Change for a 'Happy Everyday'

Another year is nearly in the books and while it seems to have passed extremely quickly, so much has changed.

For one, I am married to the love of my life.

Many people say marriage changes people, the only change I have experienced in this area is in title only.

Even though we are five months into the marriage, and others may say we are still in the "honeymoon" phase, my relationship with Ivy is exactly the same as it was when we first met.

Honesty is the basis as we are not afraid to tell each other anything, no matter how bad the situation or how vulgar the jokes are.

I also celebrated my three-year anniversary here at The Brazil Times back in September.

Typically, being the shy and quiet type all my life, I had no idea whether or not I would be able to adequately do the job as it is centered around being social and talking to people.

I usually let my writing do all the talking for me in the past, which is what led me to this profession, but over the past year, it feels like the last bit of hesitance and nerves in talking to new people has vanished.

Sure, there are still frustrations both in being in a relationship and my job. I am still adjusting to being a "parent" to two teenagers and I still get agitated during "dry" periods here at the paper when all of my potential stories fall through and it seems like I don't do anything productive for up to a week at a time.

But through it all, I am glad to have grown the past three-plus years, but especially this year as I finally feel like I have found my place in life.

It is also especially comforting that I have a beautiful, wonderful woman by my side to pick me up and keep me going through those frustrating times, as well as laughing hysterically at an ongoing joke that seems to last for hours.

In this holiday season and on through the next year, I encourage you to live by one of my wife's mottos and celebrate a "Happy Everyday!"