Last Day of 34.

Every year on the day before my birthday, I think about what I've accomplished or experienced over the past year. Have I earned another year? At 34, I 

• read 43 books
• read 6 books to which I gave 5 stars on GoodReads
• homeschooled a child with special needs for weeks despite the fact that it literally almost killed me
• participated in remote learning including sticker math, pirate art, and superhero workouts
• conducted occupational therapy sessions with telehealth
• spoke up about my need to go to the hospital despite many good reasons to lie about it
• wrote about hospital stay and shared experience
• tolerated medication increase with side effects
• went out alone after hospital release
• saw 4 musicals, all new to me
• celebrated 7 years of buddyship
• paid off a large lingering cost of Oliver's therapy
• paid off all but one credit card
• wrote 62 blog posts
• wrote my first short story in forever
• lost 30 pounds
• said, "I love you," to someone new

Last Day of 33.

Every year, right before my birthday, I think about what the year has meant, what I've accomplished, who I've become, and why I'm worth another year.

As a 33-year-old,

• I celebrated my 12-year wedding anniversary with Josh.
• I've helped Oliver get through first grade and much therapy of different types.
• I've let my reading and writing slide here toward the end, but I will get it back on track.
• I've finished 45 books in a variety of genres. 
• I've read a good bit of poetry. 
• I've completed 5 journals.
• I've worked to keep my blogs fresh.
• I made almost 200 posts on my two blogs.
• I've dressed just as I please. Nothing is too special.
• I've managed to spend time with a new person, one of the few people who make me feel calm. I've been brave.
• I've kept up with a therapist and a psychiatrist. 
• I've taken my medication every day, no matter how often it changes and how the side effects change me.
• I've shown up and paid a lot of necessary dental work. 
• I went to my doctor for a physical and endured various tests (all is well) like a responsible adult.
• I returned to the college where I used to teach because one of our dear former professors was giving a reading. I didn't know if people would remember or recognize me. I didn't know how I'd react to being at the site of some of my biggest failures. But everyone was warm and happy to see me, and it was a great day.
• I've helped Josh a little with his humanitarian project.
• I got to see my brother-in-law get married. And Josh and I danced!
• I saw 8 musicals. 

That looks better than I expected. I'm ready.