My life has been full of many ups and just as many downs but 2022 takes the cake for years I would like never to see again. It seems impossible that one person should experience the number of crazy things I have had to deal with this year. They just keep piling up one on top of the other on top of the other.

None of the issues have been life-threatening. They are mostly things that can be fixed through additional time or additional money, both of which are currently in short supply, but when they just keep on coming every couple of days for months on end, it does get to be a bit much. I thought my trip to Hawaii might break the bad luck string I had been having but it only got worse.

Prior to leaving for Hawaii, I had already decided that I would publicly become North America’s schadenfreude girl (enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others) because, for most people, no matter what’s going on in their lives, hearing about mine makes them very happy to keep the one they have. If I have to live this string of bad luck life, I might as well benefit others by allowing them to feel better about what they’ve got going on once they hear what I’ve got going on.

In the past, when I have caught myself becoming whiny about my life, I would reflect back on the story I heard about the woman who was held captive in a box under a bed by a married couple for seven years. (https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/colleen-stan-the-girl-in-the-box) She was only taken out of the box to be abused and I guess given a bit of food and water because she was in there for seven years.

I don’t think we should have to go to those extremes when trying to make ourselves feel better about our lives. I have found that my endless series of misfortunes, most of which are not that bad on their own but which are the source of great misery when taken together, do seem to make others quite happy with the life they have.

So, I will be adding a series of posts describing my year but the stories will go both backwards and forwards at the same time because I’m starting with events from November 29 to date and then working my way in both directions until the past year has been fully covered.

I keep hoping that the crazy will end but not so far. I would be really happy to have even a week of calm from time to time. Fingers crossed for a week now and then where I can’t be your schadenfreude.

The first installment of the continuing adventures of North America’s Schadenfreude Girl is coming right up. Please follow if you want to enjoy my misfortune!

Dawn