I live my life looking for the lessons in everything.

I know in every success, in every failure, in every heartbreak, and in every joy, there is a lesson to be learned.

This last year taught me a lot of lessons, some great, some heartbreaking but these were obviously lessons I needed to learn and so I looked at all of them this way…what did I need to learn? Why did this happen, and what’s the lesson?

I learned that life is short and can change at any moment. The last three

years of the pandemic taught us this. We don’t know when life will turn us upside down and take us for a ride, but like it or not, we must learn to adapt.

I learned that I love writing more than anything, even though I’ve been writing this blog for the last 9 years. I learned that even when I want to give up, when I feel that maybe I don’t have anything more or relevant to say, I always get a sign that tells me that I need to go on as this is my purpose and my passion. 

I learned that doing something you love pays off big time, as I have the most incredible clients in the world now. I love what I do by helping others, and owning my own business is such a gift from God.

I’ve learned that what you do for others will come back to you. This was especially true these last few years with my dear friends and all of us falling on hard times.

I learned that hard work pays off, that I could do this, and so many other things I never imagined I could. I could teach my girls to be self-sufficient, and that has given me a satisfaction that money can never buy.

Another lesson was that you’re never too old to learn something new, as I have been learning these last nine years as a single mom. I’ve learned to do more things for myself and to teach myself how to do things even when I have no idea how to do it.

A painful lesson I learned again this year was that sometimes friendships weren’t made to last the test of time, even with family. I learned that words cut you like a knife and that I’ve had enough of that kind of treatment in my life. I refuse to let anyone speak to me with disrespect as I would never speak to others like that. Some people weren’t meant for the whole ride even as much as that hurts.

I learned, especially during the pandemic, that the time I get to spend with my girls is priceless. They are the most valuable thing I have, and I know that we will always be a team.

We have fun together, we laugh, and there is no stress like years ago. They are my life. I realize I got this… 

I am doing something good here and that even when I didn’t think they were listening, they were.

Love taught me a huge lesson with my last relationship. It taught me that the biggest lessons I needed to learn were about my self-worth. I know what I will accept and will not accept the next time love comes around. He taught me that there are great men out here, and even though our lives are going in different directions, he will always hold that special place in my heart. Not dating this whole last year taught me that I am okay with myself. I have a full life with my girls, my friends, and my church. I realized I don’t need a man, I would like one, but I am complete all on my own.

Life has come at me this year with many setbacks. 

I’ve learned that maybe I wasn’t cured like I thought I was, with my PTSD coming back in full swing. I learned that I had to go back to therapy yet again, and that’s okay. I learned that no amount of money is worth your peace of mind. And no job is ever not replacable. Through it all, I’ve tried to see the lessons. I’ve been grateful for the good times and all the places I’ve gotten to go through, even through it all.

I realized that I am so very blessed … This past year, I got to go home to see loved ones. I got to go on vacations with friends I love, and I got to spend quality time with my girls. 

I’ve had some bad times, I’ve cried, I’ve lost people I loved and reconnected with others yet through it all I still had gratitude, I still believed in the good in people and better times.

I have made memories that lasted me a lifetime and am blessed with so many amazing people in my life. I take none of this for granted.

I am filled with gratitude and praise for God who allowed me all of this and even though at times my faith felt as tiny as a mustard seed, I held on to it with dear life and have gotten through it all.

All of this has made me tougher; it shook my faith in people, but it made my faith stronger in God, as I knew he would take care of me.

I didn’t know how or when, but I knew he would, and he did.

Yes, through the storms, I still questioned him. Wasn’t this supposed to be my year…what is going on?

Everything was coming at me….bills, people, work was bad, I fell into a depression, and my heart felt like it would never recover. Yes, you name it, and it was being thrown at me yet again.

Yes, as bad as it was all I could do was pray through the storm and be grateful for all I had, knowing that having my faith, as small as it was, that it would all be okay. I had been through the worst and survived and will do so again.

Big, big lesson! Never give up; never stop having faith, never stop believing.

I never doubted that God wouldn’t come through for me, not for a second. 

So, as we start this new year of 2024, I will remember all the valuable lessons I have learned. I will give thanks that I am still here and that I have made it through.

I know this last year was just getting me ready for the incredible year that is coming. It has made me stronger; it taught me to keep the doors closed that are supposed to be closed; it taught me faith and love and, most importantly, forgiveness.

All of it has made me the better person I am today…and I am grateful.

So today my friends remember a new year is here, great things are yet to come but don’t write off last year without learning the lessons… What were your lessons from last year? What were you supposed to learn?

It is only then that you can move into this new year smarter, stronger, wiser.. ready for all this new year has to bring.

“Be the change you want to see,”

@TreadmillTreats