highlights? lowlights? was it a good year? bad? why?

mine was...pretty epic. it was a year of extremes. extreme highs and lows. i took a lot of risks and made sweeping changes literally in every aspect of life. it was a tough year in a way because i'm someone who likes routine and steadiness, and this year was everything but. I basically lived outside of my comfort zone for 365, which was exhausting but necessary.

if i had to name it, it would be "growing pains: the year I turned my life upside down and rearranged everything". I think i'll reap the benefits of the work i did in '14 in the next few.

your turn!

career stagnation
new hobby that might blossom into a business
lost 1.5% of my sexiness

Strong like ox. Nocturnal like owl.

it was joyful
it was depressing
it was pride-inducing
it was humiliating
it was everything it needed to be.
Turning 30 was a eye-opening motherfucker.

It was clear why the struggle was so painful
metamorphosis this is what I changed to
and God I'm so thankful © Nas

I didn't know the BABY part of your screenname was literal.

I was *15* when I created this alias
I'VE BEEN HERE LITERALLY HALF MY LIFE, B!

i cant imagine what life with be like with okp as a teenager.

i was 22 when i joined.

I didn't turn 22 until after.

Seeing a therapist on the regular. (once a month! And, its helped!)
Mom in law moved out!!! (THANK GOD!!!)
Diagnosed with ADD!!! (Gives me peace of mind and has helped focus me daily)
Hubby and I are understanding each other's love language! (Mind-blowing!)
Figured out what I'm going to do career wise for the rest of my life! (AWESOME SAUCE!)
Under 200 lbs! Thanks, Crossfit, Clean eating and adderral! On my way to a better me!
The munchkin is ahead of her learning curve. And we are finally potty training on the regular!!!!

All in all...good year!!! My household is at peace. Looking forward to 2015!

survived a run-in with an 18 wheeler without a scratch
got into the groove of self-employment
put my nuts on the table with my creative projects
had an art show
best year of dating ever (thanks, tinder)
didnt gain any weight
seems like i'll be breaking my streak of december being a bad romantic month for me.

the bad thing is that im not any more financially well off than i was last year.

Been a year of job hopping, started out working for a contractor at the beginning of the year working for the Navy, then worked for one of the most well known nonprofit organizations in the world part-time, then left there and began to work at a financial institution, then when I couldn't obtain my series 6 license I ended up working for a nonprofit credit union (and got an account there, WIN!), left there three weeks after working there to land a swell gig with a new branch for FedEx where I think I'm gonna go ahead and settle here for good.

released a project by another artist under my digital imprint and it did pretty well digital sales wise...

got married back in August and now I graduate this upcoming Sunday...

pretty full year if I say so myself...

after years of unemployment and undermployment

the career popped off again
im in a new city


now if I could get the art making up and running in 2015 life would be good

i officially date it as starting this week last year when my whole family was in a car accident which totalled our vehicle. shit rolled and i had to pull my kids out of it upside down.

then my business partner damn near got me sued.

then my son got diagnosed with a rare blood disease which killed our plans to move indefinitely, and pretty much drained all of my savings.

more people close to me died than i care to recount. literally just came from a funeral yesterday.

tons and tons of other stresses.

and yet somehow i'm still here. getting ready for the huge turnaround in 2015.

█▆▇▅▇█▇▆▄▁▃
Big PEMFin H & z's
"I ain't no entertainer, and ain't trying to be one. I am 1 thing, a musician." � Miles

"When the music stops he falls back in the abyss."

I had a new job the first week of the new year that I lost the first week of the new year

I wound up in court with my former job over an unemployment dispute and I won, I was balling out for a hot second

I've made the most money I've seen in my writing career this year.

I worked a temp assignment where I had to walk the streets not far from Skid Row this summer, super depressing

All of the stress and agony ended up in a beautiful wedding even though some things didnt go to our liking

I've also had a mental collapse or two recently

But my latest job is looking promising. Part time hours but it's a great company with great people

and 2.5 years later Im taking advantage of living in LA, shaking hands and meeting people whenever I can, passing my card around

marriage is marriage, not at all a fairytale but not ugly and toxic if you dont make it so

moved across the country
makin a lil more $
made my first comic
time to go ring shopping

Started off well with girl (A). high
Then it got bad with her. low
Then I went to Barcelona which had it's own HIGHs and lows.
Then my ipod broke low.
Then I went to KC with some friends. high
Then I lost my phone (with precious pics and texts). low
Then things with girl (A) started looking well. HIGH
Then things with girl (B) started looking well. high
Then things with girl (C) started looking well. high
Then I went to see Outkast in Milwaukee. HIGH
Then girl (A)shattered my world. LOW.
Then I went to visit my mother for the first time in a few years. HIGH
Then I got a job placement I didn't want LOW
Then things with girl (C) started going well. high.
Now I'm going to Vegas for the first time with some new friends. high.

I don't even know how to rate this year.
I've been overjoyed and I've been devastated.

the best parts were getting to see people (siblings and some friends) I had not seen in a while, family members surviving significant illness. oh yeah. I came up at the job, too.

the worst: everything else. was a total screwoff of a year. gotta get back on the wagon ASAP.

no peaks or valleys.

No hightlight.

No low points.

Life in 2014 simply was an existence from one day to the next.

residency
made tons of new work
successful crowd funding campaign
research in JA
visiting artist lecture in delaware
2 big awards
my first studio
3 impending shows

personally, probably the toughest year of my life

had some close friends die this year (jan-feb) which was really put things in perspective and motivated me throughout the year.

every goal i set at the last funeral in feb, i have accomplished.

-i'll have my MBA in 1.5 years
-i'm making more $$
-my only debt is student loans (which i will probably never pay off, but whatever)
-my career is on the right track
-i'm in the best shape of my life.
-took some time off for a vacation for the first time in my working adult life. much needed.

overall, a good year. cant complain at all.




IG: hibelk

Got out of Nashville..for awhile there I didn't think I'd make it out there alive. I ALMOST forgot I can Identify with this fear as a black man because I had that INTENSE fear as i was leaving that something/anything could happen with me not leaving that stateline ALIVE.

Started working with my mentor at his company. The money isn't where it should be "yet" but he looks out for me and he real believes in my talents. through him Ive been able to work on some amazing projects and see how things really gets done. As long as I play my part it can only get BETTER.

This project Im working on can either MAKE ME or BREAK ME either way Im enjoying the process and feel blessed to be surrounded by people who believe in me. its tough but we do what we love.

I just need this money thing to catch up. My Gawd.

Another year no kids. No child support. Im good!

has been a year to face tough realities.

lots of inner growth and not all of it came with easy lessons.

big, final, lessons i won't EVER forget and have no intention of revisiting:

--when someone shows you who they are? BELIEVE THEM and govern yourself accordingly!
--number one priority? self care. caring for myself physically, mentally, and spiritually must come FIRST. it's so important for me to feel nurtured and supported, especially in tough and trying times. no self care? i'm not good for anything.
--my gut, instincts, and intuition are crystal clear and spot on. i can trust them.
--honor needs and wants. if someone, something, or some place isn't what i need or want? it's ok it's ok it's ok for it not to "work out." god bless you to all, and i now know how to keep it moving-- not later after i've "investigated," not after i've given it a shot...but as soon as i know/recognize whatever it is isn't for me. for whatever reason. and just because i said so.
--i'm responsible for my feelings, responses, and behaviors. 100%
--i'm worth it. totally.

http://instagram.com/p/wgl5ucPnZe/
http://instagram.com/p/v4Kdp_vnTo/
http://instagram.com/p/vruQYbPnex/
http://instagram.com/p/vqgObRPnff/

etc etc

update:
totally forgot i turned 30 this year.

it was by far an extremely transformative year.

started out 2014 in love. lost that love, but realized more things about myself in the process. i'd call it a necessary experience.

i could have been a father this year which kinda freaks me out.

i was involved in a serious car accident. i honestly could have died. and if not death...i don't have to be healthy and fully functional. so now....i'm just thankful for life.

still don't have a car, but i'm sitting on the money and i like that.

i'm freeing myself of religion, and i'm growing more comfortable in expressing that to my ultra religious family. christmas might be a blast.

got a promotion and a new job. commuting will take years off your life and for the past 5 years i had a hellish commute. now i got rid of that.

pro: i figured out my plan for the world and i swear it would work. con: i did nothing with it. or i haven't done anything with it....yet.

i had sex with some really, really pretty women this year. i took some great trips. fantastic experiences. between the Outkast concert, the Stevie Wonder concert, and the Cowboys v. Eagles game...i got it in a little bit.

i didn't do shit for my physical well being tho. gotta work on that. if i ever get in shape, shape....i'll be such a fucking problem.

i wasn't be best son tho. i still have to work on my relationship with my mother. its tough for me, cause she doesn't like to think. and i can't deal with that. but i gotta figure something out. i'm glad that i'm able to help her without having to deal with her tho. i'll let my other siblings deal with her, and then i'll just pay for whatever. that works right? somebody gotta be the financial backing.

if the end of 2015 has me all relationshippy....it would have started in 2014. so its nice to end it open to feeling something for someone, while at the same time feeling free to be open to the right person if they came along.

yeah...it was an interesting year. i give it a solid A. cause even tho some fucked up shit happened....i feel stronger and more resolved. i feel comfortable with life, and i really love myself. i'm not perfect, but i probably wouldn't like myself if i was.
---------------------------------------
it's true what they say...people are strange, when you're strangers.

not compassionate....only polite.

I am not like you at all and i cannot pretend.

>i'm freeing myself of religion, and i'm growing more
>comfortable in expressing that to my ultra religious family.
>christmas might be a blast.

it's pretty crazy, is it not? I was just in Memphis with my very Baptist family and it was great. But I've been a heathen for so long that they don't even try me anymore like they used to. No one bugs me about church like they used to. Even went to dinner with my mom and her former Pastor and he was like "I want you to talk to my daughter about your career" and I said to him "You know I'm a heathen right?"

He had a good laugh about it and basically was like "you ain't that bad but you could be better".

It's just freeing to be who you are and not have to put up that "Praise the Lawd" Saints facade just because.

other than that.......dude....we >>>here<<< widdit.....

dope

2015 needs to be a year of new shit. 2014 was a mix of stale nothingness, dating failures and eventual indifference/numbness, societal/political unrest and injustice, and family deaths/death scares. I have to invoke change.


_______________________________
gamblers and masturbators.

http://mixcloud.com/urkelmoedee

PSN: UrkelMoeDee

Family Life - Worst category with health issues with my parents. Not a good year. next year may be worst.
Professional - Pretty good. Got a promotion and security.
Fulfilment - producing a feature so that's great.
Love - Wife and I are doing pretty good.

I don't know what that adds up to.


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

http://blackpeopleonlocalnews.tumblr.com/

my accomplishments are immaterial/intangible but i've spent the last few years trying to create the life i want for myself.

i turned 30
i graduated with first class honours
i made my bbc radio debut as an 'expert' debating an important, controversial topic in my field & i think i held my own.
i moved (back) to London & have enjoyed rediscovering my home city (it's changed tremendously in a relatively short period of time)
i started grad school & am doing really well.

certain things are still to come, but i'm taking it one step at a time. i feel fairly satisfied though. i can't think too far ahead, it's anxiety inducing.

>highlights?
-New job, new opportunities. Hands down the best job I've had in my entire career (as it should be, you grow and shit gets doper). This is the resume-maker, game changer. A year and a half more here and the world is literally my oyster.
-Traveled more this year alone than I have in my entire life. Spent a month in Brazil for World Cup. In addition to that took three other trips out of the country (Brazil again, Mexico City, Toronto for the first time).
-Good fitness shit happening, even though I yo-yo'd a bit this year due to moving and extensive travel, I have been on a great trajectory for the past three months and finally found a personal trainer that I like and we've had great sessions. I'm getting really strong but not losing as much fat as I'd like. I'll get there though.
-My family is as close as we've ever been, with the exception of my older, selfish sister who has pulled away even more since she got married. My mom and my younger sister and I are especially tight these days and it's good to know even though I'm far away, they got my back.

>lowlights?
-Crazy health shit happening because as I get older I'm basically becoming highly allergic to everything under the sun. I have a good doctor though and I'm getting through it.
-Haven't had sex since August 2013. I'd probably be a nicer person at work if I could get that part of my personal life together.
-Didn't hit all of my financial goals, but got a significant pay bump with my new job that negated itself the moment I moved to NYC.


All in all a good year. Positive changes and good traction for getting the new year started right. With my time off over the next three weeks, I'm going to create a new 5-year plan... my old one ran it's course a year and a half ago and I haven't updated it. I need some viable, reachable goals and a plan to get out of NYC in the next 1-2 years.

My son and family is always the high point in my life. My son is doing amazing in everything he chooses to do. He is excelling in sports. He started school and is doing amazing. Even better than we though. His teachers love him, the noon aids love him, every one that knows him loves him. They all love to tell me that he is a great student. But he is also kind, polite, and helpful. All the hard work is already paying off. My wife got a promotion and a nice raise. Actually she is chasing a possible job change right now that would give her another raise and much better perks. I found a little side hustle and I am starting to make a little bit of money. Plus it just helps my confidence. Being a stay at home dad is a really important job and its amazing. But I am used to working. If I am not helping out financially I feel like a burden. So making this little bit of dough has been amazing for me mentally.


The bad. Financially this year has been hell. We have always had some emergency money. I never thought we would use it all up and some in a year. But everything in our house broke. A/C repairs, water heater, etc. Just annoying shit that added up. Then my wife has had a lot of stomach issues for years. I got tired of hearing about them and made her go to the Doctors and figure it out. Test after test after test. Specialist vist after specialist visit later they figured it out. Nothing to serious. A pill once a day and a few tests a year to monitor it. But all those visits and shit added up. Then add in another ER room visit for kidney stones for her. Man those bills killed us. Oh yeah she ended up breaking her leg at the end of summer. Lucky we maxed our deductible by then. But 3 months of recovery were hell for her and me. She was stuck to the couch/bed for 3 months. I had to manage the entire house myself. Again finances came up she was on disability which wasnt close to her full pay.

But the year is almost over. She is back at work. My son is still doing him. Financially we are going to make it. Not behind on any bills. It could have been worse. Not everyone has that emergency fund to dip into. So it could have been a lot worse.

i still want to say
being a stay-at-home dad helps financially !!!!
because there is no way you and your wife could find someone in childcare and pay them any amount of money to add up to what you give your fam by being there for your son
it's literally priceless
and you see how it's paying off in tangible results right up ^^^^^^ through all of the difficult times

stay up
new year coming soon!

I started the year by getting involuntarily ending employment with a company on New Year's eve. Then Masters program started but I got dangerously sick through it and had to withdraw... Life is still crazy and it took me damn near the entire to recover from these illneses or at least manage them to the point where I can function somewhat normally.

*EDIT*

Had to come to grips with a bunch of stuff as disasterously as possible. I might be on my way out of the church which is weird so there's that. In all honesty, I thought life would be the romcom movie at this point and I find it weird that it's not. I found out there's some involvement in another legal case in a certain state.

My biggest takeaway is watch your step. Dip your toe into a pool and find out it's really an ocean with a current that will drag you under. In other words, don't be so quick to jump into responsibility for no good reason.

I find myself in the weird space of being able to leave to a new destination for the first time in forever.

Nothing too extreme like what I've seen some folks say, but definitely for me.

-A close older cousin died, my protege found his dad dead due to heart attack, another older cousin died, and November of last year, my best friend's dad died. So I went to way more funerals than usual, and have dealt with those.

-Won the Flavor Battle...which was 70% good, 30% eh. Definitely great as a whole, and the 10K helped a bit. But it was an extremely stressful process, and pretty unorganized. And the way they edited the video made me look below average as hell, to go along with them forcing us to use their limited ass songs.

-DJ'd in L.A., Chicago, NY, Philly, DC, Tampa, Tallahassee, and Ghana

-Finally visited another continent, went to Morocco and Ghana. Those trips were good, but then had a scary ass car accident in Ghana that took months to fully recover from. Shit had me in PAIN for a good month.

-(Was forced to) quit my job in June. I wasn't all the way ready to quit, but really had no choice. It wasn't solely to DJ as people think, but of course I wouldn't have quit if I wasn't DJing.

-Turned 30

-Turned 30, still have no kids

-Turned 30, and still have no girlfriend or anything near it

-Turned 30, and still have a full hairline.

>-Turned 30, still have no kids

>-Turned 30, and still have a full hairline.

i kid, i kid

but at the same time, one of the best. kinda weird that those two statements can co-exist, but they do.

employment in 2014 has been rough. i went through a bout or 2 of depression, but not too severe. had some major losses in the household, mainly a miscarriage. like i said, it's been a trying ass year.

BUT! at the same time, my son provides so much joy that i can't even focus on the negative stuff. he is my world, and he is so awesome. it doesn't matter what is going on, the minute i see him and his smiling face none of it matters.

things are turning up now. i will be fully employed in 2015. thank God for that, truly. and thank God for my son and my family for being around to get me through all of it and having me realize that everything is and will be ok.

Sorry about the miscarriage, bro.

That's all it was. Literal work, emotional work, physical work, mental work. Just work and preparation.

Low point was definitely losing my grandfather. But I enjoyed the time we spent together this year as well.

I don't think there was a high point unless quitting my job counts, lol.
Maybe getting all my hair cut off was the high point?


This year was all about maintenance. It was very unremarkable, but I
have a feeling I'll look back on this year with a lot of hindsight.

I can't even tell how next year might be. But I really really need it to be a good year.

major health issue - i feel like i missed the entire summer
new baby - i feel like i missed a year of sleep
set off in one direction with a new job
and turned right back around after mike brown
to resolve my health issue and dedicate time to community work
since sept
founded 2 community groups and information resource and can see tangible results of stuff happening on a larger scale than i anticipated but at a local level
it's exciting
never thought i would be here
about to start grant writing
over the last days of this year
and really looking forward to the next

Moved to a new state to pursue dreams and stuff

It feels like I was working on a slow build February to April.

May-July
My grandmother got cancer, she just turned 82 yesterday. She ain't dealing with the chemo and stuff. She still home cooking. I never got sad about it, if she ain't sad, I'm not sad. Happy she's still here

My job life was fledgling. So much so that I went to NY for 3 weeks and only missed 2 days of work.

August- October
I got another job and wound up in the hospital due to the stress of said job.
Then I quit

November-Now
Shit shit shit
Got caught up in an employment scam and owe massive amounts of money that I don't have.The job search is infuriating.
I'm tired of being told I'm overqualified for a lot of jobs that I don't mind doing.

My love life be ziggin and zaggin because no one really likes broke bitches with B.As

But

Artistically my life is fantastic. I'm DP'ing my first project. I worked on sets as a paid extra. I got to work for the city (www.atlantaga.gov/takeastand) with incredible people that keep putting me on to great opportunities. So the move helped my creative career out by leaps and bounds.



The scales are tipped heavily for my artistry, but damnit all i need is some regular income so that I can prosper in the real world and I'll be set. I will work for all the tips. All of Dem.

Started off a bit bleh, job of a few years suddenly became more sales driven & swatting my ambitions of coming up in that company as the struggles with that led to shit that eventually had me outta there... that was the bleh I dealt with.
On the "YAAAAY!!" I was able to eventually stumble across another position which is more tech driven (Read: no shitty upsales). Most importantly thru much of the year a lovely lady decided to love a nigga thru his ups & downs and occasional weirdness. So overall this year is a very epic win.. A++++++ n shit
( ^_^)-b

Everything else is pretty shitty. All I have is my job.

This was the year i realized that I won't likely have the opportunity to have the things in life i desire.

Enemies and "the competition" got stronger, money and jobs went lol NOPE, niggas abandoned ship. The year can't end soon enough.

Bad news is that 2015 is set up for more of the same... unless...

________________________________________________________________________________
Niggas made aliases.

Extremely fun but also tumultuous relationship that ain't looking like it's gonna last through 2015.

Shitload of fun traveling, gorgeous beaches, lush forests, fun with wildlife, new night life spots and lots of incredible food. Peruvian food shot up the charts to my favorite cuisine for sure.

Had an awesome time working the NHL playoffs last year, by far the most rewarding experience of my career and that is even with the previous three years being incredible, too. Something tells me I am in for a letdown this year, and at any rate it would be tough to top 2014's run.

My parents are worrying me a little but they're old and set in their ways. There isn't much I can do.

Business was good, it's gotten to where it's not growing but it's very steady. It keeps itself running plus pays the bills and then the reporting money covers the moderately-priced thrills (Anything I want is fifty dollars! (c) Action Bronson).

I got back on the basketball court regularly. Whew, I am not 19 anymore and goddamn did my legs tell me in a loud voice. I hope to keep it going, maybe find some adult leagues in addition to the couple regular pickup games I get into now.

2015 should be fun, new beginnings and maybe even some big decisions.

It sucked. But I'm doing better now. That pretty much sums it up

I was in an amazing relationship for most of the year, ate very well, no major health or financial issues and I traveled *just* enough. work life kind of plateaued (my fault) but overall I can't complain much.

low key 2013 was one of the worst years of my life. I had so many tears and lows points in between the fun.
This year was the complete opposite. So many memories made. The high point was my 1970's birthday party.
2014= Good work opportunities, quality time with my husband, time with my family, and lots of costumes!!!

I think I am entering the part were astrology enthusiasts say Capricorns age backwards.

Stop worrying about $$ (as much).

I've lost 15 more lbs.

Finally came to terms with not being a biological mom(surgery soon come),but kick ass aunt who gives good gifts lol.

The guardianship process is the worst but its best for my mom and her $$$.

I've been married for ten years today. Its been a real learning experience and i am grateful for it all plus i luh he. We celebrated last night (still recovering).

life has sucked since 2010

this year i got a new job
career reinvigorated
some cool gigs
still pitifully single (no dates :()

still not in good shape $ wise and djing is still erratic but im hoping this is the start of an upswing in my life

I'm digging out of a hole from 2013

But it's strange because every tragedy was paired with a blessing.

I'm working my dream job, I have all the freedom, and leadership in the world. However, my bosses have been at war for months, that is affecting every aspect of the business.

My wife's grand mother passed. That brought up a lot of family issues. However we got to go back to Cali, and my son got to meet family he's not been able to see.

Watching my son grow has been the greatest thing ever.

Find out we're pregnant again, only to have the doctor's think something is wrong. Fortunately, Holiday is fine, but we spent most of the latter partof the year thinkingwe were going to lose the baby. We kept her a secret the whole time. Through a move, job changes family events, trips to Cali, etc.

She's o.k. we're o.k..

-got married
-bought our first home
*going through those two major events has made it feel like i jumped into a new stage of adulthood. even the little things like all the paper work involved...etc.

-went to Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Scottsdale AZ, Atlanta, San Fran, San Jose, Dallas and San Antonio all for the first time
-work has been good...no major new developments there this year


Overall it was a good year, def one to remember. There will be some big developments next year as well. I'm just happy that overall our loved ones are doing well and we're all relatively healthy and able to enjoy each other's company from time to time.

discovered a lot about myself

dated a lot during the summer, and had fun for the most part doing it

first half of the year was spent at a wack as job though

I'm at a good place right now overall. just got a new job, and i"ll get to work from home and it pays well.

next year is all about getting myself financially together and getting my business going

no more dating. too much of a distraction.

has not been as awesome....has SUCKED terribly tho....but even when I suffered loss......i was REWARDED with BETTER than I began with....so THIS year was one of the best yet.


The good stuff.....
I've had an amazing job AFTER the Red Hat "Parking Lot-gate"....that made that bullshit alllllll worth the reward in the end

Went to London/Windsor for the FREE for work. It was nothing less that spectacularly amazing. It was a bucket list item for me.

My nephews......enough said

My family circle has not been broken

My heart is damn near fixed. I hold no grudges or any pain around some ole "lover's wounds" type shit. I'm honestly HAPPY....and happy for all that are happy..........friend or foe. fuck the dumb shit. Life's too short.

At the last quarter of the year....my last gig ended (the one who sent me cross seas).....but it was only one month and a lil change before I landed THIS gig.....in a higher position...paying the most I've made and has already expanded so many of my horizons.



The NOT so good stuff.....

Car accident back in April with a rental......the GREATNESS out of it was a BRAND NEW CAR!!! No longer renting (I was renting for a while)...but my own ride. She nice too.

these recent deaths...right here near the holidays.......my next door neighbor for like the last 20 years succumbed to leukemia...suddenly (JUST found out she had it)....and one of my DEAREST friends since we were like 3, died in a motocycle accident this past saturday.



Through it all....i wouldn't trade this journey I have right now............for anything else. It's clearly designed for TEE....

CHEERS to the new year!

minor surgery that turned into major surgery
got two months off to recuperate and appreciate life


~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

My marriage is stronger than it's ever been

We are all healthy

The boy has finally matured and is behaving like a man in his 2nd year at college...YAY!!

The last one is in school full time this year!

I've adapted to being home all day with no one to care for :-)

We are doing well with our finances and 2015 is looking wonderful for us!

I'm making that bread but I'm working harder then ever to do so and I don't for see the shit getting easier, nor is the path to six figs so clear... Not without a real recommitment on my end which I'm honestly unable at this point to say with any sincerity I can do

I've been on that Sisyphus shit this yr and by I'd say...early November I was done, mentally emotionally...not physically though as holy smokes I am yoked

Best: finished my formal education, started my business in earnest
Worst: bunch of shit I'm not allowed to speak on here or anywhere for that matter

I had to have a real talk with myself and come to grips abt some ugly aspects of me...and I came out of it like yo...you're a fucked up person but! You're *my* fucked up person and we all we got.

Yeah...I talk to myself...abt myself...in plural.

#onlykidshit


does it really matter?

for all my fans who keep my name in their mouth: http://i.imgur.com/v2xNOpS.jpg

Love life:
At the beginning of 2014, I decided to create more work-life balance and start dating again. And boy did I ever lol. Week after week saw me embarking on a new dating adventure with an interesting new guy -- struggling hip-hop dancer, washed up r&b singer, Jamaican asylum seeker, etc. It was a boost to my self-esteem to know that after taking time off, my pimp hand was still strong. None of the suitors panned out in the end, though :-/

Living & finances:
I moved into a new apartment, where my rent is $250 cheaper. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my neighborhood and everything about my living situation. But despite my cheaper rent, I am not saving money (outside of my 401k). Wtf am I doing with all my coins? Is my undying love for Manhattan foodtrucks during lunchtime really hitting me in the wallet like that?

Travel:
I also did some dope traveling -- by July, I had been to Madrid, Barcelona, Denver, and Martha's Vineyard. MV was especially amazing, and I left the island with a newfound sense of peace (and bourgieness).

And then things went downhill...

Health:
In September, I unexpectedly faced a medical crisis, and the pain was unbearable. But after emergency surgery, I felt so blessed to have friends who really showed up for me and made me feel like I wasn't alone, which I honestly didn't expect. Just the little things they did filled me with gratitude.

Career:
My post-surgery return to the politics and editorial roadblocks of the office has been extremely frustrating. Although I'm lucky to have a good job in my industry, I didn't see much professional development this year, which makes me feel stagnant and overlooked. I also failed to fulfill my goal of returning to freelance work on the side.

I hate ending the year with my career and love life on a hampster wheel. But I think that getting both a promotion (which is in the works) and a therapist in early 2015 will set me on a positive path.

Sorry to hear about your health issues, glad it seems that everything turned out ok though.

promotion, vacation(s), socialization(s), perspective adjustment(s)