2016 didn't turn out the way I expected. Not one bit. If you would have asked me 12 months ago if I would have a new job or Donald Trump as our President Elect, I would have laughed and said "No way." But that's exactly what happened. 

When I was laid off in March, I was equal parts stunned and relieved. I cried when I heard the news (after I got off the phone with my former boss), but with a little time to get used to the change, I realized something: fresh starts are awesome and I needed a kick in the pants to start down a new path. I had a new job seven weeks after being laid off. I love my new job. I love the people I work with. And I feel more professionally challenged than I have in ages.

I didn't even see it coming, but 2016 turned out to be pretty awesome. Funny how that works, eh?

2016  was a kick-ass year. It was filled with change. It was filled with magic. It was filled with travel. It was filled with laughter. It was filled with connection. It was filled with creative adventures and discoveries.

I didn't even see it coming, but 2016 turned out to be pretty awesome. Funny how that works, eh?

I'd also call 2016 the "year I found myself creatively." I had a creative play date early in the year and my friend Laurie introduced me to encaustics. It was love at first sight. The encaustic art I've created this year is without a doubt my favorite work. 

 I didn't even see it coming, but 2016 turned out to be pretty awesome. Funny how that works, eh?

There were moment I though 2016 was going to break me. But, it didn't. I ran more miles in 2016 than ever before. I lost 10 pounds (and have kept it off). I found my people, my tribe. For all the shit and muck, there was so much beauty. 

 I didn't even see it coming, but 2016 turned out to be pretty awesome. Funny how that works, eh?