Think about a major milestone that happened with your family this past year. How has this affected you?
Motherhood has made me anxious in a way that I never anticipated, nor that I want. I miss my carefree days and I don't understand sometimes why I get so angry and irrationally upset. I was just saying to my husband this evening, after a fight that made us both sad: "Don't be sad! We don't have to be sad! We can be great! We just have to work at it." I fully intend to be great and for our relationship to be fantastic, but it feels like we keep getting in our own way.
My brother had a brain aneurysm. It was scary and put everyone in my family on edge. He is so young, only in his early 50's and a runner with little body fat who eats very healthy. As a result, I am looking at my own health differently. Also I am thinking more about living in the present and taking more time to have fun and do cool things.
This past year I came out to my family as transgender. It was about as large a milestone as I could imagine there being.... and it went wonderfully well. They embraced me in such a way that I feel truly seen by them for the first time in as long as I can remember.
I had an accident. It felt like I was more in everyone's way then before. It taught be that only I am in charge of my health and I need to work on my health first and anything else after that.
My father died on Yom Kippur and I barely made it to his side for his last 4 hours. He exemplified lifelong learning and was really my first teacher. I feel like I've lost my wisest mentor and the person I most wanted to make proud. I feel like what he gave me is fading away and I only have dry books to learn from now. My most cherished elder is gone.
