Every good ending needs a countdown, right? Here is a rundown of the top 5 things from this first year in NYC.

New Year's Eve is in just two days. A lot of people have been reflective over the last month... comparing who they were at the beginning of the decade to who they are now. It seems only fitting to write a bit about it.

For years I considered myself the "black sheep" of my family. The ex pulled me away from them, I missed family parties and gatherings, and really didn't have any kind of connection to anyone. After these last few days back with them, though, I know that's no longer the case. While things were rocky at first when I first left the ex, I was welcomed back with open arms. So this begs the question... does every family have a black sheep? Does this person know it's them?

I've always been a big advocate for forgiveness and making amends. Sometimes it's more than just saying you're sorry for something that was done or said, but truly moving forward to better things. I find that I tend to get reflective and want to apologize to people at certain times of the year or after something drastic has happened. To me, this is normal. But what does it feel like to the person receiving the attempt at making amends?

Everything I write is real and I try not to hold back. I want to tell my thoughts in a way that paints a story for the person reading it. If that helps someone come to terms with their own thoughts, then even better. But what kind of story am I painting? Will there be a happy ending?