obstacles. At the end of the day if you can say that I’d like to think your 2018 wasn’t so bad.
2018, I won’t complain about you.
2019, I am so stinking grateful to meet you.