Well folks,
Here we are at the end. Somehow most of us managed to survive the Christmas season mostly intact and if you’re anything like me, you spent the last few days in a haze of confusion while filled up on too many sweets and too many home cooked meals. It didn’t even really occur to me how close New Years Eve was until my friend texted me and asked what she could bring to our NYE party.
Oops.
But it’s hard to believe that another year flew by so fast. It seems like only yesterday I was doing my 2016 Year End blog post, listing off all the exciting things that happened. And yet, here we are again, another twelve months later with 2018 in hindsight.
In a world view, 2017 seemed to be a shit year in so many ways – concert bombings, shootings, Trump ruining literally everything about democracy (You have my sympathies, America). It seemed like every day that I logged onto Facebook or turned on the news, something terrible was happening somewhere. It’s heartbreaking to see so much hate, so much hurt and knowing there is very little you can do about it.
But while 2017 kicked the bucket in so many ways, 2017 for me was a milestone year. So many wonderful things happened to me this year that it helped eclipse all the negative.
Considering all the struggles I went through in 2016, 2017 was definitely my saving grace. I was given the chance to put my best foot forward, to focus on my writing and do what I love every single day. It’s been a true blessing and I’m so grateful for my fiancé for allowing me these last several months to focus on my writing career.
So in true blogger fashion, I present to you my 2017 highlight reel!
– Amanda’s Amazing 2017 Moments –
January
I got ENGAGED!!
It was official! I was going to be published with The i’Mpossible Project!
Blog Post Highlight: “When Words Fail, Music Speak”
February
The Wilson-Thomas family grew a little bigger. Meet Daenerys Leia Thomas (or Daeny for short).
Blog Post Highlight: “Why I Can’t Stop Listening to Linkin Park’s New Song ‘Heavy'”
March
After several months of verbal abuse and mental illness discrimination, I quit my full time job to become a full time writer. (Hardest but most rewarding moment all year!)
Blog Post Highlight: “To the Boss Who Kept Dismissing my Mental Illness”
Blog Post Highlight: “When the Invisible Becomes Physical”
April
With the help of my fiancé and my best friend, I renovated my home office to create The Ultimate Writing Den! (PS: I’ve been banging out some really rad novel ideas!)
Blog Post Highlight: “Don’t Mistake Maturity of Weakness”
May
Canada’s Annual Mental Health Week!
In ode to being a good mental health advocate, I created a Vlog Series! Relive all the magic here!
Blog Post Highlight: “The Woes of a Millennial”
June
I became more vocal about my bisexuality and started be more open about discussing LGBTQ2S issues!
Blog Post Highlight: “How Owning my Bisexuality Helped my PTSD”
Blog Post Highlight: “Miesha and Me (and Battling PTSD)”
July
I was busy plucking away at my NL novel. I was over halfway done, and aiming to be done by Christmas. (That was hopeful thinking!)
The hardest month of year. Chester Bennington from Linkin Park passed away, and I was devastated over the loss of my role model and inspiration.
Blog Post Highlight: “Why I’m Grieving a Man I’ve Never Met”
August
I officially became a published author!! YAY!
Lemonade Stand available here.
Blog post Highlight: I geeked out in my MOST popular blog post of the year! (And I got a lot of comments/email from you guys! Thanks!)
“Why Manga (and Anime) Helps My Mental Health”
September
I said “Yes!” to the dress!
I saw Chris de Burg with my Mom at Mile One after years of me waiting for him to return to NL! 
Blog Post Highlight: “A Note on World Suicide Prevention Day”
October
October was hectic and I spent most of my days hold up in my writing den as I banged out my NL novel. Besides my Halloween birthday party and hiking adventures, nothing “amazing” happened.
I also kinda put my blog on the back burner in trying to work on my novel. My bad.
Blog Post Highlight: “Adventures, (Unofficial) Book Tour, Endless Ice Caps, Manuscript Writing, and Blog Fails”
November
Seven Year Anniversary with the fiancé! Can’t wait to marry him next year!
Lemonade Stand has turned into a huge success! I dedicated a blog post in ode to you, the fans! (The true heroes!)
Blog Post Highlight: “A Whole Lot of Lemonade (And a Whole Lot of Love)”
I was nominated for the 2017 Liebster Award (Blog Award!)
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
December
I had all my Christmas shopping done by December 1st. I was pretty proud of myself!
Holiday festivities took over my life and I spent a lot of time with amazing friends and loved ones. December was hectic but I loved every minute of it!
Blog Post Highlight: “Why the Holidays are Sometimes Difficult for Someone Like Me”
Blog Post Highlight: “5 Tips to Help Your Mental Health This Christmas”
And just like that, another year has come and gone.
While we still have two days left to 2017, I am fully convinced I am ready for 2018. I have no idea what the future has in store for me, or how successful my writing will be in 2018, but I am ready to face it all head on.
It’s not about it being a “new year, new me” bullshit. It’s about taking everything I’ve already been working toward and focusing on keeping my goals in mind. It’s about taking the bad moments in stride and remembering to enjoy the small moments too.
The older I get, the quicker the years seem to go, and I for one have no intention of wasting any more time on just “hoping” and “wishing”. This is the best I’ve felt in years, and while my PTSD definitely plays a role some days, I am braver than last year, and I know my courage will continue to grow.
I’m still prepared to fight the good fight.
So Happy New Years!
I’ll see you all in 2018.
And as always,
Fight the good fight.
-A xo
Cover Photo by Dru Kennedy Photography
authoramandawilson.com 