Dear 2010,
This has been quite a year. I would say it was a year of readjustment, discovery, and realism. It was about finding who I am as a person recovered from an eating disorder and not just as someone living in recovery. As always, there were many ups and downs along with tears of sadness and laughs of joy. I may not have accomplished all I set out to do, but I am positive I kicked ass at what I did accomplish. I have learned that life is what you make it out to be and not something that just happens. I have learned that other people will always let you down, but I will never let myself down. I have learned that being “friends” with people also in “recovery” does not work and that finding friends who are interested in life more than therapy are the ones I want to be around. Overall, I learned how to live in the real world. I have discovered that even though I am recovered life still sucks sometimes. People die, lose their jobs, and run out of money. People will let you down and do terrible things to you. I will be hated for things that I didn’t do or for the wrong reasons. But despite these things, good still reigns over evil. It is still better to take the high road (thanks Kyle Hughes!) than the low one, even if it doesn’t seem to get you anywhere. Truth is, it will. It may not be today or tomorrow or 20 years from now, but one day it will.
Last year I took the time to list all the important events that helped shape 2009. I think I’ll skip those this year because deep down I know what made a difference. There is no need to dwell on the past when I have the present to live in and the future to plan for. Instead I’d like to share what I hope for myself and my friends in the year to come.
1. More laughs and fewer tears.
2. Less work and more play. (Or better yet work that is in and of itself play.)
3. Doing the right thing even if it means losing friends, enemies, or jobs.
4. Living in the moment.
5. Doing something you’ve always wanted to do even if it is terrifying.
6. More love and less hate.
7. Reaching out to someone you don’t know.
8. Speak up.
9. Try to understand the people you dislike.
10. Above all, be true to who YOU are and don’t change for anyone else.
I took the next paragraph from last year’s letter because I think it still applies…it probably always will. Even if I have accomplished these things in 2010, I hope to continue on in 2011.
I am committed to the process and to staying true to myself. I will stand my ground and be firm in my beliefs. I will love myself unconditionally and let others love me as well. I will let my guard down and be silly. I will be open to change and embrace it willingly. I will do one thing every day that scares me. I will be passionate about something, anything. I will make a difference. I will choose happiness. I will play more. I will be hopeful. I will laugh more. I will live in the moment, but plan for the future. I will accept the things I cannot change. I will be assertive. I will move on. I will choose to look for the positives in life. I will understand that my family cannot be what I want. I will let go. I will keep myself accountable. I will live by the three pillars. I will cry when I am sad. I will tell the people I love how much they mean to me.
I will live!
Here's to new beginnings and new endings.
This has been quite a year. I would say it was a year of readjustment, discovery, and realism. It was about finding who I am as a person recovered from an eating disorder and not just as someone living in recovery. As always, there were many ups and downs along with tears of sadness and laughs of joy. I may not have accomplished all I set out to do, but I am positive I kicked ass at what I did accomplish. I have learned that life is what you make it out to be and not something that just happens. I have learned that other people will always let you down, but I will never let myself down. I have learned that being “friends” with people also in “recovery” does not work and that finding friends who are interested in life more than therapy are the ones I want to be around. Overall, I learned how to live in the real world. I have discovered that even though I am recovered life still sucks sometimes. People die, lose their jobs, and run out of money. People will let you down and do terrible things to you. I will be hated for things that I didn’t do or for the wrong reasons. But despite these things, good still reigns over evil. It is still better to take the high road (thanks Kyle Hughes!) than the low one, even if it doesn’t seem to get you anywhere. Truth is, it will. It may not be today or tomorrow or 20 years from now, but one day it will.
Last year I took the time to list all the important events that helped shape 2009. I think I’ll skip those this year because deep down I know what made a difference. There is no need to dwell on the past when I have the present to live in and the future to plan for. Instead I’d like to share what I hope for myself and my friends in the year to come.
1. More laughs and fewer tears.
2. Less work and more play. (Or better yet work that is in and of itself play.)
3. Doing the right thing even if it means losing friends, enemies, or jobs.
4. Living in the moment.
5. Doing something you’ve always wanted to do even if it is terrifying.
6. More love and less hate.
7. Reaching out to someone you don’t know.
8. Speak up.
9. Try to understand the people you dislike.
10. Above all, be true to who YOU are and don’t change for anyone else.
I took the next paragraph from last year’s letter because I think it still applies…it probably always will. Even if I have accomplished these things in 2010, I hope to continue on in 2011.
I am committed to the process and to staying true to myself. I will stand my ground and be firm in my beliefs. I will love myself unconditionally and let others love me as well. I will let my guard down and be silly. I will be open to change and embrace it willingly. I will do one thing every day that scares me. I will be passionate about something, anything. I will make a difference. I will choose happiness. I will play more. I will be hopeful. I will laugh more. I will live in the moment, but plan for the future. I will accept the things I cannot change. I will be assertive. I will move on. I will choose to look for the positives in life. I will understand that my family cannot be what I want. I will let go. I will keep myself accountable. I will live by the three pillars. I will cry when I am sad. I will tell the people I love how much they mean to me.
I will live!
Here's to new beginnings and new endings.
Here's to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Here's to faith, family, and friends.
Here's to hope.
Love,
Kat
