Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Now Therefore Be It Resolved

Wow, Friends!  At a rate of three posts per year, I'd say I've really got this writing thing by reins!  And also, Hey there, 2013, how's it going?  I have to be honest with you, 2013, I basically put all my eggs in The Great Rapture of 2012 basket, so I am utterly unprepared for your arrival.  Please don't look in the corners or open that door over there.  But, welcome nonetheless. 
 
So, obviously, THIS is the year I will become better, richer, thinner, prettier, funnier and more well-rounded.  No pressure.  I've got a bunch of stuff in the works, though--most of it life changing, and all of it easily enacted and likely to finally stick this time, so, you know...fingers crossed.  If not, you like me the way I am, right?  (If not, get off my damn blog.  I'm probably only getting worse from here on out.)
 
I am looking forward to the new year, though.  I wouldn't say I necessarily make firm resolutions each year, but when I change the wall calendar, it seems like as good a time as any to do a life-in-review.  You know, make sure I'm on the right track.  Assess where I've been too lazy and determine the need for a swift kick in the pants.  Everybody needs a swift kick in the pants now and again.  I offer a service, if you need. I haven't had a chance to do my annual sit-at-Starbucks-and-contemplate-my-life event yet, so I'm not yet able to delineate my areas of focus for 2013.  Instead, here's a meme--and my lazy attempt at a retrospective on 2012.  2012 was an OK year.  It was definitely better than 2011, though that's not saying much.  I did some shit I was proud of in 2012, though, so all in all I can't complain.
 
1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
I did 3 things in 2012 that I had put off far too long and that I'm especially proud of.  I made myself vulnerable to rejection, but instead I was accepted.  I faced my fear of failure, but instead I succeeded.  And last but not least, I did something that terrified the bajeezus out of me, and it was not nearly as bad as I imagined it would be.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
As I mentioned above, I don't make resolutions, per se, but I do identify areas I'd like to work on.  I made my health and exercise a priority in 2012 and I stuck with it for the better part of the year, until things got really busy the last couple of months.  I will continue that and intend to determine what I need to focus on this year, but haven't done so yet.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
 Not this year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes.  My grandma died in 2012.

5. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
The ability to stop my incessant worrying.

6. What countries did you visit?
I stayed in the US but visited MI, IN, IA, WI and FL.

7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why:
No specific dates stand out. 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I applied for, and received, a promotion at work.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I now do far more work for nearly the same pay.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No major illness or injuries, but I'm currently on day 14 of a back-to-back-to-back cold-flu-sinus thing.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I really tried to rein in excessive spending and buying last year, so the best thing was everything I didn't buy.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Honestly?  Mine.  I was very disciplined for the better part of the year. 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
 Politicians.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Living expenses. Paying off bills. Buying things for my whiny kids.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I took a writing class at Second City that I was really excited about.  In the end, I didn't really love scene writing, though.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Some Nights by Fun.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder?  A little happier.
ii. thinner or fatter?  A little thinner.
iii. richer or poorer?  A little richer?  Not really sure.
 
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Enjoy my children's childhood.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
 Worry.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
We spent Christmas Eve with my parents, brother and Grandma.  On Christmas day we went to my husband's Aunt's house.  Same as we always have.

21. There was no #21. I don’t know why there was no 21.

22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Nope.  Already in love.

23. How many one-night stands?
??  Zero.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Hmmm.  I watched a lot of HGTV.  I also enjoyed New Girl and Girls.  And I discovered the Big Bang Theory last year (I know--where have I been?!?).

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope.  I'm not a hating kind of person.

26. What was the best book you read?
I think I only actually finished reading a couple of books this year--The Hunger Games and Mindy Kaling's book Is Everybody Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns)?

 27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Fun.

28. What did you want and get?
I wanted a Kindle Fire and got one for my birthday, so that was pretty cool.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I don't see a lot of films.  I think I saw Crazy Stupid Love last year and, you know, Ryan Gosling.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 33 and my husband and kids made me dinner and dessert. 

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A new home.  It's on the list for 2013.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Business casual--as in, I have my work wardrobe and that's about it.

34. What kept you sane?
Coffee. Exercising. Friends.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
 See #30.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
 The election.

37. Who did you miss?
My grandma.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
We became friends with some parents from Eric's baseball team.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:
 Don't be afraid to do what you need to do to get where you want to go. Nobody else is going to do it for you.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
If you're lost and alone
Or you're sinking like a stone
Carry on
May your past be the sound
Of your feet upon the ground
Carry on