Happy End Year!

We have almost reached the final curtain of 2009 and let me ring it out by saying, “See ya later, you big jerk!” As 2009 opened, millions of people worldwide saw their dreams come true when Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States. Even as a Canadian, I was ecstatic upon hearing the news that he had won. Hope and change were in the air, as well as the promise of making a fresh new start towards rebuilding our lives. For most people, myself included, the possibilities of being released from our traps through Obama’s message seemed endless. However, for me it quickly turned into a year of living dangerously.

I’ve started this blog because although I have had one of the most unpleasant years of my life, it has also been an enormous eye opener. The stories I have to tell are so outrageous that even as a writer I couldn’t have made them up if I tried. A close friend has been encouraging me for months to write a blog about my struggles and how I learned to turn negatives into positives, but I have been hesitant because I felt like it would be hard to have to relive things that happened. However, I’ve finally decided to take the plunge. I am going full force to document the mixed-up incidents of 2009 because as nutty as things got, I learned how to tough it out by finding the silver lining each time I was knocked down.

Next week I will write about the first event that started off my year from hell, but first I wanted to share with you my most valuable ingredient that got me through the year. It is what kept me from jumping head first into the Don River, other than the fact that I never would have drowned since I could almost double for Dara Torres these days. So how did I make it through 2009 in one piece? Laughter. It’s the truth. I will never again underestimate the power of laughing. I had no idea how much humor can be found in bad situations. You probably don’t realize it either. Trust me it is there, and if you can’t find it, then it is crucial to surround yourself with people who can help point it out. I mostly credit “The Centre” for helping me find my strength through humor. "The Centre" is a duo of friends, who I have known for a short time, but have managed to pick me up off the bathroom floor “Eat, Pray, Love”-style on many occasions.  There will be much more on them later.

My goal of this blog is to inspire you to find the silver linings within your own personal struggles. It may seem absurd that I’m encouraging you to laugh at things that aren't supposed to be funny, but believe me, sometimes in a heavy situation you need that release. I know many of you were like me and started off the year hopeful, only to end up tangled in a sea of chaos as well. I hope you will be brave and share your stories with me either in the comments section or in private emails. I also am aware that some of my stories will bring controversy and criticism for the way I handled certain issues, but as John Powell once said, "The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing." With that said, in preparation for next week, I advise you get your warm clothes on and make yourself a cup of your favorite hot drink. I am going to take you back to a dark and stormy night that has changed my life forever and will most likely blow your mind.

See you next week!

Love and Silver Linings

Andrea Dana