This is MY year.

A year ago, I was broken and hopeless. I was stuck in such despair that I honestly didn't even know how to put one foot in front of the other. A newly single mom to 3, I was lost. 2012 was coming quick and I was scared. I was SCARED. That's not me. That's not who I am.

For probably the first time in my life, I didn't want to wake up the next day. I wanted to drift away into some secret land where everything was just better. Well, much to my surprise, that never happened. Because, now, we are almost in 2013 and nothing has really changed.

The kids are older, bigger and smarter. Sibling rivalry is in full effect. I am a stronger, smarter, more independent woman. And, it took an entire year of me working myself up just to get to this point where I feel capable of moving forward with my life.

Don't short change yourself.

I'm not going to even pretend that I am perfect or that the last year of my life wasn't full of mistake after mistake after mistake. But, I've made it. I survived what I feel was the hardest year of my life. My attitude has changed and improved SO much. I am SO motivated to get things moving.

There are so many things in my life that I am just unhappy with. But, for the first time, in a long time, I'm not unhappy with ME. That in itself is a great accomplishment for me. I feel confident in who I am. And, no matter how hard things get over the next few years as I transition from needing help with every part of my life to being able to do it all on my own. I know it will be rocky at first. But, at 23 years old, I feel like it's time. I can't keep making excuses. And, really, that's what I've been doing. I can move forward, I can achieve my goals and I can be the person I want to be.

Big changes are coming for these kids and I in 2013. I am VERY happy to be moving on with a new year, a new life. I'm not making any resolutions. I'm making promises to myself to achieve the goals I've set. I can do this. I will do this.