New Years Thoughts
So, it is a new year. 2011. So many things come with this new year. However, I think a look back is appropriate and fits in with the theme of starting anew. One must know the past to effectively rule the present and future. :) Or so I believe, anyway.
So, in order to look back on 2010 (and avoid prep work for classes tomorrow) I give you an end of the year/looking back meme!
This meme is stolen from artekka , who yoinked it from someone else.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Went to Europe, lived entirely on my own devices and resources, got lost in a foreign country. (Which is a lot of fun, actually)
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'm not fond of new year's resolutions. They're ephemeral at best and disappointing at worst.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Several past professors of mine, actually...
4. Did anyone close to you die?
There was one close call, but no.
5. What countries did you visit?
France, England, Wales, Iceland.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
I feel like for a good part of 2010 that I really was searching for self confidence and assurance in what I was doing. I also feel that I found it towards the end of my Semester in Europe, and since then I feel like I've finally found a kind of inner peace with everything I was wrestling with internally. I can only hope to continue in this direction.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 26, 2010. I arrived in France, Paris Charles De Gualle Airport, took the train to Montparnasse, then two metros to the Gare de L'East train station, and a TGV to Rennes, and then to a tiny little hotel room, and exploring of Rennes for the first day. You may remember from my post that night that it was not pleasant. It will exist within my archives forever. Both as a terrifying and horrible experience, and as a beginning to a fabulous time of growth and learning and sort of coming of age.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting through 5 weeks in Paris alone, sick, and depressed. Or writing this fantastic paper on memory and history, which I got a fabulous review on. Depends on if we want to focus on academics or personal achievements. Both are equally important to me.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Failure to fully appreciate what I had, when I had it.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Other than many colds, and chronic bronchitis, the main thing was falling down the stairs in the Tower of London. No broken bones, but I've still got really serious nerve damage in my right leg.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hmm... Tickets to "Les Contes D'Hoffman" at the Paris Opera. Totally worth $150
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My mom really pulled me through a lot, just by being my mom.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
There is one individual who managed to make life hell for me and set me up for a terrible set of depression, low self-esteem, and low self-worth. However, this person had their own issues to deal with, and while I did suffer for it, I can't say I really hate them.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel. Then Rent.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
ENGLAND!!!!!!
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
"Down" by Jay Sean. Not usually my kind of music, but it holds special meaning to me for various reasons.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Definitely happier, as I feel I've got a lot more self awareness.
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably about the same, sadly.
iii. richer or poorer? DEFINITELY poorer. SO POOR.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Taking offers and opportunities. I got many of them this year, and let quite a few pass by. I really wish I hadn't.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it at home with the family, quietly. I got to play with kittens!
21. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?
Curled up with my Mommy, watching a documentary on Egyptian Sex.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Not with any person. With Cities? Indeed.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Hmm... Blackadder.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I strive not to hate anyone, but there are some people I could live without.
26. What was the best book you read?
I have no idea. I read so many, I can't even think of which one I liked best.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Florence and the Machine, and Mumford and Sons.
28. What did you want and get?
A fabulous apartment on the West side.
29.What did you want and not get?
A kitty cat. Can't afford the deposit.
30. What was your favourite film that you saw for the first time this year?
Huh... I really liked RED, Tangled, and the Kings Speech...
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 19 in Lyon, France. I went out with friends to the largest in-city park in Europe, had a steak-frite for lunch, walked around the park, saw many zoo animals (there's a free zoo in the park), and watched True Blood with the same friends all night long. It was the perfect day.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I haven't a clue. Probably more time in England and Iceland.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Wear jeans and tshirts with a sweater.
34. What kept you sane?
Talking to my mother on the phone for ungodly amounts of time.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Difficult question. Alexander Skarsgard. SO DELICIOUS!
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
...Meh.
37. Who did you miss?
My family, when I was in Europe.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Courtney, Karen, Rachel, Alena, Aja, Amanda all from TESC.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
If it is something you can change, don't worry about it. But if it is something you cannot change, there is no use in worrying about it. .... Not that I'll actually listen to myself.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Roll Away Your Stone" By Mumford & Sons effectively sums up not just my year, but how I feel I've developed mentally, semi-spiritually.
Roll away your stone, I’ll roll away mine
Together we can see what we will find
Don’t leave me alone at this time,
For I'm afraid of what I will discover inside
Cause you told me that I would find a hole,
Within the fragile substance of my soul
And I have filled this void with things unreal,
And all the while my character it steals
Darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I see
It seems that all my bridges have been burned,
But you say that’s exactly how this grace thing works
It’s not the long walk home that will change this heart,
But the welcome I receive with the restart
Darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I see
Darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I've seen
Stars hide your fires,
These here are my desires
And I won't give them up to you this time around
And so, I’ll be found with my stake stuck in this ground
Marking the territory of this newly impassioned soul
But you, you’ve gone too far this time
You have neither reason nor rhyme
With which to take this soul that is so rightfully mine
So, in order to look back on 2010 (and avoid prep work for classes tomorrow) I give you an end of the year/looking back meme!
This meme is stolen from artekka , who yoinked it from someone else.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Went to Europe, lived entirely on my own devices and resources, got lost in a foreign country. (Which is a lot of fun, actually)
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'm not fond of new year's resolutions. They're ephemeral at best and disappointing at worst.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Several past professors of mine, actually...
4. Did anyone close to you die?
There was one close call, but no.
5. What countries did you visit?
France, England, Wales, Iceland.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
I feel like for a good part of 2010 that I really was searching for self confidence and assurance in what I was doing. I also feel that I found it towards the end of my Semester in Europe, and since then I feel like I've finally found a kind of inner peace with everything I was wrestling with internally. I can only hope to continue in this direction.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 26, 2010. I arrived in France, Paris Charles De Gualle Airport, took the train to Montparnasse, then two metros to the Gare de L'East train station, and a TGV to Rennes, and then to a tiny little hotel room, and exploring of Rennes for the first day. You may remember from my post that night that it was not pleasant. It will exist within my archives forever. Both as a terrifying and horrible experience, and as a beginning to a fabulous time of growth and learning and sort of coming of age.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting through 5 weeks in Paris alone, sick, and depressed. Or writing this fantastic paper on memory and history, which I got a fabulous review on. Depends on if we want to focus on academics or personal achievements. Both are equally important to me.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Failure to fully appreciate what I had, when I had it.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Other than many colds, and chronic bronchitis, the main thing was falling down the stairs in the Tower of London. No broken bones, but I've still got really serious nerve damage in my right leg.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hmm... Tickets to "Les Contes D'Hoffman" at the Paris Opera. Totally worth $150
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My mom really pulled me through a lot, just by being my mom.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
There is one individual who managed to make life hell for me and set me up for a terrible set of depression, low self-esteem, and low self-worth. However, this person had their own issues to deal with, and while I did suffer for it, I can't say I really hate them.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel. Then Rent.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
ENGLAND!!!!!!
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
"Down" by Jay Sean. Not usually my kind of music, but it holds special meaning to me for various reasons.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Definitely happier, as I feel I've got a lot more self awareness.
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably about the same, sadly.
iii. richer or poorer? DEFINITELY poorer. SO POOR.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Taking offers and opportunities. I got many of them this year, and let quite a few pass by. I really wish I hadn't.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it at home with the family, quietly. I got to play with kittens!
21. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?
Curled up with my Mommy, watching a documentary on Egyptian Sex.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Not with any person. With Cities? Indeed.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Hmm... Blackadder.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I strive not to hate anyone, but there are some people I could live without.
26. What was the best book you read?
I have no idea. I read so many, I can't even think of which one I liked best.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Florence and the Machine, and Mumford and Sons.
28. What did you want and get?
A fabulous apartment on the West side.
29.What did you want and not get?
A kitty cat. Can't afford the deposit.
30. What was your favourite film that you saw for the first time this year?
Huh... I really liked RED, Tangled, and the Kings Speech...
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 19 in Lyon, France. I went out with friends to the largest in-city park in Europe, had a steak-frite for lunch, walked around the park, saw many zoo animals (there's a free zoo in the park), and watched True Blood with the same friends all night long. It was the perfect day.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I haven't a clue. Probably more time in England and Iceland.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Wear jeans and tshirts with a sweater.
34. What kept you sane?
Talking to my mother on the phone for ungodly amounts of time.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Difficult question. Alexander Skarsgard. SO DELICIOUS!
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
...Meh.
37. Who did you miss?
My family, when I was in Europe.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Courtney, Karen, Rachel, Alena, Aja, Amanda all from TESC.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
If it is something you can change, don't worry about it. But if it is something you cannot change, there is no use in worrying about it. .... Not that I'll actually listen to myself.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Roll Away Your Stone" By Mumford & Sons effectively sums up not just my year, but how I feel I've developed mentally, semi-spiritually.
Roll away your stone, I’ll roll away mine
Together we can see what we will find
Don’t leave me alone at this time,
For I'm afraid of what I will discover inside
Cause you told me that I would find a hole,
Within the fragile substance of my soul
And I have filled this void with things unreal,
And all the while my character it steals
Darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I see
It seems that all my bridges have been burned,
But you say that’s exactly how this grace thing works
It’s not the long walk home that will change this heart,
But the welcome I receive with the restart
Darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I see
Darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I've seen
Stars hide your fires,
These here are my desires
And I won't give them up to you this time around
And so, I’ll be found with my stake stuck in this ground
Marking the territory of this newly impassioned soul
But you, you’ve gone too far this time
You have neither reason nor rhyme
With which to take this soul that is so rightfully mine