I feel incredibly lucky for the year that I’ve had. I have bad experiences under my belt, and while they have helped shape who I am, I feel fortunate for a year of relative ease. Completing a term of service with AmeriCorps wasn’t easy, gardening full time with a broken wrist took perseverance, and I was devastated when my bike was stolen but immediately started fixing up a used one. The obstacles I encountered this year I faced head-on, and I think it’s because I’ve seen worse in years past. I feel like I have grown so much from working three challenging jobs this year, even though I don’t have much money to show for all the work I’ve done. Dealing with a tight budget is easier with the ‘need not, want not’ mentality that I’ve adopted lately. I also still don’t have a clear vision of where I want to be or want I want to be doing ten years from now, but that’s allright. One of the most important things I’ve learned is to be present. I feel healthy and happy and alive and loved.