This is the first of what will likely be many posts reflecting on the past year and pondering the upcoming one. The italicized answer was last year’s response.
What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before?
2015: I got engaged, I went to Animal Kingdom in Disney, I played a bunch of new board games and cooked a bunch of new recipes, I saw Kennedy Space Center in Florida, I saw the botanical conservatory, and I moved in with my boyfriend.
2014: I went to Mexico (Riviera Maya) including to Chichen Itza, I cooked a bunch of new recipes, I went to many new restaurants, I introduced a boyfriend to my family and met his family, I gave a eulogy and went to a funeral, I tried new workout classes (piloxing, kickboxing, hip hop cardio, among others), I lifted heavy weights (deadlifts, yo), paid off my car, and got a deep tissue massage.
Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
As per usual, I kept some and not others. I read as many books as I wanted and kept up with game nights and my RSS feed, but I didn’t keep up with blogging or my gratitude journal. I met my financial goals, and I saved passwords electronically. I totally let my fitness slip. I’ll make more next year, though.
I kept some of them. It took me half the year to get around to it, but I did end up focusing on health in the latter part of the year. I kept up with goodreads, game nights, my gratitude journal, and RSS feeds over the year. I’m also much better off financially. I didn’t write another short story, I didn’t save up as much as I wanted to, and I didn’t keep track of passwords or write letters to folks.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin gave birth to a baby girl in October.
I don’t think so, at least not anyone in my immediate friend or family circle.
Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.
Yes, my mom. It was unexpected and the grief still takes my breath away, even though it’s been 4.5 months.
What was your favorite TV program?
Quantico, iZombie, Limitless, Shark Tank, The Fosters, Suits, Game of Thrones, Brooklyn Nine Nine.
Suits, Once Upon a Time, Shark Tank, Grey’s Anatomy, Game of Thrones.
What countries did you visit?
Just the good ole US of A.
Mexico.
What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating out and eating poor food choices.
I wish I’d kept my feelings to myself less, at least in terms of my needs or being upfront about what people could do to help me when my mom passed.
What date from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 7th, the day I got engaged.
July 31, the day my mom died, February 16, the day of my first date with my dude, and September 18th, when we first said I love you.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Last year and this year: Nothing beyond the norm.
What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
Dedication to fitness, and proactive communication with friends/family.
Confidence…been working on that, am much better than I was a few months back, but still have a way to go to be as fearless as I’d like.
What was the best thing you bought?
All of the owl things…furniture for my place with my now fiance.
My vacation to Mexico 🙂, my car (finished paying it off!), personal training sessions.
Where did most of your money go?
The new place (furniture and furnishings), travel and restaurants, gifts for friends and family for holidays/birthdays/weddings, and bills.
Bills (to put myself in a better financial position), and like last year, experiences – travel, restaurants, fitness.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a perfect rating at my job another time, saving more than 5K.
Getting a perfect rating at my job, the report from my last job making the New York Times, losing 30lbs.
What was your biggest failure?
Gaining back all the weight I’d lost plus some.
Calling my mom and being home more before she went septic (and the rest of the downfall) in June…not necessarily a failure, but a regret, which is similar. Otherwise…there haven’t been any huge noticeable failures, which makes me happy. If I’m looking for something, I’d end up back with the whole “wishing I vocalized my needs” more within friendship relationships. I wasn’t great at telling people when I needed them to be there for me (felt like if I had to tell them, didn’t count or was imposing).
What did you get really, really excited about?
My dude – our new place, our wedding; several good friends’ engagements; and vacations.
My dude, my vacation, fitness and cooking.
What song will always remind you of 2015?
…I honestly don’t know.
Stay with Me by Sam Smith, Say Something by A Great Big World, Happier by Pharrell.
Compared to this time last year, are you…
…happier or sadder? happier (sadder)
…just older or also wiser? Both. (Both)
…thinner or fatter? Fatter (Thinner, by 30lbs 🙂 )
…richer or poorer? Richer, for all the same reasons as last year. (Richer; car and credit cards paid off, more in savings and retirement, making more money.)
What do you wish you’d done more of? Work out more. (Connect with friends and family far away.)
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015? The same as always – preppy casual/fashionably comfortable. (same response from 2014)
Whose behavior merited celebration? My fiance. (My boyfriend and best friend, who were absolutely amazing in the midst of the horror of losing my mom.)
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My father, for not communicating well or putting my sister and I first during tough times. (My father, in not realizing that his actions have impacts. Some of my friends, in not making time or prioritizing friendships when I needed them most.)
How will you be spending Christmas? In the midwest with my immediate family. (same response)
Did you fall in love in 2014? More in love :). (Yes)
How many one night stands? 0. (0).
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Working out more. (My mom not dying? Taking control of my fitness earlier in the year, maybe.)
How will you be spending New Years? With my aunt and uncle and cousin, fiance, and some friends at my house. (with my boyfriend and likely with some friends at a house party.)
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No. Hate is a strong word. (same response as last year)
What was the best book you read? The Martian by Andy Weir. (The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman.)
What was your greatest musical discovery? I don’t really know of one. (same response as last year)
What did you get and not want? Umm holidays with my dad’s girlfriend? (A lot of candy from various people.)
What did you want and not get? Towel warmer, wake up light, dna profile. (I can’t think of anything.)
What did you want and get? Engaged, closer to a few friends, new place to call home, cheesemaking kit :). (Close friends at my new job, boyfriend, various material goods.)
What was your favorite film this year? The Martian, Spy, Trainwreck. (Guardians of the Galaxy, Hunger Games, and I can’t remember seeing that many others. As for old movies, Pitch Perfect and Frozen.)
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Turned 27, went to Medieval Times with a bunch of friends. (Turned 26, I went to dinner with a good group of friends downtown, and then went to a bar and went dancing.)
What kept you sane? My fiance, closest friends, roommates while we lived together. (While I had her in my life, my mom. The rest of the time, my boyfriend, my roommates, my closest friends, and focusing on fitness.)
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? No one? I don’t dwell on celebrities much. (same response as this year)
Whom did you miss? My family, most of all my mom. (same response as this year)
Who was the best new person you met? Um…my current team at work, including two new people I like a lot? (My boyfriend, two new friends at work, and the couple that hosts my book club.)
What political issue stirred you the most? Gay marriage passing, planned parenthood being threatened. (I’ve been really removed from politics this year…couldn’t tell you.)
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015. You get what you give in terms of relationships. (Just because you have to ask for something, doesn’t mean the something isn’t worth having or will fulfill you any less. Money isn’t as important as time. Don’t underestimate the place people have in your life.)
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. I have absolutely no fucking idea. (same response as this year)
Inquisitive Explorer 