positive highlights of 2016

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Happy New Year!!

2016 was a sucky year in multiple ways, from the political mayhem to the premature deaths of too many icons like David Bowie, Prince, Florence Henderson, Alan Thicke, and now George Michael, Carrie Fisher, and Debby Reynolds since Christmas. But as we look forward to a new year, I’m choosing to focus on some of the positive things that happened to me in 2016:

When my old publisher closed its doors, the uncertain fate of my writing career terrified me. But it turned into a blessing when I signed a seven-book publishing deal with Henery Press. I am so excited for the re-release of my new-and-improved five novels and the publication of the other two books in my contract.

My oldest and dearest friend gave birth to healthy and beautiful twin girls. This was a dream come true for her, and my heart is full with happiness.

After vowing never to revisit my high school days, I went to my twenty-fifth reunion and had a blast. It was a bit of closure for me, and I’m so glad I went. I’m super grateful to one of my friends and fellow alumni for encouraging me.

I had five years of braces as a child and my straight teeth lasted through my twenties. Over the last decade, they began to shift to the point where I hadn’t been as happy with my smile. I invested in Invisalign, and less than a year later, I have really straight teeth again and am much more confident in my grin.

I spent an amazing week in California with my favorite writer friends where we laughed, bonded, gave and received advice, and generally “got” each other. I left super motivated to get back to my work in progress which is now slated to be delivered to my editor on February 1st. (I’m gearing up for the 2017 retreat right now.)

I helped raise almost $20,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. These funds won’t bring Alan back, but I like to think they might save someone else the grief I still feel for his loss on a daily basis.

All my annual medical exams, as well as those of my family, were normal.

My oldest nephew, who I hadn’t seen since he was about ten, moved from Colorado to New York City for work after graduating college, and I am so happy to have connected with him again.

I spent a week in Arizona with friends. Besides the eating, drinking, sun-bathing, and regular vacation-like activities, we took a trip to the Grand Canyon and some of us (myself included) went on a hot-air balloon ride. This was mere months before hearing about a deadly hot-air balloon crash. I’m grateful for the timing since, as much as I enjoyed it, I’m unlikely to ever do it again now.

I went to several music concerts including Billy Joel for the first time (Jimmy Fallon was a surprise guest), Dolly Parton, and Stevie Nicks/The Pretenders.

After publicly expressing my issues with the word “Ma’am” a few weeks ago, I am officially over being insulted by it or taking it as a personal comment about my age. I’ve paid more attention to the way people use this word and to whom they direct it, and what I’ve noticed is that it has nothing to do with the age of the woman. I’ve witnessed people (men and women) use it on women in their twenties through nineties as a greeting to simply indicate they are speaking to a full-fledged female adult as opposed to a child/teenager. The term is also used on the young twenty and thirty-something heroines on Hallmark movies frequently. How bad can it be if it’s on The Hallmark Channel?? This discovery might seem like a small “great” event in the grand scheme of things, but it will save me much distress moving forward.

These are just some of the positive highlights of my 2016. What are some of yours?

2 Comments

  1. Pauline Wiles on January 9, 2017 at 4:04 pm

    You’ve identified some real lemons in 2016 but I’m glad to see so much lemonade flowing now! Best of luck with your Feb 1st deadline.

    • meredithgschorr on January 9, 2017 at 4:31 pm

      Thank you so much, Pauline! I just received beta reader comments and have my work cut out for me 🙂 Happy New Year!

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