Hello, friends.
My, it’s been an interesting year so far and here we are in March. In like a lion! Out like a lamb, we hope.
I’d been all prepared for an extra(ordinary) new year, emphasis on finding the joy in daily living, but wow, did some big stuff come our way instead. The attacks in Paris in early January had us reeling for long after and the conversations continue.
Personal stresses soon confronted me, too: a friend with a mental health crisis, my mom who needed surgery, my job which started exerting extreme pressure.
Hold up, 2015! Let me catch my breath!
“Picasso’s Goat” in the old Picasso Museum in Paris (the new one, after much drama, reopened recently). Photo via Malcolm on Flickr Creative Commons.
And it’s happened! I am so thankful to say everything is much smoother on all fronts. Loved ones are healthy and safe. Paris is resilient as ever. Exciting, creative developments are brewing…including another book giveaway for you soon!
I just wanted to touch base as I dropped off the radar for a little while, but don’t doubt: I am always thinking of you.
How is your year going so far? Do you believe in second chances?
paris (im)perfect 
Do you believe in second chances? I sure do ! Second chances are just the flow of life.
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I totally agree, Jackie!
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I’m always glad when you pop up here. Nothing exciting to report on my front.
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Thanks so much, Lee! I’ll be popping up more often now, I hope. And sometimes it’s nice to have nothing exciting to report! After a series of big events to start the year, I appreciate calm more than ever 🙂
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I am glad things are better for you. I wish I had thought about the chinese new year to begin again. Work has had some unwelcome changes so I haven’t been happy. I am trying to at least act like I’m happy there because it was noticeable I was not. I apparently give nasty looks, lol. I would like to have a second chance to have a reset on attitude and situation.
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Oh, I’m so sorry to hear you’re unhappy at work, Buffy! Gosh, there are just periods like that, huh? I just came through one. I hope things get better for you soon. As for wanting to reset attitude, that at least, you can choose! Even if the external circumstances don’t change. I hadn’t previously invested much in Chinese New Year. But psychologically I wanted to reset and thought it was good to tell myself I could. How about starting over the first day of spring? That’s also the Persian New Year 🙂
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Thanks for the advice on the first day of spring. I still love what I do, we just had a change with something’s and many are not happy about it. I hope to take the Captain test when they have it this year. I have to beat a woman who wants to be ems supervisor really bad. A little competition may be good. I work with her in the same station now. She is the type who is nice to your face, but will stab you in the back. Plus she tends to get her way because management is afraid of her. She is extremely out of shape and that’s not good in our profession. It’s a long story, but you probably get the point. I used to be so easy going. Where did it go??? Well I hope life continues to get better. May you have good health and happiness.
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Oh, Buffy, sounds like a tough situation. I hope things get better for you. And courage for the captain’s test! (I love that “courage” in French is both “good luck” and “courage.” Often, we need both!)
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Thank you!! I will let you know how it goes. Take care
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I do! I believe that while you can’t change people, people change; that relationships can be renewed; and that few things are permanent.
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Oh, that’s so lovely! Well put!
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I love your idea of claiming your reboot for the Chinese New Year! Jan. 1 is too deep in winter to really feel like a good time to restart, even when your adopted home has not been under siege. And I’m glad you called it the Year of the Goat; we’ve been told “ram” and “sheep” are also acceptable answers, but the goat is a versatile animal, able to scale any landscape and eat just about anything, following a mind of its own. A good spirit animal for 2015, methinks.
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Oh, I like how you put that, Patrick. Long live the goat! I’ve heard “ram” and “sheep,” too, but I’m going with goat. Thanks for that inspiring interpretation. Also, I know how winter affects you, too, so yes, restarting when there’s a little more sun out there is another added benefit! I’m looking forward to spring.
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