Like most people, the start of a new year often means a time of reflection. Life seems to have gone its own direction this year. As I look back on the year, I desperately wish I had taken time to sit back, write, and reflect on what was happening around me. Most of the time, I was so busy hanging on for dear life that I didn’t dare spare a hand to jot down my thoughts and feelings. But I need to process at some point. So…here it goes: A year in review:
This year I:
- started a new, less stressful, better paying job
- reconnected with a friend
- started dating said friend
- Survived Lent
- Became Orthodox
- taught myself 2 computer programs by reading users manuals and forum discussions
- survived Reunion 2009, complete with registration break-down, stolen workers, and 3 days of being an extrovert!
- drove 30 hrs(round trip) to spend 5 days in Orlando…with a 4 yr old and a slightly narcoleptic boyfriend.
- met 1/2 of said boyfriend’s Irish family, successfully understood 90-95% of the conversation .
- Apparently passed the “approval test”: became engaged the morning after meeting the soon-to-be-fam.
- Survived 2 days in Orlando August heat: Day 1–Magic Kingdom; Day 2–Sea World
- Began planning a wedding
- Moved (1/2 way)
- Bought a house
- Moved (1/2 way) again
- Successfully finished 5 graduate social work courses
- Watched a 4 year old go on her very first airplane ride
- Survived 6 days with 6 adults, 3 kids (ages 7, 5, 4) in a 3 bedroom condo
- Watched said 4 year old sleep all the way through her 2nd airplane ride (as if flying was old-hat!)
- Became a mommy to said 4 year old (as evidenced of her comfortably calling me mommy)
This year I will:
- start full-time grad school
- get married
- continue to seek to find balance between work, school, family, friends, and me…wish me luck