Hello my dear readers. Today is the start of yet another new year. Twenty-twenty was a chaotic, memorable year for all of us. I know for myself that the last 365 days have proven to be quite triggering for probably years to come. This last year was full of obstacles, setbacks and defeats, in every area of my life. The year was also full of growth, triumphs and joy. Bitter sweet if you will. Just as many others, I hope that the new year brings with it less curveballs and more things to celebrate. I am grateful that through most challenges, I had support to help me through when things got hard. That really helped soften the blow to all the hard things I had to carry. Of course there were good things and bad things that have happened. I meant it when I said that this last year was memorable. One for the record books for sure. Twenty-twenty has brought on new way of life into the new year. I believe many have reflected back on the year we just had, and set forth even better resolutions than years prior. For myself, I hope to overcome my fears and insecurities. I’m not sure how to do that, or if I ever will, but I do know that it will involve more of asking for the things I want… Saying “I love you” more often… Living life more freely… allowing myself to be vulnerable… and not allowing my fear or insecurities to get the best of me. I don’t anticipate that it will be easy. It seems nothing ever is. Oh I’d love for just anything to be easy. But reality is, there is always something, easy or not, that gets heavy after a while. It’s just a matter of how we carry the load. I do my best to carry the load with my head high, and when I can’t do it on my own, I have others to call upon to help me. It’s the gift of Natural Supports… Relationships and personal associations within a community that strengthen and buildup ones quality of life. It’s the one thing that I feel that I was truly missing for the last 35 years, whether that was my inability to appreciate the natural supports around me, or it was my lack of. And now that I have awareness of what it means to have healthy natural supports, I know that it is the basis of what I want to help others learn how to build for themselves within their own communities. It’s what helps people to overcome their struggles. Having a positive, non-judgmental someone to call when times get hard, makes all the difference to anyone’s personal growth and recovery. I’m not sure that in the past I would have been capable of maintaining a relationship with a positive support person. Probably why I am unfamiliar with the territory. That’s the great thing about what I am able to do now in the work I do… I help others get to the point that they are ready for those positive support people. It’s great practice for what my vision is, for the impact I want to make in this community. And when the time comes, it starts with just a candle… made with love. So to conclude, I must say… ultimately, this last year was a gift. A gift indeed. Stay tuned and Happy New Year followers. The best has yet to come.