Dear 2014: You Rock!

Dear 2014.

You freaking rock! I can’t believe how fast this year has gone. It certainly went a lot faster than 2013!

My New Year’s resolution for 2014 was to live, as much as possible. I’m happy to say that, after looking back over this past year, that I’ve done that tenfold and then some. I just went back and read my letter from last year and I’m in such a different place and mind set now and that’s fabulous.

I have so much to be grateful for and this year is proof of that. I thought I’d do things a little differently this year and give a rundown of what happened this year by highlighting what I’ve done month to month.

Ready? Here we go:

January

After living in a basement apartment for close to six years, I finally made the decision to move out. It just wasn’t liveable for me anymore and I deserved a place where I could thrive and live, not wallow and hide as I had been doing.

I made the decision to give my notice on January 1st and haven’t looked back. I think my decision to have an amazing year and beyond began that day, when I first decided I deserved happiness and joy.

February

I published Talking to the Sky, my first book of poetry and went on a blog tour to promote the book. It’s been my only published book for 2014 but that’s okay. Less is more, right? The book went on to become a Number One Best Seller on Amazon.ca less than a week after it was released! How awesome is that?

It’s the book I’m most proud of because it took the most effort to write and has been the most rewarding.

March

I finally moved into my new apartment on March 1st! It’s still home to me, almost a year later. Instead of a dark basement, this was and is an apartment of light. Rather than just a place to stay and lay my head, it’s a home.

I also started honoring my spirit as well as my body. I took my second level Reiki and took many other workshops to further my balance of the spirit, mind and body.

I also saw Potted Potter with Karine and Meaghan and that was fabulous!

April

April was an incredible month for me for a few reasons. In the beginning of the month (on the 4th to be exact) I met Michael.

To think, all these months later, that I wasn’t going to go on the coffee date where we first met. However, my mother gave me a push (“How do you expect to find love if you’re not open to it?”) and the rest is history in the making.

He’s taught me what love really is, what it means to be in a real honest to goodness relationship. He really is my Prince that I found after kissing a lot of frogs. 🙂

Later in April, I did something I thought I could not do. I walked the 3KM MS Walk and I ended up doing the 3KM in under an hour! I had a great team of family and friends with me (we were called The Wolf Pack) and I could not have done the walk without them.

What’s more, it proved that I was capable of anything I put my mind to and that I was stronger than I thought I was. So that’s just awesome.

May

In May, I appeared on television to promote Talking to the Sky. I was really nervous about the appearance as it was taped live! I was terrified of saying something stupid or swearing live on the air, but the appearance went beautifully.

Check out the video of my appearance!

June

In June, I took further steps to gaining balance with my body. My Wonder Mom gave me the gift of an exercise program. My doctors had been saying how important it was for me to do exercise. So she signed me up for some sessions with Sarah Zahib, a Kinesiologist and Fitness Professional.

She designed a workout of five simple exercises that I could do with my balance and body issues and I’ve continued to grow stronger because of them. It was difficult at first, but the exercises have shown that I’m able to push my body beyond what I thought possible.

And that’s always awesome.

July

July was a quiet month for me but it was remarkable for two reasons. One, I got to spend a beautiful weekend at a cottage that belongs to one of Michael’s friends. It was gorgeous and peaceful. It really taught me what beauty is about.

Second, I posted the first picture of me shirtless…ever! In fact, it’s the first time I went out in public and took my shirt off. It was normally something I didn’t do. It’s remarkable because it showed how much more comfortable I was with my body and marked a change in myself.

I love when that happens.

August

In August, I turned 36. While that is awesome enough, Michael took me to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for my birthday!!!!

He had told me earlier in June that he was going to take me somewhere and that all I would need was a passport. Then on August 16th, I found out where I was going!

It truly was a dream come true! We flew out on my birthday and flew back after four days. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was everything I could have hoped for and then some. It was a Potterhead’s dream come true in every sense. The park was beautiful, the rides fantastic. I got to eat in the Three Broomsticks and the Leaky Cauldron and had Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice!

I was and still am in awe that I went and I want to go again! LOL

September

September was wonderful.

I had an article on my weight loss of 140 pounds published in The Huffington Post! How cool is that? It’s the first time a piece of my non-fiction was published in such a widespread publication. More than that, I’m thrilled with how it’s inspired other people!

You can read the article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/09/09/weight-lost_n_5790924.html

I got a new tattoo in September! This is my third one and I got it to go with the one on my right wrist. Here it is!

My friend Karine came with me and stayed with me for the whole process. It was way too much fun!

Michael also took me to see Jann Arden in concert! It was a lovely, amazing and wonderful concert. I even got to meet the opening act, Jill and Kate! Still in awe over how incredible the concert was!

October

October was another awesome month!

I saw Loreena McKennitt perform and she was absolutely amazing in every way. Her voice hasn’t changed, it’s only gotten better and more vibrant.

Michael and I also went to Pittsburgh with his friend Donald. I’ve never seen such a beautiful city, full of mountains and hills, trees and nature. Michael and I went to The Andy Warhol Museum and the Mattress Factory of modern art.

I also got to read Tarot cards at the Haunted Carnival! I had a brilliant time and it was grand to help all kind of others find the answers they were looking for.

November

In November, I started reading Tarot cards at Planet Botanix!

It’s been my dream to help others use Tarot for their personal growth. It was also the first time I’ve seen my name on a sign, but it won’t be the last!

Here’s a promo video that was shot in November!

December

This month has been a flurry of activity to get ready for the Holidays! That didn’t stop me from going to see Matt Dusk at the NAC for his Christmas concert!

I went with my good friends Julie and Alexandra and am finally feeling in the Christmas Spirit!

Whew! What a year!

Never before have I been so thankful and so grateful for everything and everyone in my life.

When I made the decision to live rather than hide back in 2013, I had no idea how much living I would do in 2014.

I don’t recognize myself at all. This year has been one of growth: physically, mentally and spiritually. It’s also been one that highlights how blessed and lucky I am.

I can only hope that 2015 is just as awesome, if not more so, than 2014 has been!

Thanks 2014, you’ve been awesome!