obligatory end of year post: 2014
For me, the theme of 2014 was pretty much me setting my expectations so high and being horribly disappointed by reality.
It's been a hella weird ride. The highs, few as there were, weren't necessarily even that high. But, my god, the lows. I can only remember the lows because the highs weren't anything to write home about. I understand that life can't be all sunshine and rainbows, but jfc. Even if it wasn't my worst year, 2014 was a horrible, shitty year.
So, having learned the hard way that high expectations inevitably lead to utter disappointment, my goal for 2015 is to take things as they come. I've already started by staying in tonight instead of going out to some house party, lol. I normally love NYE, but I was just too tired for it this year. I'm barely making it to fireworks.
Without further to do, here's my annual year in review survey.
Looking Back: 2014
1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
Attended a real life protest for something that I actually believed in (I think I protested against abortion once when I was like twelve or so with my church's youth group. Man, am I glad I got that whole Catholicism thing out of my system). These last few months or so after Ferguson have actually been pretty eye-opening for me, in regards to Constitutional rights and the people I interact with. I attended two protests, one at my alma mater, and one in Wynwood, Miami. I...can't even put into words how I felt. Even if nothing comes out of this, I'm glad I did it.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I made any last year, but I generally just try to become a better person than I was the previous year. I'll probably make some this year, though. I need to make some changes in my life.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Two of my law school classmates who are dating each other had the cutest little girl this year. She has the prettiest blue eyes and while babies normally freak me out, this baby is far too adorable for her own good.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Unfortunately, I lost a law school classmate in April due to a freak car wreck. It was absolutely devastating. He was one of my go to study buddies and was one of the smartest, kindest people in our year. He had a beautiful wife who would send him to the library to study with extra snacks to share with us. She even made a huge Thanksgiving dinner for our section during 1L year for those who couldn't make it home for the holiday.
5. What countries did you visit?
I made it to Mexico again this year for spring break. Spent four days working with Mexican citizens and their immigration cases in Xcalacoob alongside my immigration law professor and a few classmates. It was pretty cool. Then I trekked over to Cancun where my law school besties were vacationing and stayed with them for a few nights.
6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
A full-time job in the legal field with benefits (aka I'm months away from being kicked off my parents' health insurance and need to find gainful employment, stat!)
7. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Hmmm...no date in particular comes to mind, really.
8. What was your biggest failure?
Not being elligible to sit for the bar exam this past summer. Also, being addicted to playing Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. That was a dark time in my life.
9. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving a summer of working with children. It was an incredibly rewarding experience, but my god to kids talk so much.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really, luckily. I did catch flu like symptoms over the summer (thanks to working with those damned summer camp kids and their cesspool of germs.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
This pair of dark red/burgundy jeans. They cost me a fortune, but they are utterly perfect and I would wear them everyday if it were socially acceptable.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Me. Despite life throwing a wrench into my plans for the future, I've managed to not completely lose it and take these changes more or less in stride.
13. Whose behavior made you really appalled and depressed?
The government (as usual). The only good thing the government has done this year is pass all the pro-LGBTQ legislation. Unfortunately, it's sucked at everything else.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Third year in a row: Starbucks. I have a serious problem, I know.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Graduating and having survived 23 years of education. Also, going to Vegas for a friend's bachelorette party.
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Above & Beyond, "Satellite/Stealing Time" (please go to YouTube or Spotify and listen to this song. Above & Beyond usually produces dance/techno tracks, but they put out an album where they made all of their songs into acoustic pieces using classical instruments and they're ridiculously talented DJ's who can do way more than push a button).
17. Compared to this time last year, are you...
i. Happier or sadder? - Happier. Even though it's been a tough year, I can definitely say that I'm much happier this year.
ii. Thinner or fatter? - Fatter for sure, but that's because I haven't been to the gym in a while and the holidays are a time of extreme food indulgence.
iii. Richer or poorer? - So broke, man. So damn broke. The only part I miss about school is the financial aid. First year without financial aid and it's depressing :(
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Same as last year: sleeping, traveling, reading novels.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying about things that cannot be changed.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
It was just my parents, sister, brother, and me this year. Very quiet, but perfect.
21. Did you fall in love in 2014?
One day, I will be able to answer with a resounding "yes!" to this question then go on a rant about how perfect the love of my life is. However, today is not that day, lol. I fell in love with my my new Nook though (I know, boooooo! for e-readers because books > tablets but I can't deny how awesome this thing is. My sister got me a subscription to Marvel Unlimited and I've been reading comics for what feels like forever and it's awesome).
22. How many one-night stands?
Plenty. Me, up all night with my anxiety about my future.
23. What was/were your favorite TV program(s)?
The Good Wife, Brooklyn 99, Orphan Black, Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, The Blacklist, and The Newsroom. Oh, and Gilmore Girls as well, thanks to Netflix.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Kind of. Political events over the course of the year have made me loathe people I once considered friendly acquaintances.
25. What was the best book you read?
Yet again, I let another year go by without reading very many books. I did read Amy Poehler's book, Yes Please. Also, read Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and re-read Kate Chopin's The Awakening.
26. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
I began to rant about it in my answer to "What song will always remind you of 2014?" but: Above & Beyond. Their album, titled Acoustic, came out in January of 2014 and I knew even then that this album was going to be my favorite for the year (even though the year had hardly started). And I was right.
27. What did you want and get?
A tablet/e-reader
28. What did you want and not get?
"Esquire" added to the end of my name. But this year will take care of that.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Aside from Guardians of the Galaxy and Mockingjay: Part 1, I can't really think of anything off the top of my head. But, I did rediscover my love for The Graduate.
30. What did you do on your birthday?
I saw one of my favorite DJ's at a pretentious South Beach club and got to feel very stereotypically Miami for a weeked. A few of my friends and I got a hotel for the weekend and played tourists in our own city, lol. It was nice though, I love that even though I'm from here, I can also vacation here.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More money, less stress.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
This year, I was pretty much the young, working professional with hipster tendencies. I have lots of weird (read: hipster) print button-down shirts that I'd wear to work under my suit jacket. And whenever I'd go out, it'd be in hipster-y clothing. I also bought a lot of cat print things this year. So, in summation - I was a cat-loving, hipster lawyer.
33. What kept you sane?
Music.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jesse Williams, an actor from Grey's Anatomy (which I haven't watched in years). Aside from being sinfully attractive, I love that he advocates for things I also believe in (feminism, LGBTQIA+ issues, confronting racism, etc). Literally the perfect man. *swoons*
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Oh dear lord. I can never pick just one. Police brutality towards people of color, the conflict between Israel and Palestine, the kidnappings and murders of Mexican students, Congress becoming Republican again, etc. There are honestly so many, but then we'd be here all day.
36. Who did you miss?
My best friends. Kristen, Amanda, Omar, Kevin, Tristan, Michael, Hector...god I miss them so much. Everyone pretty much moved [further] away over the year as we all either started grad school, graduated, or started careers (except for Hector who has been living in California for ages now).
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Jay. I'd met him for like an hour at my friend's birthday party in 2013, but it wasn't until 2014 that we actually became friends.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.
This year, I learned that you really can't put your happiness on other people. It only makes you miserable. Also, being happy isn't just something that happens. You have to actively work at it, and some people have to work harder than others on a daily basis. Even if you have a support system, at the end of the day, you are all you have, godforbid that support system fails.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Above & Beyond, "You Got to Go (Acoustic)" (did you really expect anything else? This album changed my life, man)
You got to gather up what you need
You got to choose a direction
And when the moment is right for you
You got to go
You got to keep your ideals high
You got to know that the sky belongs to no one
You know you got to go
Keep on, little dreamer - keep hold of all that you are
_______________________________________
Happy New Year to you and yours! See everyone on the other side in what I hope will be a year of good things.
<3
Nat
It's been a hella weird ride. The highs, few as there were, weren't necessarily even that high. But, my god, the lows. I can only remember the lows because the highs weren't anything to write home about. I understand that life can't be all sunshine and rainbows, but jfc. Even if it wasn't my worst year, 2014 was a horrible, shitty year.
So, having learned the hard way that high expectations inevitably lead to utter disappointment, my goal for 2015 is to take things as they come. I've already started by staying in tonight instead of going out to some house party, lol. I normally love NYE, but I was just too tired for it this year. I'm barely making it to fireworks.
Without further to do, here's my annual year in review survey.
Looking Back: 2014
1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
Attended a real life protest for something that I actually believed in (I think I protested against abortion once when I was like twelve or so with my church's youth group. Man, am I glad I got that whole Catholicism thing out of my system). These last few months or so after Ferguson have actually been pretty eye-opening for me, in regards to Constitutional rights and the people I interact with. I attended two protests, one at my alma mater, and one in Wynwood, Miami. I...can't even put into words how I felt. Even if nothing comes out of this, I'm glad I did it.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I made any last year, but I generally just try to become a better person than I was the previous year. I'll probably make some this year, though. I need to make some changes in my life.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Two of my law school classmates who are dating each other had the cutest little girl this year. She has the prettiest blue eyes and while babies normally freak me out, this baby is far too adorable for her own good.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Unfortunately, I lost a law school classmate in April due to a freak car wreck. It was absolutely devastating. He was one of my go to study buddies and was one of the smartest, kindest people in our year. He had a beautiful wife who would send him to the library to study with extra snacks to share with us. She even made a huge Thanksgiving dinner for our section during 1L year for those who couldn't make it home for the holiday.
5. What countries did you visit?
I made it to Mexico again this year for spring break. Spent four days working with Mexican citizens and their immigration cases in Xcalacoob alongside my immigration law professor and a few classmates. It was pretty cool. Then I trekked over to Cancun where my law school besties were vacationing and stayed with them for a few nights.
6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
A full-time job in the legal field with benefits (aka I'm months away from being kicked off my parents' health insurance and need to find gainful employment, stat!)
7. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Hmmm...no date in particular comes to mind, really.
8. What was your biggest failure?
Not being elligible to sit for the bar exam this past summer. Also, being addicted to playing Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. That was a dark time in my life.
9. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving a summer of working with children. It was an incredibly rewarding experience, but my god to kids talk so much.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really, luckily. I did catch flu like symptoms over the summer (thanks to working with those damned summer camp kids and their cesspool of germs.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
This pair of dark red/burgundy jeans. They cost me a fortune, but they are utterly perfect and I would wear them everyday if it were socially acceptable.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Me. Despite life throwing a wrench into my plans for the future, I've managed to not completely lose it and take these changes more or less in stride.
13. Whose behavior made you really appalled and depressed?
The government (as usual). The only good thing the government has done this year is pass all the pro-LGBTQ legislation. Unfortunately, it's sucked at everything else.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Third year in a row: Starbucks. I have a serious problem, I know.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Graduating and having survived 23 years of education. Also, going to Vegas for a friend's bachelorette party.
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Above & Beyond, "Satellite/Stealing Time" (please go to YouTube or Spotify and listen to this song. Above & Beyond usually produces dance/techno tracks, but they put out an album where they made all of their songs into acoustic pieces using classical instruments and they're ridiculously talented DJ's who can do way more than push a button).
17. Compared to this time last year, are you...
i. Happier or sadder? - Happier. Even though it's been a tough year, I can definitely say that I'm much happier this year.
ii. Thinner or fatter? - Fatter for sure, but that's because I haven't been to the gym in a while and the holidays are a time of extreme food indulgence.
iii. Richer or poorer? - So broke, man. So damn broke. The only part I miss about school is the financial aid. First year without financial aid and it's depressing :(
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Same as last year: sleeping, traveling, reading novels.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying about things that cannot be changed.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
It was just my parents, sister, brother, and me this year. Very quiet, but perfect.
21. Did you fall in love in 2014?
One day, I will be able to answer with a resounding "yes!" to this question then go on a rant about how perfect the love of my life is. However, today is not that day, lol. I fell in love with my my new Nook though (I know, boooooo! for e-readers because books > tablets but I can't deny how awesome this thing is. My sister got me a subscription to Marvel Unlimited and I've been reading comics for what feels like forever and it's awesome).
22. How many one-night stands?
Plenty. Me, up all night with my anxiety about my future.
23. What was/were your favorite TV program(s)?
The Good Wife, Brooklyn 99, Orphan Black, Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, The Blacklist, and The Newsroom. Oh, and Gilmore Girls as well, thanks to Netflix.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Kind of. Political events over the course of the year have made me loathe people I once considered friendly acquaintances.
25. What was the best book you read?
Yet again, I let another year go by without reading very many books. I did read Amy Poehler's book, Yes Please. Also, read Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and re-read Kate Chopin's The Awakening.
26. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
I began to rant about it in my answer to "What song will always remind you of 2014?" but: Above & Beyond. Their album, titled Acoustic, came out in January of 2014 and I knew even then that this album was going to be my favorite for the year (even though the year had hardly started). And I was right.
27. What did you want and get?
A tablet/e-reader
28. What did you want and not get?
"Esquire" added to the end of my name. But this year will take care of that.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Aside from Guardians of the Galaxy and Mockingjay: Part 1, I can't really think of anything off the top of my head. But, I did rediscover my love for The Graduate.
30. What did you do on your birthday?
I saw one of my favorite DJ's at a pretentious South Beach club and got to feel very stereotypically Miami for a weeked. A few of my friends and I got a hotel for the weekend and played tourists in our own city, lol. It was nice though, I love that even though I'm from here, I can also vacation here.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More money, less stress.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
This year, I was pretty much the young, working professional with hipster tendencies. I have lots of weird (read: hipster) print button-down shirts that I'd wear to work under my suit jacket. And whenever I'd go out, it'd be in hipster-y clothing. I also bought a lot of cat print things this year. So, in summation - I was a cat-loving, hipster lawyer.
33. What kept you sane?
Music.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jesse Williams, an actor from Grey's Anatomy (which I haven't watched in years). Aside from being sinfully attractive, I love that he advocates for things I also believe in (feminism, LGBTQIA+ issues, confronting racism, etc). Literally the perfect man. *swoons*
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Oh dear lord. I can never pick just one. Police brutality towards people of color, the conflict between Israel and Palestine, the kidnappings and murders of Mexican students, Congress becoming Republican again, etc. There are honestly so many, but then we'd be here all day.
36. Who did you miss?
My best friends. Kristen, Amanda, Omar, Kevin, Tristan, Michael, Hector...god I miss them so much. Everyone pretty much moved [further] away over the year as we all either started grad school, graduated, or started careers (except for Hector who has been living in California for ages now).
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Jay. I'd met him for like an hour at my friend's birthday party in 2013, but it wasn't until 2014 that we actually became friends.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.
This year, I learned that you really can't put your happiness on other people. It only makes you miserable. Also, being happy isn't just something that happens. You have to actively work at it, and some people have to work harder than others on a daily basis. Even if you have a support system, at the end of the day, you are all you have, godforbid that support system fails.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Above & Beyond, "You Got to Go (Acoustic)" (did you really expect anything else? This album changed my life, man)
You got to gather up what you need
You got to choose a direction
And when the moment is right for you
You got to go
You got to keep your ideals high
You got to know that the sky belongs to no one
You know you got to go
Keep on, little dreamer - keep hold of all that you are
_______________________________________
Happy New Year to you and yours! See everyone on the other side in what I hope will be a year of good things.
<3
Nat