winding down

In the last 48 hours, I've learned of two blogs -- sites which I would have described as considerably popular -- shuttering their doors and calling it a day.  Both blogs have been around for 7 or 8 years, long enough that it was easy to imagine that they would never disappear.  For this reason, the fact that both have come to an end came as a bit of a shock.

I said as much to one of the authors, my friend Jason.

"How do you feel?" I asked on Twitter.  

"Weird," he responded.  "Sad.  But ultimately, good."

Sad-but-ultimately-good.  This is what you would hope to hear, I think, from someone who had made the considered decision that it was time to move on, to evolve:  sadness about an ending, but ultimately good about a new beginning.

Cutting back to shoot forward.  

This past year was a lovely one for me -- full of lots of concentrated family time, but also some serious adventure time.  I'm incredibly grateful.  So as we enter the last few weeks of the year, I'm feeling a bit sad to see 2013 go.

But ultimately, I know it's good.  And while I might not know exactly what I'm doing around here,  I know it's time to make room for 2014.*

I'm looking forward to it.

Song:  Winter song by Sara Bareilles with Ingrid Michaelson

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*  If you'd like to join me in making room for 2014, consider signing up for CREATE.2014.  Lots of awesome people already have, and I'd love for you to join us.