New Beginnings

I used to detest the end of the holiday season and the return to normal.

As a kid I dreaded going back to school. That dread continued into my adult years because once I finally finished school I became a teacher and found that many teachers experience many of the same anxious feelings about returning to school as their students--at least I did. In the years after I quit teaching my husband became a full-time student who was also working full-time so the holiday season was often a wonderful respite from the whirlwind of our crazy life.

But now that the days of schooling are behind us and we are finding out that as small business owners there really isn't much time for rest during the holidays, I am grateful to put the festivities behind us and get into a new and better groove.

I actually enjoyed taking down the Christmas tree almost as much as I enjoyed putting it up. I spent my functional hours on Saturday dismantling the tree and packing up all of our holiday trappings (I have to say my "functional hours" because I forgot my Unisom and B6 the night before and ended up spending most of the afternoon in bed. So much for my New Years Resolution to kick the morning sickness!) But it didn't make me the least bit sad to put it away. To everything there is a season and I'm ready for a new season. I'm looking forward to getting back to a routine--kids in school, nutritious food (except the Ruffles, of course), early bedtimes.

I am slowly but surely feeling better and getting more energy each day. I have a giant to-do list and for the first time in months I want to tackle it rather than run from it.

I love the catharsis that comes with starting over. I am more than ready to put 2008 behind me and I look forward to what's ahead in 2009.