so there was a year
I haven't ever really done a year in review because I don't feel like dwelling mostly. And my recent years haven't brought much to me by way of life examination or affirmation, so I never saw a point.
This time, this year. I didn't consciously set out to do a thousand things because I know I never would have accomplished them. I didn't even try to set goals because I always fail at them. But I found that I wanted to do five things this year. And I don't know when I decided them, or if I didn't even know I wanted to do them until they were done.
But they were:
1. Quit my job.
I hated that job. It was a fun little distraction job that paid well and afforded me a sick amount of vacation time when I first started, but after moving to Dallas and being forced to move back (even though I would have anyway because I am not cut out for Dallas), I realized I didn't want to spend all of 2011 (and none of 2012) in that job.
2. Read more.
I think with the invention of the Kindle and my subsequent purchase of one, I was able to get over whatever block I was having about reading. I have started way more books than I ever start at once, but I can't finish anything in one sitting anymore. And despite my aversion to the feel of paper, I still have five books on my end table, one in my bag, and a shitload on my dining table. I will read them all eventually. It's probably the one goal I have for next year. And next year starts very soon.
3. Move into a better apartment.
I love this place, y'all. I hated our old apartment almost as much as I hated my job. I didn't like being upstairs, didn't like our furniture, didn't like our neighbors, didn't like being on that side of town. I didn't want to be at work and I didn't want to be at home, and after that, I had no idea what else to do.
Now I love where we live, love that we got rid of the smoking neighbors, love my room (and I got a new comforter and lamp and curtains for Christmas so soon I'll love it more), love our decorations. It's all worked out nicely.
4. Get a dog.
I told my sister that we could get a dog if she had a full time job and we lived on the ground floor. Boom. Dog. Except I don't have a full time job, but eh.
Bings is almost trained. He knows to go outside, what a leash is for, not to chew things that aren't his toys. I have to get him to sleep in his own bed, and we're good to go. He is the best dog.
5. Get back into fandom.
I took quite a bit of time off, but it wasn't my choice to do so. This year, though, I fell unexpectedly into three different fandoms. I have written for two of them, plotted things for the third, and felt better on the internet than I have in a while.
Apparently I miss people. Who knew?
Now there are things that happened this year that I did not expect, like I got a new car (that I love and want to just live in), my dad got cancer, my niece went back to school, I stopped coloring my hair so it would be curlier, I became friends again with an ex (although not on the same level as we were before, but it's a start), I sorted out my meds, I started collecting change in my piggy bank so my sister and I could go on a trip, I don't like being unemployed.
And next year, I don't have plans to be different. Finish my books, write some fic, get a job, train the dog not to bark at every person in the world.
I am not planning on it being a huge year for me. I'm going to be 33. And I like that number. I like repetitive digits, I like saying it. And I won't plan for anything, just like this year, and hope that I have a pretty good time of it anyway.
Also posted at Dreamwidth. Comment wherever.
This time, this year. I didn't consciously set out to do a thousand things because I know I never would have accomplished them. I didn't even try to set goals because I always fail at them. But I found that I wanted to do five things this year. And I don't know when I decided them, or if I didn't even know I wanted to do them until they were done.
But they were:
1. Quit my job.
I hated that job. It was a fun little distraction job that paid well and afforded me a sick amount of vacation time when I first started, but after moving to Dallas and being forced to move back (even though I would have anyway because I am not cut out for Dallas), I realized I didn't want to spend all of 2011 (and none of 2012) in that job.
2. Read more.
I think with the invention of the Kindle and my subsequent purchase of one, I was able to get over whatever block I was having about reading. I have started way more books than I ever start at once, but I can't finish anything in one sitting anymore. And despite my aversion to the feel of paper, I still have five books on my end table, one in my bag, and a shitload on my dining table. I will read them all eventually. It's probably the one goal I have for next year. And next year starts very soon.
3. Move into a better apartment.
I love this place, y'all. I hated our old apartment almost as much as I hated my job. I didn't like being upstairs, didn't like our furniture, didn't like our neighbors, didn't like being on that side of town. I didn't want to be at work and I didn't want to be at home, and after that, I had no idea what else to do.
Now I love where we live, love that we got rid of the smoking neighbors, love my room (and I got a new comforter and lamp and curtains for Christmas so soon I'll love it more), love our decorations. It's all worked out nicely.
4. Get a dog.
I told my sister that we could get a dog if she had a full time job and we lived on the ground floor. Boom. Dog. Except I don't have a full time job, but eh.
Bings is almost trained. He knows to go outside, what a leash is for, not to chew things that aren't his toys. I have to get him to sleep in his own bed, and we're good to go. He is the best dog.
5. Get back into fandom.
I took quite a bit of time off, but it wasn't my choice to do so. This year, though, I fell unexpectedly into three different fandoms. I have written for two of them, plotted things for the third, and felt better on the internet than I have in a while.
Apparently I miss people. Who knew?
Now there are things that happened this year that I did not expect, like I got a new car (that I love and want to just live in), my dad got cancer, my niece went back to school, I stopped coloring my hair so it would be curlier, I became friends again with an ex (although not on the same level as we were before, but it's a start), I sorted out my meds, I started collecting change in my piggy bank so my sister and I could go on a trip, I don't like being unemployed.
And next year, I don't have plans to be different. Finish my books, write some fic, get a job, train the dog not to bark at every person in the world.
I am not planning on it being a huge year for me. I'm going to be 33. And I like that number. I like repetitive digits, I like saying it. And I won't plan for anything, just like this year, and hope that I have a pretty good time of it anyway.
Also posted at Dreamwidth. Comment wherever.