Reflections and Anticipation

As we kick off a new year, I want to reflect upon 2018 for a moment. It was full of ups, downs, highs, lows and surprises. Here’s a few highlights and my thoughts on them:

I started off the year a bit wobbly, in a boot on a scooter (rather than crutches) following surgery for plantar fasciitis. It healed up nicely despite me kicking myself for not having the surgery sooner, I suffered from it for ~10 years and the surgery and recovery was a breeze!

In February I had a proud Momma moment when my 24-year-old son bought a 2-bedroom condo in the suburbs of Denver. I flew out to help him clean and paint it top to bottom and left him with a washer-dryer combo as a condo warming gift. Bonding moments!

In March I visited Toronto for a meeting and stayed an extra two days (solo travel isn’t bad!) to visit Niagara Falls and take in the sights and sounds of Toronto, including a Maple Leaf- Canadiens Hockey game. Talk about fun!

After a whirlwind first year at VMware I made Presidents Club thanks to my incredible customers, an amazing Sales Engineer and a very talented team of co-workers and leadership. In May, I took my middle son with me to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. What a trip that was!

In July my high school reunion brought together friends from all over the US as we celebrated and reconnected. The laughter from that weekend took the place of my AB routine for several days!

In August I crossed off a Bucket list item when I went to Peru to hike the 26-mile Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. I had wanted to do it for some time and made the decision to go alone and not let being single keep me home. I trained for months and it was beautiful, grueling, hot, cold, glorious and soul cleansing. I made a connection with a man that had gone through something like what I had gone through with the passing of my ex-husband and we both healed from our long talks while hiking. We were put on that trip for a reason!

In September I did my first Pedal the Cause ride. I raised $500 for Children’s Hospital and Siteman Cancer Center for pediatric cancer research. It was 90+ degrees that day and the 37-mile course was hilly. A friend from Indiana did the ride with me and our goal is to ride the 50-mile course in 2019.

In November I did a three-day personal development workshop called Landmark Forum. It was fantastic and I learned so much about myself. It was enlightening and I am continuing it with a seminar series this winter, followed by an Advanced Course in February.

The holidays were a whirl-wind of parties and travel to visit family and friends. I wish the holidays were more spread out and I could see some of the people all through the year but it never works that way.

All year long I continued to be blessed beyond measure with three incredible twenty something children that make me laugh, cry and most of all make me proud. Two of them have significant others that add to the crazy fun that is “Team Kostielney.”

Not all of 2018 was full of joy and adventure. In January I lost my Aunt, the last of my Dad’s siblings. She was an incredible woman and I have so many good memories of her.

In February we suddenly lost my beautiful young sister-in-law. She left three children and one granddaughter. South Bend, IN isn’t the same without the beautiful, golden light that was Sharon.

In October a good friend lost her twin sister, too young after a long, hard battle with cancer. A couple of days before she passed a cloud stopped (and stayed) over her house in the shape of Angels Wings. Several people saw and took pictures of it. #KBStrong, keep being awesome!

What I learned from the passing of these women is to hold your loved ones close and don’t take today for granted, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Hug your family and friends and tell them what they mean to you.

In November a relationship that started in March with so much promise came to an end. I learned from it that if a person is insecure, if he criticizes and doesn’t accept me for who I am to run, not walk in the opposite direction. My single life continues and I am whole, happy and okay.

As 2019 begins I am full of hope, promise, determination and excitement. Thank you for the lessons 2018 and let’s do this 2019! Keep being awesome!