Year in Summary 2015
1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
Courted a company for a year and a half (starting in summer 2014), and finally signed on a job offer to work in China in a legit, non-English-teaching position. Also, I got open water certified for scuba, and have 6 dives under my belt.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My goal for 2015 was "finding a new job and moving out of Monterey", and I am well on the way to making it come true!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Loads of people are popping out babies. Loads and loads of people.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandmother passed away in July. She was 95, and we were expecting it. So I'm sad, but also peaceful about it because I know she lived a full life.
5. What countries did you visit?
Indonesia to visit my grandmother and celebrate her 95th birthday in May, and also to Singapore to visit my cousins. I really couldn't afford the trip and emptied out my savings to do it, but I don't regret it at all because my grandmother passed on two months after I visited. Some things are more important than money.
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
Same as last year: "A job I enjoyed in a major city, in China. Also. A boyfriend." I'm getting a job. Maybe I can work on the boyfriend thing.
7. What date from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Not a specific date, but rather, 29 April to 10 May, my trip to Indonesia and Singapore.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a new job, and getting scuba certified.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not failing enough. I need to fail more so I can succeed more!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Some minor illnesses, nothing major.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The plane tickets and scuba fees.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Siv. My accountability partner who really encouraged me on the demoralizing road to finding a new job. My sister, who was a rockstar at organizing the Indonesia/Singapore trip.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Nobody. This year has been positive.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Student loans, rent, and building the emergency fund back up.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Indonesia and the new (upcoming) job.
16. What song will always remind you of 2015?
Fight Song by Rachel Platten
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier. I am moving out of limbo. Not there yet, but working on it.
ii. thinner or fatter? Still working on getting thinner and healthier, but I'm definitely thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer. Financially feel poorer, but I have less debt and a healthy emergency fund.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Travelled more and enjoyed where I stay more.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Been more creative.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Working.
22. Did you fall in love in 2015?
I fell back in love with life.
23. How many one-night stands?
None, I'm clearly not the type.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I didn't really watch TV programs... just a lot of BBC documentaries on YouTube.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate takes too much energy.
26. What was the best book you read?
Oh god. I have a long ass list. I've been doing a ton of reading this year, but I'll stick to three amazing ones.
The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Pentatonix totally blew my mind. I never knew a capella could be this way!
28. What did you want and get?
I got a new job, and because I got a new job, I could buy a new mirrorless camera! (It was what I said I would reward myself with once I got out of my dead-end job.)
29. What did you want and not get?
A boyfriend, but one thing at a time. I'm in no rush right now.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn't watch any movies.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32. I probably went to work, but it was sandwiched between a road trip to New York with my sister, and the Indonesia/Singapore trip, so I think I did okay.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Definitely a significant other. I miss cuddling, companionship and having somebody there to lean on.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Dresses. I'm starting to dress more feminine, but low key.
34. What kept you sane?
My weekly meetings with Siv, my accountability partner. She balances me out and keeps me from freaking out. Both of us had big goals this year of finding a new job, and we both did it. I'm proud of both of us, but I know it would've been a lot harder without her cheering me on, and giving me advice.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Natalie Portman is always amazing.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Nothing, I've not been paying attention to the news. Well, I guess ISIS/Daesh is still psychotic.
37. Who did you miss?
All my friends who are around the world.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Danny, my friend Charlene's new boyfriend.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015:
If you can work through the dark times, there are always better times around the corner. Keep on growing.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me
~ Fight Song by Rachel Platten
Courted a company for a year and a half (starting in summer 2014), and finally signed on a job offer to work in China in a legit, non-English-teaching position. Also, I got open water certified for scuba, and have 6 dives under my belt.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My goal for 2015 was "finding a new job and moving out of Monterey", and I am well on the way to making it come true!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Loads of people are popping out babies. Loads and loads of people.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandmother passed away in July. She was 95, and we were expecting it. So I'm sad, but also peaceful about it because I know she lived a full life.
5. What countries did you visit?
Indonesia to visit my grandmother and celebrate her 95th birthday in May, and also to Singapore to visit my cousins. I really couldn't afford the trip and emptied out my savings to do it, but I don't regret it at all because my grandmother passed on two months after I visited. Some things are more important than money.
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
Same as last year: "A job I enjoyed in a major city, in China. Also. A boyfriend." I'm getting a job. Maybe I can work on the boyfriend thing.
7. What date from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Not a specific date, but rather, 29 April to 10 May, my trip to Indonesia and Singapore.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a new job, and getting scuba certified.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not failing enough. I need to fail more so I can succeed more!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Some minor illnesses, nothing major.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The plane tickets and scuba fees.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Siv. My accountability partner who really encouraged me on the demoralizing road to finding a new job. My sister, who was a rockstar at organizing the Indonesia/Singapore trip.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Nobody. This year has been positive.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Student loans, rent, and building the emergency fund back up.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Indonesia and the new (upcoming) job.
16. What song will always remind you of 2015?
Fight Song by Rachel Platten
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier. I am moving out of limbo. Not there yet, but working on it.
ii. thinner or fatter? Still working on getting thinner and healthier, but I'm definitely thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer. Financially feel poorer, but I have less debt and a healthy emergency fund.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Travelled more and enjoyed where I stay more.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Been more creative.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Working.
22. Did you fall in love in 2015?
I fell back in love with life.
23. How many one-night stands?
None, I'm clearly not the type.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I didn't really watch TV programs... just a lot of BBC documentaries on YouTube.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate takes too much energy.
26. What was the best book you read?
Oh god. I have a long ass list. I've been doing a ton of reading this year, but I'll stick to three amazing ones.
The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Pentatonix totally blew my mind. I never knew a capella could be this way!
28. What did you want and get?
I got a new job, and because I got a new job, I could buy a new mirrorless camera! (It was what I said I would reward myself with once I got out of my dead-end job.)
29. What did you want and not get?
A boyfriend, but one thing at a time. I'm in no rush right now.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn't watch any movies.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32. I probably went to work, but it was sandwiched between a road trip to New York with my sister, and the Indonesia/Singapore trip, so I think I did okay.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Definitely a significant other. I miss cuddling, companionship and having somebody there to lean on.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Dresses. I'm starting to dress more feminine, but low key.
34. What kept you sane?
My weekly meetings with Siv, my accountability partner. She balances me out and keeps me from freaking out. Both of us had big goals this year of finding a new job, and we both did it. I'm proud of both of us, but I know it would've been a lot harder without her cheering me on, and giving me advice.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Natalie Portman is always amazing.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Nothing, I've not been paying attention to the news. Well, I guess ISIS/Daesh is still psychotic.
37. Who did you miss?
All my friends who are around the world.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Danny, my friend Charlene's new boyfriend.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015:
If you can work through the dark times, there are always better times around the corner. Keep on growing.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me
~ Fight Song by Rachel Platten