With a new year upon us, Cat Watson returns to take us off the pitch and into family life with 'Caps midfielder Matt Watson.
2012 was an extraordinary year. A year full of new. New city, new team, new friends, new apartment, new weather, new adventures. It went by too fast and now my baby girl is in preschool and Theo is nearly two. How did that happen?
Still, there is a lot to be excited for in 2013. I’m excited to welcome back old friends and meet new ones. I’m excited to continue to watch my kids grow and explore and say funny things. I’m excited to watch my husband and his teammates play and win at BC Place. I’m excited for another beautiful, humidity free summer. I’m excited to visit the East Coast and my family and childhood friends, and hopefully show some of them the goods the West Coast has to offer as well. I’m excited for babies being born this year. I’m excited for growth and progress and yes, even more change, in whatever form it comes in, because it’s sure to come.
But, as I think about excitement, I’m not sure that’s fully how I want to welcome 2013. Excitement is exhausting. The state of being in it is, at least. I’ll be sure to get burnt out, and disappointed when things that were supposed to be exciting, aren’t. Instead I want to enter this year hopeful.
I’m hopeful that this year I will be joyful, creative, contented, thankful. And all this even when things don’t go as I plan, or when I feel discouraged and frustrated. Excitement easily varies based on circumstances, but hope is solid, and constant, based on what is true.
I’m hopeful to live in the moment and not compare myself to others, to remember that these days pass quickly and snuggles won’t come so easily so soon. I’m hopeful to be excited for my friends when good things happen to them. I’m hopeful to remember I have much to be thankful for. I’m hopeful to focus on the positive, because it can be found in every situation. I’m hopeful to read and write and create and not limit myself this year. I’m hopeful to not feel defeated when I can’t because kitchens still need cleaning and little people still need loving. I’m hopeful for date nights and beach days and Spring walks and good food and music. I’m hopeful, simply, to focus on the good, and to remember that there is hope in the midst of the bad.
A hopeful 2013.
