After Christmas each year, many people become slightly depressed from the end of the holiday buildup and the normalcy that ensues with the return to their usual routines in the cold, dreary month of January.
I, however, look forward to this time because it is the start of a new year, a time of new beginnings, opportunities, milestones and a slight excitement but also apprehension toward the unpredictability of life moving forward. I begin 2016 with a bittersweet announcement as this is my last My Life column.
As I start this next decade of my life, I am so thankful for the opportunity to have written for the paper all these years. I am also grateful that I have documentation of this time in my life.
I hope one day to be able to show my children - and maybe even grandchildren - the insights, struggles and celebrations I experienced during this time. Perhaps they will be able to relate. I have always been nostalgic, so it will be interesting to look back and reflect on these years, to see how things have changed or stayed the same.
I am also appreciative that my articles have provided an outlet for self-expression and reflection. I have learned through the years of writing articles that, as much as we want to plan and have control over our own lives, sometimes things happen beyond our control.
I have learned that we are not defined by our failures, accomplishments or even our profession. These can lose significance or change over time. Instead, one needs to focus on actions, attitude and how to treat others.
It is important to appreciate the things that make me uniquely me, the quirks that exist beyond skill-based attributes. I like to think that these traits make me both distinctly human and relatable to others.
They might include such features as what it means to be a packrat, to have hobbies such as crocheting, or even unique life circumstances like having a birthday right after Christmas or being an only child. My articles enabled me to reflect on these traits, celebrate them and share them with readers.
I will not only appreciate my articles for nostalgic purposes, but also because they allowed me to have a time for reflection in this fast-paced world. I am someone who tends to get caught up in the day-to-day, becoming preoccupied with tasks and to-do lists. With such a focus toward what needs to be done, sometimes it is tough to remember that life is happening now.
One reason I love crocheting is that it has allowed me to slow down. The paper, however, has allowed me to slow down and document. I have never been very much of a journal writer, which is something I regret, but writing for the Chattanooga Times Free Press has become that outlet for me. The paper has given me the greater gift of being able to share these ideas with others and has reminded me how important writing can be to one's health and enjoyment of life.
I look forward to seeing how our world and culture will change. Technology is rapidly affecting our lives, mostly for the better but sometimes not. It has been interesting to see some recent backlash against technology. Once an eBook fan, I have now found myself opting for paperback books because I have needed a break from the screen.
I wonder how we will maintain a balance between living in the present versus living online. I very much love and appreciate technology. I sold Apple products for years and, while many of my articles have been published online, I find it special that my articles mainly appear in print.
In my quickly approaching 30s, I also look forward to starting my own family, something that I have always aspired to one day. Many of my fondest and most treasured childhood memories come from time spent with my family, my parents, my dogs and my extended family, and I cannot wait to create these experiences again someday.
One of the biggest lessons I have learned throughout my 20s, however, is that family does not have to be blood-related. In fact, one of the biggest rewards and lessons of this life stage has been the importance of creating family from friends. It is important to remember how wonderful people can be; sometimes friendships can be stronger than familial bonds.
In each stage of life, it is essential to cultivate a separate family through friendship, and I am thankful that my experience with the paper has created many meaningful correspondents and some lasting friendships. It is so amazing to be able to reach such a broad audience, to help people and relate to their experiences and to receive caring feedback. This opportunity has been such a gift.
In closing, I want to thank immensely my editor, Shawn Ryan, for his guidance throughout the years and for publishing my work, and Mark Kennedy who, through a chance encounter, discovered my interest in the Chattanooga Times Free Press and subsequently awakened my potential and love for writing. Both are strong writers themselves, and I continue to look forward to what they publish.
In terms of my own writing future, I might start a blog. I plan to revive my little used Twitter account, so any future writing announcements will appear @CorinHarpe. Thank you for all the years.