2008 in review
I have been a bad livejournaler because ...well... a variety of reasons I guess. Posting has fallen out of my normal daily routine, I've had more things to do, I feel like I can't talk about whatever is going on, etc... anyways.
I decided to do a 2008 retrospective. I'm fairly certain I do one every year, although I may have missed last year because I had the death virus.
I have this theory that whatever you do on NYE you will end up doing all year, and I have to say that it's pretty much worked out like that for the last couple of years. Last year on this day I was deathly ill and went to the doctors, went to bed a bit early, etc. This year I was sick twice more and spent a lot of time going to doctors for random illness, pains, and other hypochondriac fascinations. Heh.
It was a pretty fabulous year. I earned 19 more credits towards my degree, putting me firmly in the midst of my junior year at college. I went to my first honor's convocation, and accepted awards and ate really expensive appetizers. Mmmmelitism. I was then awarded the Chancellor's Evening Scholarship, along with two other people, and spent almost the entire first check on trying to get out of debt. It didn't go well, because I quickly charged it almost all the way back up again, but I had a hell of a good time getting there. I also attended a scholar's retreat in August and talked about educational things, hung out with younger people, ate camp food, and saw the creepy carp of pymatuning. It was a good nerd year.
I learned a lot about love and marriage. I learned that some of the things I thought were my flaws were actually my features. I tried to see myself through other's eyes and learned that I am rather harsh on myself and should be more gentle. I fell in love all over again, maybe for the first time ever since it feels so different from all the other times I thought I fell. I told people things that I thought they should know, which opened the door for them to say things they thought I should know, and it brought me closer to friends, family, and others.
I learned to stick up for myself when it matters, and how to determine if it matters or not. I broke a board with my hand and became a regular combatant. *chuckles* I was firm with people instead of shrinking from conflict. I was polite, and diplomatic, even if I sometimes had to slip into other characters to get the job done. Those characters are still a part of me, even if they have different names and clothes.
I didn't get out of debt nearly as much as I would have liked. I spent too much money on going out to eat and iTunes and didn't spend nearly as much as I thought on coffee. I didn't lose any pounds, actually gained some, but I learned that I have to watch it, even if I am teh hottness of awesomeness. I fell out of my fitness routine because each time I devoted myself back to it, I got sick. I learned the importance of getting my rest.
I had to deal with car stuff twice - but both times someone else hit me, so I'd like to pretend that maybe this year, no one will hit me, their fault or not.
I said yes to too many projects, and consequently have learned important lessons about saying no. I threw myself a birthday party which was one of the best birthday parties I can recall having, and fell in love with cooking by myself on fridays.
I spent a lot of time on the computer, some of it well spent, and some of it just spent. I bought a lot of cool toys, thus probably why I didn't get out of debt like I would have hoped, but my toys distract me from the possibility that I might not get out of debt ever.
I made a lot of progress at work, felt like I was getting somewhere, and still had to suffer the painful realization of defeat a couple of times. I was kind of a "can't be arsed" employee at times, and at others, I worked overtime on Saturdays and the night before holidays. I tried to be productive, even if I got distracted by my unlimited texting plan one too many times.
I went to a lot of new cities and visited a lot of people who I've always said "oh we should come and visit" but then we never did. We put a lot of miles on the new car, too many for the lease actually, so I have to try and put less miles on in 2009.
I bought shirts that cost more than it takes to feed a child for a year according to the UN's world food programme. They were a reward tho, and they feel fabulous against my skin, so I want to say that it was worth it.
I didn't spend nearly enough time with Anthony, but I don't think I'll ever think I spend "enough" time with that boy. I tried to make our time together count, and I feel like we connected on a deeper level this year, sharing music and movies and our secrets together.
My 2008 was interesting, fabulous, busy, fun-filled, and mostly drama free. I learned a lot, did a lot, gained a lot, didn't lose very much, and moved my goals forward. I couldn't hope for too much more in 2009, I mostly hope that things continue, friends stay close, I keep learning and growing and moving forward, and that things stay interesting, busy, and happy.
And I hope for love, laughter, good food, good music, good times, and the gentle feeling of center to pervade the whole big shebang.
And I hope for all of these things and more for all of you. ;)
I decided to do a 2008 retrospective. I'm fairly certain I do one every year, although I may have missed last year because I had the death virus.
I have this theory that whatever you do on NYE you will end up doing all year, and I have to say that it's pretty much worked out like that for the last couple of years. Last year on this day I was deathly ill and went to the doctors, went to bed a bit early, etc. This year I was sick twice more and spent a lot of time going to doctors for random illness, pains, and other hypochondriac fascinations. Heh.
It was a pretty fabulous year. I earned 19 more credits towards my degree, putting me firmly in the midst of my junior year at college. I went to my first honor's convocation, and accepted awards and ate really expensive appetizers. Mmmmelitism. I was then awarded the Chancellor's Evening Scholarship, along with two other people, and spent almost the entire first check on trying to get out of debt. It didn't go well, because I quickly charged it almost all the way back up again, but I had a hell of a good time getting there. I also attended a scholar's retreat in August and talked about educational things, hung out with younger people, ate camp food, and saw the creepy carp of pymatuning. It was a good nerd year.
I learned a lot about love and marriage. I learned that some of the things I thought were my flaws were actually my features. I tried to see myself through other's eyes and learned that I am rather harsh on myself and should be more gentle. I fell in love all over again, maybe for the first time ever since it feels so different from all the other times I thought I fell. I told people things that I thought they should know, which opened the door for them to say things they thought I should know, and it brought me closer to friends, family, and others.
I learned to stick up for myself when it matters, and how to determine if it matters or not. I broke a board with my hand and became a regular combatant. *chuckles* I was firm with people instead of shrinking from conflict. I was polite, and diplomatic, even if I sometimes had to slip into other characters to get the job done. Those characters are still a part of me, even if they have different names and clothes.
I didn't get out of debt nearly as much as I would have liked. I spent too much money on going out to eat and iTunes and didn't spend nearly as much as I thought on coffee. I didn't lose any pounds, actually gained some, but I learned that I have to watch it, even if I am teh hottness of awesomeness. I fell out of my fitness routine because each time I devoted myself back to it, I got sick. I learned the importance of getting my rest.
I had to deal with car stuff twice - but both times someone else hit me, so I'd like to pretend that maybe this year, no one will hit me, their fault or not.
I said yes to too many projects, and consequently have learned important lessons about saying no. I threw myself a birthday party which was one of the best birthday parties I can recall having, and fell in love with cooking by myself on fridays.
I spent a lot of time on the computer, some of it well spent, and some of it just spent. I bought a lot of cool toys, thus probably why I didn't get out of debt like I would have hoped, but my toys distract me from the possibility that I might not get out of debt ever.
I made a lot of progress at work, felt like I was getting somewhere, and still had to suffer the painful realization of defeat a couple of times. I was kind of a "can't be arsed" employee at times, and at others, I worked overtime on Saturdays and the night before holidays. I tried to be productive, even if I got distracted by my unlimited texting plan one too many times.
I went to a lot of new cities and visited a lot of people who I've always said "oh we should come and visit" but then we never did. We put a lot of miles on the new car, too many for the lease actually, so I have to try and put less miles on in 2009.
I bought shirts that cost more than it takes to feed a child for a year according to the UN's world food programme. They were a reward tho, and they feel fabulous against my skin, so I want to say that it was worth it.
I didn't spend nearly enough time with Anthony, but I don't think I'll ever think I spend "enough" time with that boy. I tried to make our time together count, and I feel like we connected on a deeper level this year, sharing music and movies and our secrets together.
My 2008 was interesting, fabulous, busy, fun-filled, and mostly drama free. I learned a lot, did a lot, gained a lot, didn't lose very much, and moved my goals forward. I couldn't hope for too much more in 2009, I mostly hope that things continue, friends stay close, I keep learning and growing and moving forward, and that things stay interesting, busy, and happy.
And I hope for love, laughter, good food, good music, good times, and the gentle feeling of center to pervade the whole big shebang.
And I hope for all of these things and more for all of you. ;)