Another year has come to a close. I’ve heard so many questioning, ‘Where did this year go?’ I ask myself the same question as I reflect on my hurdles and accomplishments. And although I can account for all that has transpired, I’m still in disbelief of how the clock has ticked in such haste.

The winter escape I took last February seems like a distant memory when I look back at all that came after. The first 5 months of the year, I spent visiting my dying aunt intermittently between finishing my latest book, Have Bags, Will Travel. The summer and fall were spent dealing with government income tax issues and digging up 6 years of audit receipts, while revising and preparing to publish Have Bags. And as if every week didn’t bring another challenge into my life these past few months, that darned rascal ‘Murphy’, (yes that’s right, I’m on a first name basis with Mr. Murphy’s Law), had to give me a few more jabs two days before I leave.

My hip went out once again, which makes it very difficult to run around here and pack up while wrapped up in my trusted heat bands like a mummy. This shall present a few challenges as we set off to travel to Arizona with 4 large suitcases and 3 carry on bags, (have you read my latest book?). And my friggin’ laptop crashed for the 3rd time in 18 months, 2 days ago. I’m fit to be tied…literally. As the 2 year warranty expires, conveniently in 2 weeks, I dropped it off at the geeks once again today and told them they can hold it for 2 months. I can’t wait to have to start from scratch once again reloading programs and files when I return…Said Nobody Ever! Thankfully Santa brought this new 12″ Windows Surface Pro for an early Christmas gift 2 months ago, which I’m typing on now.

Now with all that crap said, I was also fortunate enough to have to prepare for several interviews I was invited to do with various authors and bloggers. Before I knew it, it was Thanksgiving, and nearing Christmas. And now it’s time for me to go to Arizona – the one good thought that kept me going all year as I muddled through some hurdles. I’ll be going for 2 glorious months.

Oh, no worries, I’ll still be writing and grinding, but at least I’ll be surrounded by mountains, desert and beautiful sunsets. I hope to be writing for my next 2 books, but I do know I’m going to be taking some real time out to take in some living and exploring.

We’ll be having some guests off and on, and I have plans to meet up with a few of my new author friends who reside in the Phoenix area. Oh, and my hub is looking forward to spending some real time with his wife too.

I’ve always tried hard to keep up with everything: write, blog, visit blogs, and social media, despite whatever life was throwing at me. And I always felt that if I missed a day or two doing so, I’d fall so far behind that the catch up would be overwhelming. But I’ve learned from some friends here that everyone needs a time out, a time to regroup and take in some real life living, and so I’m surrendering to that. If some of my avid blogging friends can do it, then certainly I can too. Now this doesn’t mean I won’t be around, but possibly, not as much as you may be used to seeing my ‘likes’ or avatar and comments as often for awhile. And I may miss a few posts here and there, but I’m not going to beat myself up struggling to catch up for hours while I have some desert living to do.

I will still be posting, and it may take a little longer for me to respond to your comments, which I always welcome, but do know that I’m not abandoning ship here – just taking some well needed pauses. What you will see though, will be lots of beautiful pictures and snippets of my adventures.

I’m looking forward to meeting up with a few new friends I’ve made here who just happen to live in that neck of the woods. And I will be endeavoring into doing some author-ly things there too.

One thing I have planned already is meeting up with my friend Heather. Some of you may recall the interview I did on audio last winter with Heather Debreceni, the divorce coach who seeked me out on the web after finding my book Conflicted Hearts. The interview was about children of divorce. The day Heather and I did that interview, we had formed an instant friendship and have been gabbing on Facebook ever since.

 I’m extremely excited that Heather, my soon to be PODCAST partner, will be coming to visit me all the way from Colorado so we can put together our new weekly video show we’ve been working on, for Empowering Women, which will begin in April!

 It’s truly amazing the friendships we make here. As writers and readers, we spend most of our waking hours on the web. We meet people and their personalities exude through the internet with mere words.

I feel so blessed to have made so many wonderful friends here, especially in this last year alone. It’s been a tough year around here, but as long as my optimism and determination prevail, I keep on going. And I’d like to thank all of you for being such wonderful, supportive friends here.

I’d like to take a moment here to remind all of you to take a moment in reflection and look at your challenges of this past year, but don’t dwell on them. Now look at your accomplishments, and focus on the good bits of your years. Life will always be throwing us curve balls, we just have to find the mitt that fits best to catch.

Let us all remember kindness and compassion, and remember that everyone has obstacles in their lives, don’t always let the smiles fool you, nobody’s life is perfect. But life is about paying it forward and being grateful for all that we do have. The universe tells us, what we give out, we receive. So let’s all keep that at the back of our minds and let the goodness and positivity in all of us shine through.

I wish you all a happy, healthy new year, and may we all find peace in the year to come.

(My next weekend post will be a helpful reblog on How to Move Your WordPress.com to Your Own Self-Hosted WordPress.org site.)

See you next post, live from Arizona!

DGKaye©2015