2018 End-of-Year Retrospective
1. What did you do in 2018 that you'd never done before?
Flipped my dog during yoga, took a belly dancing class, and a solo road trip of a duration longer than 3 hours.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more this year?
My resolution to take better care about what I eat was a resounding success, and I am ending the year 55 pounds lighter than I started it. My resolutions for 2019 are to have a Wheel and a Crow in my yoga practice by the end of the year, and be a better fanfic-reader.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Uncle David died on Easter Monday. Several patients at work have also died over the last couple of months.
5. What countries (states) did you visit this year?
Virginia, California, and Connecticut, with layovers in Pennsylvania and Texas. No international travel this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?
I living space that is solely mine.
7. What dates from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 12 - My first PA school interview.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finally losing weight in a meaningful way. Also passing organic chemistry with a B.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting into PA school yet. I'm waitlisted for two schools, which is not bad. But I'd feel a lot more secure in my 2019 plans right now if I were already in.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope, 2018 has been a pretty healthy year!
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Pretty new bras and underwear.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The new nurse manager at work.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The Orange Overlord.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Interviewing for PA school.
16. What songs/albums will always remind you of 2017?
Rokie Traore - "Dounia," and Axiom of Choice - "Evanescent"
17. Compared to last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer?
Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Asserting myself at work.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Agonizing about work stuff that doesn't matter.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it at home with the extended fam, as usual.
21. Did you fall in love in 2018?
No.
22. There is no 22.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
There are still only two that I watch regularly: Game of Thrones and Outlander.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
25. What was the best book you read?
I'm currently reading The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman and loving it.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
My belly dancing class has introduced me to some great music. Axiom of Choice has been in heavy rotation in my iTunes.
27. What did you want and get?
A healthier body.
28. What did you want and not get?
A spot in a PA program.
29. What was your favorite film of the year?
Black Panther is the only film I saw in theaters this year, so it wins by default.
30. What did you do for your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 30 this year. I got some lovely phone calls and mainly chilled out at home.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting into PA school outright.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2018?
Scrubs. All day erry day. Also, "I have a waistline again???"
33. What kept you sane?
The knowledge that this is all only temporary.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
My celebrity crush on Adam Driver continues.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Too many to name.
36. Who did you miss?
I didn't visit Scotland this year, so I missed all my peeps there. My grandfather who passed away in 1996 has also been very much on my mind lately.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
New people at work.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018:
It's risky to have a banner that looks similar to your enemy's banner, especially when it's foggy.
39: Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"I've never felt this healthy before/I've never wanted something rational/I am aware now." - Alanis Morissette, "Head Over Feet"