The Year That Wouldn't Have Been Possible Without My Ostomy
We hope that in the future, history textbooks will casually omit this year’s events while millennials who have reached senior-hood drink heavily as they regale their grandsons and granddaughters of the year that really took a turn with Harambe.
me at the beginning of 2016 vs me at the end of 2016 pic.twitter.com/PC40ZOu5ba
— Alex Fitzpatrick (@AlexJamesFitz) December 8, 2016
While we all waited with bated breath for the clock to strike 12 a.m. on January 1, 2017 before 2016 got Betty White or the Queen, some of us were a little sad to see 2016 go.
Yeah, I was.
Do not get me wrong – the death of young me’s beloved Princess Leia, whose gold bikini I dreamt of wearing while fighting off evil monsters, really hit me hard. That’s without even getting into how messed up the world seems to have gotten since I was that young me.
Despite what 2016 was to many people, it was actually a really great year for me.
Then why, you might ask, did I title this post “the year of shit?”
I hate to be so punny, but it just worked! Without my literal bag of shit, I wouldn’t have been able to experience any of what this year had in store.
2016 started with me ramping up my own business. I had left my old job at a digital agency at the tail end of 2015 and by January 2016, my own digital agency started to flourish. This year, I have experienced tremendous growth I never could have expected with a wonderful team of girls who inspire me every day and clients who truly let me do the work I love to do (which I’ve been too busy doing to properly redo my website… ha!).
2016 was also the year that my ambitions to be an actress really started to come together. I can’t even count how many sets I was on this year, but I was so lucky to have been a part of some amazing productions and fun commercials. To me, this year solidified that I wasn’t just some girl who was pushed into acting by her actress grandmother, but a woman who actually has the ability to be successful in an industry that she is so passionate about.
A video posted by Jess Grossman (@jessgrossman) on
See you on @tsn_official for the @nba! #acting #actor #commercial #setlife
A photo posted by Jess Grossman (@jessgrossman) on
A video posted by Jess Grossman (@jessgrossman) on
2016 was also the year of love. I got to ring in the New Year already engaged to my best friend but ready to experience all the fun things being a bride included!
Matt and I were thrown an amazing engagement party by my great aunt and uncle and grandfather, where we were able to prepare ourselves for what a wedding really meant! I was also thrown a gorgeous bridal shower by my bridesmaids and two bachelorette parties by my amazing friends. I was so lucky to be surrounded by so many special people.
I love my bridesmaids !! #jessandmattrimony #bridalshower #wedding
A photo posted by Jess Grossman (@jessgrossman) on
A photo posted by Jess Grossman (@jessgrossman) on
Of course, 2016 was also the year I got to marry my best friend and commit myself to him in front of all of the people who made an impact in our lives. That, and it was a rocking party – I mean, c’mon, we had a make-your-own-burrito bar! (I still dream about my burrito… and marrying Matt, too, of course…)
Another repost via @eclipse_ig from our wedding! #jessandmattrimony #wedding #love #married
A photo posted by Jess Grossman (@jessgrossman) on
Make your own burrito bar? Yes please! #jessandmattrimony #wedding #vegan #therearemeatoptionsrelax
A photo posted by Jess Grossman (@jessgrossman) on
2016 was also the year some of my friends got engaged, some had babies, some also got married and some followed a new job away from home. My brother got a promotion and my mom started dating a great new guy, so 2o16 was a good year for the people around me, too.
2016 was also the year Matt and I bought and moved to a new condo, the year I got my very first car and the year we even bought a rental property – all the things that truly make me an adult. (I have to adult now, right?)
Unfortunately, 2016 did have one loss of someone close to me, and that my was grandfather – my dad’s dad – who passed away at the age of 94. (Picture below with my mom and uncle.) I mean, not everything can be perfect, right? RIP, Zaida – you lived a great life.
The point I am trying to make here is that 2016 was essentially, for me, a pretty great year – a year that would not have been possible without my ostomy. Without it, I wouldn’t have been healthy enough to take a risk and start my own business. Without my ostomy, I wouldn’t be physically able to embody different characters in different commercials and films. Without my ostomy, I wouldn’t have been well enough to enjoy my engagement period or marry my best friend or build the life with him that I have always dreamed of. Without my ostomy, I may not have even been alive to experience what 2016 had to offer.
And to top if all off, without my ostomy, Uncover Ostomy would never have been able to expand by introducing three (and a half) amazing new contributors and their stories, nor would we have been able to announce our exciting new partnership with The Mighty! Yeah, 2016 was pretty great for Uncover Ostomy, too.
While I am sad that everything I got to experience in 2016 is over, I know that this is only the precursor for many more amazing things to come.
So with that, happy New Year, everyone!
I cannot wait to see what this year has in store for us all.
We want to hear your story. Become a Mighty contributor here.
Jessica is a model, actress and digital agency owner who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 9 years old and who had life-saving ostomy surgery at 13. Since 2009, Jessica has been running the online awareness campaign, Uncover Ostomy, which aims to break the negative stigma surrounding ostomy surgery by educating the public about its necessity, as well as aims to encourage others who have had, or who are facing surgery to accept themselves.
jessica-grossman