2012 taught me a lot of things…

 I learned my mom is awesome. I learn this every day, it seems. 

 I learned, early, that breaking your leg hurts…and is incredibly inconvenient when you have toddlers.  From that, I learned that people are good. Bringing food, washing babies, doing dishes, and folding laundry was organized by Amy Quinn and executed wonderfully. Kylee Paye took great care of my babies during that time.

I learned about books. Great, self published books that changed the way I looked at words. 

I learned that I could write one. I wrote a book. I even published it. More miraculously, people bought it. And liked it.

I learned that becoming a “real” author is all-consuming and I need balance. But, I don’t want it. 

I learned that friendship can be felt through an online authors group and can multiply exponentially when you meet them in person. Chicago 2012 was one of the best times of my entire life. 

I learned that I could write more than one book and that it’s all at once not as scary and ten times scarier when you’ve already done it once.

I learned, twenty-nine years later, that bright paper packages tied up with string is not the way life is. That line belongs in a song, only. People can disappoint and, in an instant, can mean something totally different to you than they did a millisecond prior.

I learned that having one four-year-old and two three-year olds is harder than the year I had one two-year-old and two one-year-olds. Truth. 

I learned that accomplishing a five-year-long goal of moving back to Massachusetts means that I’ll have to say goodbye to my best friend. I don’t like that.

I learned my husband and I can go. through. some. shit. And come out OK. 

I learned that my soul is a few shades darker than I thought it was, and I’m fine with that.

I learned I have a lot of spiritual growing to do, and all of these books swirling in my head are the master key to helping me along that path.

xo

andrea