New Year's, 2013
Over the last 10 years, I have filled out the same nonsense New Year’s survey every year around this time-end of December, early January. Every year I posted it on this here Livejournal, which I kept faithfully for about six years and then on and off after 2009 or so. Even as I wrote less, I always took the survey, until two years ago-2011 going into 2012, when I was in India and wrote a longform blog post about New Year’s, instead; and 2012 going into 2013. I literally didn’t write a single blog entry or even a single Livejournal entry in 2012. I went off the grid. And while I don’t believe that you need to write everything down to remember it, I do regret not having at least taken the survey.
So here’s 2013 going into 2014:
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
I traveled to South America and Africa (Brazil and Ethiopia, respectively) and to new parts of Asia-Malaysia and Thailand. I paid for an entire year’s rent. I drank a full cup of coffee (three mornings in a row).
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I can’t remember if I made any resolutions last year, but I am making more-all of the clichéd ones. Be healthier, food-wise and exercise-wise. Spend less money but see my friends more (haha, let’s see how that works out).
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Brazil, Malaysia, Thailand, Ethiopia.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
I’d like to see my friends more. An erratic summer spent on-and-off at the hospital followed by the intensity of applying to grad school really cut down on the time I devoted to friends. I would also like to take more advantage of being in New York, before I (probably) move-museums, movies, music, all that jazz.
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
No particular date stands out. My travel opportunities were pretty extraordinary.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Applying to grad school, and traveling. That again. Haha. But I really do think that the small-scale accomplishments I achieved while working overseas were important ones, and applying to grad school should hopefully have a pretty big impact on 2014, and took a LOT of time, so.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I’m not really of the age to broadcast these on the Internet anymore, but suffice to say Peter and I have fought over it a bunch and I really regret it.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I did have that 6-month UTI. That really really sucked.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
In Ethiopia I bought beautiful wooden birds to hang in my window, which I really do love and think I’ll keep forever.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My brother, I think, wins this award for the year. I am so proud of and in awe of him and his strength and how he has taken his Crohn’s diagnosis and his ileostomy in stride, basically, which sounds corny and stupid but is incredibly true. He is such an unbelievable optimist, and this year I think really proves that, younger than me though he may be, he is a role model for me in lots of ways.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I think “appalled” and “depressed” are kind of strong words (funny, because I totally did not when I took this survey every year in the early 2000s, as a teenager) but there were moments when I was disappointed in some friends of mine. Also in myself.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel! And actually, those plane tickets were paid for by work and were free for me. Which is pretty great. And of course I purchased tickets to India for 2014. And, unfortunately, I spent a lot on food. I need to budget better.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Traveling, and Peter. Also sounds corny but even just sitting on the couch with him doing nothing is exciting in its own weird lame way. And Misadventures Magazine, which came totally out of left field and not only has energized me but given me the chance to reconnect with some friends I don’t see often anymore, which is awesome.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Pretty much everything from the GIRLS soundtracks, and also the Macklemore album. And Lorde.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, I think.
ii. thinner or fatter? I think the same?
iii. richer or poorer? Overall, richer, but not as rich as I should be! Need to save more money for school.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Seen my friends more, cooked for myself more, taken more advantage of being in New York, had more patience for my family. I know I’m not a go-out-all-the-time kind of girl but I wish I had gone out a teensy bit more, too. Drinking and dancing has its time and place and I think that time and place is roughly now! Early 20s!
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Less fighting, with my family and Peter. Less passive aggression, with lots of other people.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At the Avallones’, which I think really sums up the year in great ways: they are in every way the best kind of family, the family we’ve chosen.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
I was going to be cynical and say “Yes, duh” because I’m always falling in love with someone or another, but I think this is a good moment to pause and not be so self-critical about my propensity for caring too much too fast. I don’t think this is one of those rush-into-it loves, and I’m proud of that, and I am happy with myself, and more than that, I am happy with when I’m with Peter. So, yes. I did.
23. How many one-night stands?
Strictly speaking, none.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Probably Game of Thrones.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
This is a tough one. Probably Americanah, second runner up The Interestings. The Fault In Our Stars also made a big impact.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn’t have one. Which is fine.
28. What did you want and get?
Some new clothes, some good books. Nothing major. Also, kinda sorta, a kitten! (Not exactly my kitten, but it lives at Peter’s, so close enough!)
29. What did you want and not get?
Nothing, really. Not a big year for coveting.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn’t see that many, but both Lore and Lootera were amazing films I saw this year (and both on teensy airplane screens, at that).
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Turned 24, had a house party/Halloween party. Lizzy and Abel came all the way from North Carolina which was awesome, and it turned out to be a pretty good night.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I really should’ve gone to the beach more.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
A lot of dresses, tights, and boots. And then jeans and boots.
34. What kept you sane?
Planning for the future.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Nobody in particular, to be honest.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Pretty much everything related to reproductive health, here at home and abroad. Women’s rights issues in general. Rape culture.
37. Who did you miss?
Mostly far-flung Davidson friends, and Sangam. Also, since she left, Jewels.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My friend Mel from work.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013?
Appreciate the small things.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Not a song lyric, but this song right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtAITPpMzWI
Particularly 1:23.
....and for a snapshot of the past, here are the past entries too:
2003 --> 2004 - The first survey. (I was 14.)
2004 --> 2005 - The second survey.
2005 --> 2006 - The third survey (and the third of 5 surveys on the page. I went a little overboard).
2006 --> 2007 - The fourth survey.
2007 --> 2008 - The fifth survey.
2008 --> 2009 - The sixth survey.
2009 --> 2010 - The seventh survey.
2010 --> 2011 - The eighth survey.
2011 --> 2012 - In India.
2012 --> 2013 - Well, there was the hurricane that year, and I got my first full-time job, and I got my own apartment. So maybe I was just too damn busy for the survey.
---
And to keep them all in one place:
2014 --> 2015 - Grad school begins.
So here’s 2013 going into 2014:
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
I traveled to South America and Africa (Brazil and Ethiopia, respectively) and to new parts of Asia-Malaysia and Thailand. I paid for an entire year’s rent. I drank a full cup of coffee (three mornings in a row).
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I can’t remember if I made any resolutions last year, but I am making more-all of the clichéd ones. Be healthier, food-wise and exercise-wise. Spend less money but see my friends more (haha, let’s see how that works out).
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Brazil, Malaysia, Thailand, Ethiopia.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
I’d like to see my friends more. An erratic summer spent on-and-off at the hospital followed by the intensity of applying to grad school really cut down on the time I devoted to friends. I would also like to take more advantage of being in New York, before I (probably) move-museums, movies, music, all that jazz.
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
No particular date stands out. My travel opportunities were pretty extraordinary.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Applying to grad school, and traveling. That again. Haha. But I really do think that the small-scale accomplishments I achieved while working overseas were important ones, and applying to grad school should hopefully have a pretty big impact on 2014, and took a LOT of time, so.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I’m not really of the age to broadcast these on the Internet anymore, but suffice to say Peter and I have fought over it a bunch and I really regret it.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I did have that 6-month UTI. That really really sucked.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
In Ethiopia I bought beautiful wooden birds to hang in my window, which I really do love and think I’ll keep forever.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My brother, I think, wins this award for the year. I am so proud of and in awe of him and his strength and how he has taken his Crohn’s diagnosis and his ileostomy in stride, basically, which sounds corny and stupid but is incredibly true. He is such an unbelievable optimist, and this year I think really proves that, younger than me though he may be, he is a role model for me in lots of ways.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I think “appalled” and “depressed” are kind of strong words (funny, because I totally did not when I took this survey every year in the early 2000s, as a teenager) but there were moments when I was disappointed in some friends of mine. Also in myself.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel! And actually, those plane tickets were paid for by work and were free for me. Which is pretty great. And of course I purchased tickets to India for 2014. And, unfortunately, I spent a lot on food. I need to budget better.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Traveling, and Peter. Also sounds corny but even just sitting on the couch with him doing nothing is exciting in its own weird lame way. And Misadventures Magazine, which came totally out of left field and not only has energized me but given me the chance to reconnect with some friends I don’t see often anymore, which is awesome.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Pretty much everything from the GIRLS soundtracks, and also the Macklemore album. And Lorde.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, I think.
ii. thinner or fatter? I think the same?
iii. richer or poorer? Overall, richer, but not as rich as I should be! Need to save more money for school.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Seen my friends more, cooked for myself more, taken more advantage of being in New York, had more patience for my family. I know I’m not a go-out-all-the-time kind of girl but I wish I had gone out a teensy bit more, too. Drinking and dancing has its time and place and I think that time and place is roughly now! Early 20s!
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Less fighting, with my family and Peter. Less passive aggression, with lots of other people.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At the Avallones’, which I think really sums up the year in great ways: they are in every way the best kind of family, the family we’ve chosen.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
I was going to be cynical and say “Yes, duh” because I’m always falling in love with someone or another, but I think this is a good moment to pause and not be so self-critical about my propensity for caring too much too fast. I don’t think this is one of those rush-into-it loves, and I’m proud of that, and I am happy with myself, and more than that, I am happy with when I’m with Peter. So, yes. I did.
23. How many one-night stands?
Strictly speaking, none.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Probably Game of Thrones.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
This is a tough one. Probably Americanah, second runner up The Interestings. The Fault In Our Stars also made a big impact.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn’t have one. Which is fine.
28. What did you want and get?
Some new clothes, some good books. Nothing major. Also, kinda sorta, a kitten! (Not exactly my kitten, but it lives at Peter’s, so close enough!)
29. What did you want and not get?
Nothing, really. Not a big year for coveting.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn’t see that many, but both Lore and Lootera were amazing films I saw this year (and both on teensy airplane screens, at that).
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Turned 24, had a house party/Halloween party. Lizzy and Abel came all the way from North Carolina which was awesome, and it turned out to be a pretty good night.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I really should’ve gone to the beach more.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
A lot of dresses, tights, and boots. And then jeans and boots.
34. What kept you sane?
Planning for the future.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Nobody in particular, to be honest.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Pretty much everything related to reproductive health, here at home and abroad. Women’s rights issues in general. Rape culture.
37. Who did you miss?
Mostly far-flung Davidson friends, and Sangam. Also, since she left, Jewels.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My friend Mel from work.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013?
Appreciate the small things.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Not a song lyric, but this song right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtAITPpMzWI
Particularly 1:23.
....and for a snapshot of the past, here are the past entries too:
2003 --> 2004 - The first survey. (I was 14.)
2004 --> 2005 - The second survey.
2005 --> 2006 - The third survey (and the third of 5 surveys on the page. I went a little overboard).
2006 --> 2007 - The fourth survey.
2007 --> 2008 - The fifth survey.
2008 --> 2009 - The sixth survey.
2009 --> 2010 - The seventh survey.
2010 --> 2011 - The eighth survey.
2011 --> 2012 - In India.
2012 --> 2013 - Well, there was the hurricane that year, and I got my first full-time job, and I got my own apartment. So maybe I was just too damn busy for the survey.
---
And to keep them all in one place:
2014 --> 2015 - Grad school begins.