This year can’t be over soon enough! 2017 is just a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year. I saw my neck surgeon on Tuesday and the appointment wasn’t very good. It’s my third not great appointment in a row and I just need to keep processing the news I hear. The harder thing is that my support system is dwindling through all of this, which makes everything harder to take on and handle. But like the sayings go, “what doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger” and “grow through what you go through.” I got this because I have to have this. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it, there’s no good or bad news to me anymore, it’s all just news. I have to process it all in my own time and deal with it how I want to and how I choose is right for me. I’m just so so thankful to have Lucy by my side every step of the way. She’s been the best therapy I could ask for. Her and the beach that is. This post is apparently just full of quotes! Here’s another one: “the cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.”

After my appointment, Lucy and I headed down to the beach for the day. It’s funny how the universe works, because I met two strangers and had the best conversations with them. Both happened separately and both were much needed. They were so kind and caring. I’ve thought it before and those conversations solidified it for me, sometimes one finds the most support in strangers. The older lady started talking to me about Lucy and then it led into the year that she’s had. She lost her dog who was like a son to her and she also lost her husband of 57 years. I said “doesn’t 2017 suck” and she replied with “yes, it’s just the worst and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.” At which, I completely agreed with her! She just continued to talk and I listened and let her. Part of what she told me was that when asked what was her advice, she’d say to make your partner first always. Keep them in front of kids, grandkids, jobs, tasks, life, etc. No one has the answers and you don’t know what tomorrow brings. You don’t know how much time you have with someone. Don’t regret not making time and spending as much time as possible with your partner. They should be your best friend. She continued to go on how she lost the two most important beings in her life in the same year: her husband and her dog. She said the biggest regret she has is not making her husband first always and no matter what. She told me that everything else can wait, just put your partner first. I think that’s great advice and a great reminder. I believe that everyone deserves to be put first in their relationships. I know what it feels like to not be put first and it really doesn’t feel good or make for a healthy relationship. I’m so glad our paths crossed when they did. We said goodbye and wished each other better years to come. She said “time heals all wounds” and I said I completely agree, all you need to have is faith!