Reflections on 2016

 

Over the course of 2016, I shared 179 blog posts with you all and 309 Instagram posts.  Similar to last year, as I review the pictures and posts, I see gaps. Of course I expected to see the smiles and joy of Baby Girl Diamond in the top posts but there was so much else that transpired this year.

What a year it has been. While many people are ready to forget 2016 existed, I will look back on this year as one of growth. In fact, if I had chosen a word or mantra for this year, that would be it.  Sometimes purposefully and other times subconsciously, much of this year was spent preparing ourselves for the next journey – parenthood. Much of this preparation wasn’t shared on social media or the blog as it isn’t the type of content that drives traffic, clicks or likes.

But for today, let’s focus on the things that are at the forefront of my mind when I look back on the year.

Based on the numbers, it is clear that travel and training took a place on the back burner.

Travel:

• Savannah (three times)
• Vermont (three times)
• Washington, DC 
• Tahoe
• Canada 
• Jamaica 
• Cincinnati (two times)
• Seattle (work)
• Las Vegas (work)

Races:

• United Airlines NYC Half
• Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Miler
• Flying Pig Half Marathon
• Oakley New York Mini 10k
• Rock’n’Roll Brooklyn Half Marathon
• Prospect Park Track Club 5 Miler

Instead, during 2016 Bo and I spent a great deal of this year growing as a couple and focusing on creating a home for ourselves in Brooklyn. We spent countless hours painting and decorating our apartment as well as renovating and landscaping our backyard.  We explored our new borough, spending weekends tasting, sipping and shopping through Williamsburg, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope and the other surrounding neighborhoods.

We spent time in Savannah celebrating the marriage of Meg and Russell and spending time with loved ones. We traveled to Canada together, enjoying time in nature and disconnecting from the stress of our jobs and daily life. We did our best to further develop those friendships that are most important to us, though there are a few friends who we haven’t spent nearly enough time with this year.

But, as the year comes to a close, I am most thankful for the growth we’ve seen in our relationship. Even though we’ve grown up together over the years, even the best relationships need some TLC every now and then. Thanks to improved communication, our marriage is stronger than ever. Over the past five months, Bo and I have had the opportunity to focus on our relationship during weekly couples therapy sessions. We didn’t start seeing a therapist because our marriage was in crisis or going through a rough patch. Instead, we knew that as we both worked through the change we faced this year, we weren’t communicating very well.  Though I haven’t discussed it on the blog previously, I wish we had started these sessions years ago. I have learned so much about myself, our relationship and marriage during these hour long sessions. Instead of dreading the sessions, we look forward to our weekly 15 minute walk, pre-therapy coffee date and then therapy session before work.

As we look forward to welcoming a daughter into our life in less than six months, this focus on GROWTH could not have come at a better time.

What do you think about when you reflect on your 2016?