I’m still in 2013 reflection mode. I hope you enjoy my ramblings about my year… 
In 2012, I painted my “Cycles of Life” painting.
C.M. Foust 2012
I was going through a period of reflection around that time as well. I thought back through all of the difficult times in my life.
My aunt’s suicide in 1998.
Dropping out of college in 1999.
Moving to Japan in 1999.
Moving to Jacksonville in 2003.
Getting fired from my job in 2007.
My dysfunctional marriage from 2003-2009.
My dog, Molly’s, accidental death in 2008.
Totaling the Jeep Liberty in 2008.
My divorce in 2009/2010.
Multiple deaths in the family in 2010 (Great-grandma Tillie, Kitty Kat, Grandpa Tom, Grandma Ruth, Peter Petunia).
My dad’s death in 2011.
My graduate school woes in 2012.
Looking back on those challenges from the perspective of 2012, I realized there was a pattern. Things still got bad, but when it did it didn’t feel as bad as it was when I was younger. In 2011 my dad died at the age of 53 from a cancer that destroyed his body.
Mid-1980’s
Though it was incredibly hard to see that happen to Dad, I was able to cope with it better that I was able to cope with my aunt’s death many years before. I was able to cope with the loss of my dad with more grace than I was initially able to contribute to the loss of my marriage.
I noticed that though life has its ups and downs, that the overall trend had been a positive one. From 2009-2012 I was able to say that each year was my best year.
This year, I feel like I hit a plateau in some aspects of my life. 2013 hasn’t been bad, but it has felt … flat. I know I was in a bit of a rut for part of the year, so that explains some of it. I’ve already begun challenging some of the stagnation that resulted from my rut, so I feel like I’m on the upward trend again.
It’s my hope that I can resume that positive trend into 2014. I also hope that those in low places remember that sometimes you can’t see the overall trend of things from the low ground. It’s not until you start climbing that you can look back and see that things have gotten progressively better with time.
May everyone experience a 2014 that feeds the soul and allows for personal growth.
Namaste. 
2014 will be your best year yet! You’re teaching a class you like with people you like. You’ve been incredibly productive towards your dissertation this year and you’ll reap the benefits of that in 2014. You’ve identified new areas of personal growth and made new friends. And you’ve regrouped and streamlined your living space, which in my own experience, will make you feel more grounded. Continue to open yourself to others in 2014 as you have in 2013 and your life will be even richer. I envy you!
Thanks for the encouragement, Michelle! 🙂 I know that it feels good to be out of my rut. I feel like I’m on the right track again, and that’s a good way to enter 2014.
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