Remembering the Year
2021 was a year of extreme highs and extreme lows for me. The community of Olney had many memorable highlights for me this past year, as it does every year since moving to this sweet little community.
I think I have to put the Cubs winning the Division and the Bi-District Championship would be at the top of my list. I love football and was looking forward when moving to Olney to immerse myself in the Friday Night Lights that could only be found in small towns across Texas. I was a bit sad to learn that Olney was not all about that Friday Night Culture when first moving here about 4 years ago. That slowly changed after Olney hired Olney ISD Athletic Director and Head Highschool football coach, Coach Jody Guy. Coach Guy really has turned Olney around and made Olney a true Friday Night Lights kind of town over the past 3 years. After bringing in more football coaching staff with the same passion and drive, the Cubs ended the year with great success. I do not take away from any other school programs or sports, which all do a fine job, I am just a football person through and through.
The low of the year is extremely hard to talk about, I do so in the hopes it may help someone else. Over the summer my wife and I have divorced. It was something I was not for but had no option in the matter. I won’t go into details of why a marriage fails or why mine did, all I know is it pretty much destroyed me and killed a part of my heart that I don’t know if I will ever get back. I sought counselling for a few months, even though I was quite embarrassed to do so. Seeking counselling was the best discission I could have made. I have no family remotely close to me here in Olney and no close friends, being still new to Olney and I do not have a very close family on top of everything. I still have trouble with the break up but my 2 dogs give me plenty of love on dark days.
If you are having trouble mentally, I just have to say, you have to put pride aside and just find the help that will get you through the dark times. Wither it be a close friend, family or a trained professional. Don’t ever be afraid of what someone thinks of you for finding the help you need.
Some of the many highlights for me each year are covering all the school sports and activities. I never had children, so watching these Olney youth succeed at sports and activities has really filled a big gap in my life. I do have 2 sweet nieces, but they live to far away to see on a regular basis. Other highlights of the year for me have been the many community events hosted by the Olney Chamber, Keep Olney Beautiful and City of Olney. There have been many fund raisers put on throughout this past year, helping families in need, I just love these events and it renews my hope in humanity at each event. What where your highs and lows this past year? What are you looking forward to in the year to come? I don’t really make New Year’s resolutions but I do look forward to a renewal of my spirit and spiritual growth.
This is Will B saying, see you next year!