As the clock winds down on 2024, my heart is filled with joy. I am in awe as I reflect on how much my life transformed for the better in the course of 2024. The year started out with difficult lows. I still feel disturbed to some extent of how hateful some people can be. Through the darkness, my best friends lifted me up. They prayed for me. They gave me meaningful advice, and I feel that they went on the ride of the highs and lows of 2024 with me. I hope they too feel that the highs far outshined the lows.
As I do every New Year’s Eve, I find myself reflecting on the New Year’s Eves of the past. These days, my close friends and I enjoy a tradition of an early dinner at Perry’s each year. Every year this takes me back to when I first moved to Tomball, and the boys and I went to enjoy an early New Year’s Eve dinner at Perry’s. All turned out well, but we got off to a rocky, unwelcomed beginning. Some men do not like to see women enjoying nice things without a man to provide them to her. I smile at the memory of this dinner with the boys where Little Chirp earned the nickname, “escargot kid”.
What I find myself thinking about the most is last New Year’s Eve. I remember enjoying my time at Perry’s with my friends. I can’t help but enjoy time with them, they are amazing people. I also remember the state of disruption that my inner peace was in. I did not invite my significant other to New Year’s Eve dinner because he already ruined my Christmas Eve and my Christmas. I needed to draw the line somewhere. I remember feeling empty inside.
Overall, at the end of 2023, on the eve of 2024, I felt like my life had hit a brick wall on every front. I was no longer thriving and having new adventures. I was struggling to just survive. I would find in 2024 that my darkest hour was in fact just before dawn. My sun would rise. I would find healthy, meaningful relationships, incredible career opportunities, and those same friends that saw me through the dark days would be there to celebrate with me and they would be enjoying their own new career opportunities and advancement.
I am excited about our little New Year’s celebration at Perry’s this evening, and I am looking forward to celebrating the success of my friend Kristen’s first year with her own marketing company, and my son’s girlfriend’s acceptance into graduate school later this week. I cannot imagine a better way to say goodbye to 2024 and hello to 2025 than with my supportive, loving friends.
I am excited about 2025, and I am ready for the highs and lows of it all.
Let’s Gow!