2013 - The Year of Grains and Brains

I know, I know...goofy name for a year. I wanted to be clever and I wanted it to reflect, in just a few words, something about what I will experience this year. So here's the long version.

2012 was an amazing year for me...like none other in my 55 years on this planet. I began the year employed ... and thankfully, ended the year wearing that moniker. However, the 47 weeks in-between found me unemployed and on a journey that tested my faith, patience, resilience, friends, family and emotions.

By year's end, through the generosity of many, I traveled extensively - Hawaii, Florida, Indiana and lots of trips within Colorado; sold the home where I had resided for 22 years, downsized and moved to a townhome; let go of unhealthy relationships and welcomed new ones into my life; changed schools and my major; and applied for dozens of jobs. It was a very busy year!

My greatest take-away from the year of extremes is the understanding that living in the moment is a skill which takes constant practice to master. I am no where near a level of mastery; however, the year brought me to a place where I can remain in the moment for much longer periods than I was ever able to achieve before. Most of all, this year taught me to trust my gut in all things...a painful but very necessary lesson for me.

In the midst of all the pain and challenge, I was awash with blessings almost constantly. I just read a statistic about people enduring three difficult life events in a single year - such as what I experienced by losing my job, the resulting financial challenges, and selling my house. Isolated people are three times more likely to die following such a year. Die! I am so thankful that I didn't experience it alone. When I needed to laugh, friends and family were there. The same goes for the times I needed to cry. I am constantly humbled by the love I am shown.

For Christmas, I received the most extraordinary gift I could imagine - one year of unlimited travel on United Airlines. ONE YEAR!!! If this doesn't help to quench my insatiable thirst for travel...I don't know what will! In the last few weeks, I have had such a blast just imagining and researching places I could see this year. Actually seeing some of them will be nothing short of sublime.

Since it is such an extraordinary gift, I want to share it. Hence, this blog. My plan is to travel every other weekend to a destination that will offer up literal Grains (as in grains of sand) or figurative Grains (as in grains of wisdom), and some type of learning or knowledge (the Brains part of the name). I might play "Where's Karen?" and make a guessing game of my destination, or I might ask for suggestions (and help with small details like couch-surfing possibilities or sights to see).

There you have it! I hope you will come along with me on this adventure. I have no idea how it will unfold, but given how the universe seems to share its bounty with me - more often than not in a humorous way - I hope it will be very entertaining. :)

Adios for now (that's a clue to my first destination).