I realize that there are still a few weeks left in 2010, but with the holiday season almost upon us, thought it may be a good time to reflect back upon the highlights of my year. Although things never seem to turn out how we may expect ( or wish ) them to, there are always some great things to look back on, when a year is almost over.
The following are some of the things that made me very happy in 2010:
My producer Jarome Matthew was not only successful in getting my entire CD on iTunes and various other music sites, but he also got my two 80’s singles ( remakes ) on there as well. It takes a while to get reports from these sites, but I have seen some recently, and things are picking up. It feels really good knowing that people care enough to check out my music, tell their friends, and support me. You all know who you are, and you know how much I appreciate all that you have done for me. Word of mouth goes a long way, so please keep talking ….
My husband and I did a lot more hiking this year, and it did wonders for our stress levels. We went to our 2 usual spots several times each, but discovered our new favourite hike at Francis Point. It is so incredibly peaceful there, and the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. It always reminds us of how very lucky we are to live where we do.
We didn’t have much of a chance to really “get away’ this Summer, so we decided to try something closer to home, and were very pleasantly surprised with “A Lakeside Retreat ” in Egmont. It ended up being everything we were looking for, and more! What a perfect escape – a beautiful Bed & Breakfast on a secluded lake,with a fabulous host. We will definitely go back there again !
It’s always good to get out and see some live music, and this year, we were able to do that more than usual. I try and see my friend Brandon Isaak at least once a year, and when he came up to the Coast with The Twisters in September, we met some of our good friends at the Garden Bay Pub, to see him. It was an awesome night of incredible music, and good company. It was definitely one of the most fun nights we had this year.
If I had to pick one thing that I would consider to be the best experience of my year in 2010, it would be the Sunshine Coast Karaoke Idol Contest. Going to Karaoke every couple of weeks in the Summer was so much fun, and we met some wonderful people, and a lot of fantastic singers. I’m not really one for contests/competitions of any kind – it’s so not my thing, but I am glad I gave this one a shot. It was worth it for the experience, singing in front of new audiences, trying new genres etc, but the very best part was the good people we met. We made a lot of new friends during that time, and their friendships have definitely enhanced our lives. The Sunshine Coast has a lot of talented, supportive, kind, caring people, and I am so glad we had the chance to meet so many of them through this contest.
I just re-read this post, and realized that pretty much everything that made me happy in 2010 either involved music or relaxing/enjoying nature. I guess it really is true – this living up here for the past 2 and 1/2 years is really starting to help me get my priorities straight. I am spending far more time doing things that bring me joy now, rather than worrying or getting stressed out like I used to. I still have a long way to go, but I do believe I am slowly mellowing out the longer I live up here, and that’s a good thing.
Most importantly, I would like to thank my family and friends for their love and support this year. Spending time with all of you brings me the most happiness of all.
