My 2016

I have seen too many posts about how awful it was in 2016. Really? You can't find anything about 2016 to make it a good year? This makes me feel that a lot of my friends are pessimists.

I had so many great things that happened to me this year. That's not to say that not a thing went wrong, because there were some awful things that happened too.

In 2016,

I GRADUATED COLLEGE

I made many new friends

I turned another year older

I was even more honest with people than last year

I started loving myself

I stood up for myself

I got a job

I quit my job (yes, I find this to be a good thing)

I get to spend yet another holiday season with my family

I survived another cold and flu.

I paid my first student loan payment.

I grew closer to my best friend.

My fish survived a year under my caretaking.

I didn't crash my car.

I drank lots of wine.

I found out that I like stout beer.

Cows are still my favorite.

I kissed the boy I liked. (Take note the past tense of "like")

I learned A LOT.

I made money.



How could you not have a list of good things that happened to you in a whole 365 days? This is only a short list, but it's a list none the less.







I am here.

I want to write a post to those who I have lost touch or those who have lost touch with me. This may be unoriginal or copycat, but I assure you these words come from the heart. DISCLAIMER: I love every single one of my friends near and far and young and old and old and new.

Have you ever sat down and thought to yourself, why am I the only one who makes an effort? Well I am here to tell you, you are not the only one. (Jeez I should tell myself that right now) You are not the only one who grows tired of trying to stay in contact with all your friends.

I believe that I make a huge effort to talk to people and to stay in contact with them. Only recently I have grown annoyed at the fact that I seem to be the only one who does. I realize everyone  (or what seems like everyone) has their own lives and has moved on. A little "hello, how are you" wouldn't hurt you.

I have this feeling that it sucks a whole lot more for some one in my position. All of my friends either live in the same city or are with in short driving distance that wouldn't take 10 hours of your day to see each other. I have had this issue since I've moved to the harbor. I learned that no one really wanted to drive out to the harbor to see me. They all wanted me to go into town to see them. Do you realize how heart breaking that is? It's the same now though, I'm living in the harbor and although I'd drive 10 hours to see people and visit them and do as much as I can to spend a day with them, not one has said hey I'll come visit you next time. Wait, let me back track. A few have said they would come visit, but when the time came every. single. person. had some thing else come up. It just makes one think, is it me?

I am tired of my relationships being a two way street with a one way signore. So, yes, if you're one of those friends thinking "wow Natalie hasn't contacted me in a while" , well maybe I have grown tired of being the initiator.

I'm not looking for someone to spend a weeks of their vacation here, although it would be nice. No I'm just saying making an effort on your part would be nice for a change.

Now, enough of the poor me attitude. 

To my friends that I have not spoken to in a while,

I am here.

Although I am not within coffee shop date range or let's grab lunch vicinity, I am here.

I am here if you are having one of those days. I am here if you just heard the best joke ever and need to tell someone. I am here if you can decide if you should eat pizza or a quart of ice cream for dinner. (FYI my answer will always be ice cream) I am here if you just need someone on the line because you are walking to your car alone. I am here if the music during the movie just got creepy and you know someone will pop out of the bushes and behind your couch. I am here if you need to vent about you boss or a coworker or the idiot who didn't turn their blinker on and cut you off. I am here if your dog just made the cutest face ever.

You get it? I am here. It might have been 8 months or 8 years since we've talked but I am here for you even if the rest of the world isn't.

Love Forever and Always,

Your friend

Natalie


Straight Through The Fire Into The Unknown

Hi all. I hope you haven't forgotten about me. I surely haven't forgotten about you.

It's been a busy summer, no doubt about that, working, traveling, and job searching. I never found time where I could focus on any one of the 20 or so blog post that I have started and never finished. It would have been a good summer for stories and pictures. Not sure about you, but this summer has been hot, humid, and rainy. All in all its been a good one.

I'm writing to you tonight because I've got some things on my mind to which I thought I would share with you.

Recently I have accepted a new job, in a new town, with new people and experiences. The latter of those I am excited about. It's the other two I am scared about, excited as well, but scared. I don't know why, I am not putting myself in any danger or what have you. The unknown is frightening to me. I'm moving into a house with a friend, which will help, but I can't help feeling this uneasiness.

Along with that my mom and I were making all these plans for when the season ends to go and take a train trip out west, but now that is not going to happen. I feel like I am just dropping every thing we planed. I know she is real excited for me, but I can't help but feel like I am letting her down about this trip.


If you have ever seen the move Inside Out, I feel like Sadness right now. 

Thanks for listening.. or reading. 

And as always I hope to write more in the future. I'll let you know how it all works out.