In the grand scheme of time, one year is nothing. And then again... a lot can happen in 5 minutes.

In my original introduction post, I talked about writing my first serial e-novel, Terra Damnata, Book 1 of The Pu'Shing Bhu'Tons Series, about learning languages, and traveling the world. I even included a recipe for my favorite dip — learned from a shipmate when I was in the Navy. When I started Steeming, I had one vision of how the year would go. The reality was very different.

Hard Lessons

1. If you are stretched too thin by myriad obligations, it is okay to refuse additional projects. Simply say, 'No, I cannot currently work on that.' If things change in the future, you can always make contact and check if the project is still looking for help. If it is and you're free, great. If not, no worries, another project will appear.
2. Some people are out for themselves. You've heard the saying, "Actions speak louder than words." It is true. Listen to the words and watch the actions. Ask yourself if these are congruent. If they aren't, then tread carefully.
3. Your health is important. Days off are important. Rest is important. Don't let other people take away your days off. You cannot heal if you never have time off. Those people mentioned in #2 will let you work yourself into an early grave.
4. Life is precious. Do what you can to enjoy every sunrise and sunset, to feel the breeze, to experience the world. You have one life. Live it.

Heartache

Gruesome and inexplicable things can happen to us and to the people we care about. Some times of they die of natural causes, occasionally unnatural. No matter how they've died, the loss of their energy, their spirit has been a weight on my heart. One moment here, the next moment gone. It is Don Henley's words:

And in these days
When darkness falls early
And people rush home
To the ones they love
You better take a fool's advice
And take care of your own
One day they're here
Next day they're gone
— A New York Minute

Between 2008 and 2012, I lost nearly 40 friends and family members. I worked in the casinos and I went to college in a daze. Some how, I graduated. Even with that much loss behind me, I was not prepared for this last year. It has been overwhelmingly painful. In July of 2016, I lost a dear friend to a long time battle with cancer. Then, in November of 2016 my service dog of 10 years, Sampson, passed away from complications with seizures. And, in February of 2017, I was knocked to my knees by the news that one of my friend's had been brutally murdered. She left behind a 1 year old daughter.

Healing

I have very bad endometriosis which causes me to be incapacitated for about 7 to 10 days out of every month. Top that off with chronic tinnitus and you end up with significant amounts of pain, discomfort, nausea, and dizziness. The tinnitus is dealt with through masking therapy (low volume music) which is supposed to disguise the ringing, but actually just adds more noise. For these two medical issues, there are no cures. And, no real idea as to what causes them.

But, the heart ache of loss. That has a cause. And, believe it or not, it has a cure. That may seem counterintuitive, but it is one of the easiest hard things or hardest easy things, if you prefer. Are you ready? Take a moment if you're not. Okay, deep breath.

Love.

If you allow loss to bury you under its weight, you risk losing the best parts of yourself. Love, compassion, empathy — these are the emotions that help us to spread positivity throughout the world. I know it is easier said than done. I've seen and experienced the ramifications of the bad in this world. I also know that sometimes, one person can say or do something that changes the world for another. That kind word or deed can come at precisely the right moment for someone else.

And Now

For the time being, I'm working on two SteemIt projects. The first is a labor of love, a series I'm calling  Congressional Carnival read S1E3.1. In it I'm examining the case against two bitcoin traders, Randall and Michael Lord, who've been sent to jail for cryptotrading. The second is part of a long term quest to post over 20 years of poety and flash fiction.

I hope you'll continue with me on this Steemian's journey toward a 2nd Steemiversary.

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Twitter: mfinley80
SteemIt Intro: What's Up, STEEMIT?! I'm Monique Finley, a Blogger, Poet, and Author of the Free E-Serial: Terra Damnata!
Serial Novel: Terra Damnata, Book 1 of The Pu'Shing Bhu'Tons Series