2016: A year in reflection
I'm going to try to stay mostly positive in this entry, dear readers. Please bear with me.
Against the odds, we managed to make it through 2016. We're several celebrities poorer, and the geopolitical climate is perhaps more precipitous than it's been in the last 30 years. We witnessed landmark events such as Brexit, the impeachment of South Korea's first female president, and a U.S. presidential election between the two least popular candidates in recent memory. We witnessed political discourse get dragged through the mud as fact-checkers worked overtime to clarify half-truths and debunk outrageous lies, political commentators and candidates alike were attacked based on their physical appearance and mannerisms, wild conspiracy theories and incendiary rhetoric kept Americans captivated, and foreign and domestic powers tried to influence the results of the election. We witnessed the beginning of a transition of power so turbulent that it seems better suited to a TV drama than a powerful and influential nation's government, and is no doubt indicative of the difficult times that lie ahead. (And yes, I realize this isn't exactly "fair and balanced" coverage. If you want balance, read both domestic and international news from reputable outlets.)
This year may plunge us deeper into the abyss, or give us the opportunity to claw our way out. What happens next, dear readers, depends on us - as I've said before, 2017 will be a great year to be an activist. We have a social responsibility to stay informed, share information with others, and listen to their ideas even if we disagree with them - we might still be able to find common ground. Knowing that Trump is still viewed more unfavorably than favorably and that Clinton won the popular vote while being touted by both supporters and detractors as a candidate who would continue Obama's policies tells us that American politics haven't been completely subsumed by partisan rancor or blind faith in empty promises. We are a country, not a cult or a corporation, and we must remember that the president is in our employ, not the other way around. We must continue to participate in the democratic process and use our voices for as long as they remain a source of power. When thousands or millions of people speak up, the government needs to listen...and at this point, it's our best shot at effecting change for the better and preventing change for the worse.
However, I don't want politics and calls to action to completely consume another of my blog entries, especially when I'm not telling most of the people who read my blog anything they don't already know. I want to take some time to reflect on my year, because I've done comparatively little of that recently...and sometimes we need to look back on where we've come from in order to appreciate where we are and refocus on where we're going.
2016 was a difficult yet encouraging year for me. I met some amazing new people in Houston and abroad and had to part company with a few people with whom I could not stay friends in spite of having warm feelings for them. I wound up in a short but happy relationship with a woman who got a picture taken with Matt Smith alongside me. I got to spend quality time with my niece and nephew, which they no doubt enjoyed and appreciated. I got all of my belongings moved to a centralized location, which will make it easier for me to either move into a place of my own or go back overseas if a wonderful opportunity arises. I taught some fantastic classes and got to know a coworker whose style and personality are very similar to my own. I got to chair a committee for the first time since I left English Village, and was pleased with our finished product in spite of some headbutting along the way. I got to work at HCC as a full-time employee for most of the year, though whether or not I'll receive a permanent full-time position remains to be seen. I did a fair bit of gaming, entirely too much wiki editing, and not enough creative writing, exercise, or travelling.
However, I was hardly indolent in my creative and literary pursuits. I published another FAQ and started a new one (which I've since finished) before the year ended. I was asked by a good friend and fellow ESL instructor for whom I have great respect if I would be interested in assisting him with a project he's undertaking. And since Christmas, I've found myself filled with a new resolve to write regularly, and have been adding a little to my novel each day so that it will be ready for publication by the end of the year. I don't know what 2017 has in store for me yet, but I'm going to stay focused on my goals so that I will be able to finish the year without regrets.
And, of course, I learned and relearned many valuable lessons in 2016, including the following:
-George Orwell was a visionary.
-There are worse fates than death.
-There are worse things in life than being alone, though the right people can add immeasurable joy to our lives.
-If you want to be an artist, make making art a priority.
-If you want to become established as an artist, move your art from the private sphere to the public sphere.
-When you face criticism, always consider the source.
-We are none of us normal, though some are better at faking it than others.
-If you think you can (or should) win everything all the time, you need an extremely loose definition of the word "win."
-The most dangerous people in the world are those who feel they have nothing to lose.
-Grace under fire is an increasingly rare and impressive trait.
-If you repeat a lie often enough, people will start to believe it.
-Making decisions based on anger, hatred, or hunger for revenge is a recipe for disaster.
-Nonconformity is a terrible habit to nurture, unless you're ambitious enough to start your own company.
-The older I get, the more judiciously I must decide how to utilize my time.
-We can find kindred spirits in the most surprising and unexpected places.
-Differences can sometimes bring us closer together.
-Common interests and ideas don't always guarantee that two people will become and stay close friends.
-The best friends are the ones with whom you can talk after weeks or months without contact and pick up where you left off.
-A lack of communication will eventually end any relationship.
-Great teachers should teach their students how to reason, not what to think.
-An idiot with an advanced degree is an educated idiot.
-We are each on our own timetable.
Welcome to 2017, dear readers. Let's work together to make this a great year, and weather the challenges we all face in our lives.
Against the odds, we managed to make it through 2016. We're several celebrities poorer, and the geopolitical climate is perhaps more precipitous than it's been in the last 30 years. We witnessed landmark events such as Brexit, the impeachment of South Korea's first female president, and a U.S. presidential election between the two least popular candidates in recent memory. We witnessed political discourse get dragged through the mud as fact-checkers worked overtime to clarify half-truths and debunk outrageous lies, political commentators and candidates alike were attacked based on their physical appearance and mannerisms, wild conspiracy theories and incendiary rhetoric kept Americans captivated, and foreign and domestic powers tried to influence the results of the election. We witnessed the beginning of a transition of power so turbulent that it seems better suited to a TV drama than a powerful and influential nation's government, and is no doubt indicative of the difficult times that lie ahead. (And yes, I realize this isn't exactly "fair and balanced" coverage. If you want balance, read both domestic and international news from reputable outlets.)
This year may plunge us deeper into the abyss, or give us the opportunity to claw our way out. What happens next, dear readers, depends on us - as I've said before, 2017 will be a great year to be an activist. We have a social responsibility to stay informed, share information with others, and listen to their ideas even if we disagree with them - we might still be able to find common ground. Knowing that Trump is still viewed more unfavorably than favorably and that Clinton won the popular vote while being touted by both supporters and detractors as a candidate who would continue Obama's policies tells us that American politics haven't been completely subsumed by partisan rancor or blind faith in empty promises. We are a country, not a cult or a corporation, and we must remember that the president is in our employ, not the other way around. We must continue to participate in the democratic process and use our voices for as long as they remain a source of power. When thousands or millions of people speak up, the government needs to listen...and at this point, it's our best shot at effecting change for the better and preventing change for the worse.
However, I don't want politics and calls to action to completely consume another of my blog entries, especially when I'm not telling most of the people who read my blog anything they don't already know. I want to take some time to reflect on my year, because I've done comparatively little of that recently...and sometimes we need to look back on where we've come from in order to appreciate where we are and refocus on where we're going.
2016 was a difficult yet encouraging year for me. I met some amazing new people in Houston and abroad and had to part company with a few people with whom I could not stay friends in spite of having warm feelings for them. I wound up in a short but happy relationship with a woman who got a picture taken with Matt Smith alongside me. I got to spend quality time with my niece and nephew, which they no doubt enjoyed and appreciated. I got all of my belongings moved to a centralized location, which will make it easier for me to either move into a place of my own or go back overseas if a wonderful opportunity arises. I taught some fantastic classes and got to know a coworker whose style and personality are very similar to my own. I got to chair a committee for the first time since I left English Village, and was pleased with our finished product in spite of some headbutting along the way. I got to work at HCC as a full-time employee for most of the year, though whether or not I'll receive a permanent full-time position remains to be seen. I did a fair bit of gaming, entirely too much wiki editing, and not enough creative writing, exercise, or travelling.
However, I was hardly indolent in my creative and literary pursuits. I published another FAQ and started a new one (which I've since finished) before the year ended. I was asked by a good friend and fellow ESL instructor for whom I have great respect if I would be interested in assisting him with a project he's undertaking. And since Christmas, I've found myself filled with a new resolve to write regularly, and have been adding a little to my novel each day so that it will be ready for publication by the end of the year. I don't know what 2017 has in store for me yet, but I'm going to stay focused on my goals so that I will be able to finish the year without regrets.
And, of course, I learned and relearned many valuable lessons in 2016, including the following:
-George Orwell was a visionary.
-There are worse fates than death.
-There are worse things in life than being alone, though the right people can add immeasurable joy to our lives.
-If you want to be an artist, make making art a priority.
-If you want to become established as an artist, move your art from the private sphere to the public sphere.
-When you face criticism, always consider the source.
-We are none of us normal, though some are better at faking it than others.
-If you think you can (or should) win everything all the time, you need an extremely loose definition of the word "win."
-The most dangerous people in the world are those who feel they have nothing to lose.
-Grace under fire is an increasingly rare and impressive trait.
-If you repeat a lie often enough, people will start to believe it.
-Making decisions based on anger, hatred, or hunger for revenge is a recipe for disaster.
-Nonconformity is a terrible habit to nurture, unless you're ambitious enough to start your own company.
-The older I get, the more judiciously I must decide how to utilize my time.
-We can find kindred spirits in the most surprising and unexpected places.
-Differences can sometimes bring us closer together.
-Common interests and ideas don't always guarantee that two people will become and stay close friends.
-The best friends are the ones with whom you can talk after weeks or months without contact and pick up where you left off.
-A lack of communication will eventually end any relationship.
-Great teachers should teach their students how to reason, not what to think.
-An idiot with an advanced degree is an educated idiot.
-We are each on our own timetable.
Welcome to 2017, dear readers. Let's work together to make this a great year, and weather the challenges we all face in our lives.