This is stolen from Sweetney, from her 2008-to-2009 post.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Went on unemployment, painted a room orange, visited the Museum of Science
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't really make New Year's resolutions beyond just trying to be better at everything. So, Am I better? Not measurably... I'll try again in 2010.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, Scarlet Lily.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Some wonderful people in my mom's family died. We weren't close, but it was still quite sad.
5. What countries did you visit?
Ugh, I didn't leave the country. I shall have to remedy that next year.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Patience with myself, others, and the speed/pace of my life. I am always looking to the next step, the next chapter. There are times when this is really helpful; generally, it's a pain in the ass and it prevents me from sitting back and just enjoying life as it happens.
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
01/12/09 - I was laid off
06/22/09 - Officially hired to my new job
10/29/09 - Performed in The Somerville Theater
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don't know. Pulling through the first six months felt pretty big. Sad that I don't have anything besides just "pulling through".
9. What was your biggest failure?
This is hard. I didn't have any huge FAIL! moments. There are plenty of times, however, that I wish I'd done or said something differently. Supported someone a little more, spoke up, shut up, etc.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No. Not beyond all of the usual bumps and scrapes. And my newly discovered incredibly sensitive teeth.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Um, new necklace from Tiffany & Co.?
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Off the top of my head I can't really think of any specific individual. Can I just give a shout-out to everyone who went out of his/her way to help someone else? Everyone who showed humanity in a world where many of our connections are becoming more tenuous? Even if it's a little cheesy? HA! This actually made me think of someone! The person whose behavior merited celebration is my friend A's fiancé J.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Politicians. Both sides.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Food and entertainment, I think. And I'm not even sad about it. I love food and movies and music and togetherness.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
See the answer to #14.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Wow. I just don't have those associations with any new song, and all of the old songs remind me of all kinds of other times... 2009 just wasn't that kind of year.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Happier
b) thinner or fatter?
About the same
c) richer or poorer?
Richer
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Erm... everything? Reading, mostly.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Comparing my life to the life I think I should have
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Hasn't happened yet, but with my brother and parents in Atlanta, watching movies and drinking wine.
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Ha. Um, not with anything new. Just the same old stuff I've always loved. But it's nice, right? To have NEW reasons to love the same old things?
22. What was your favorite TV program?
It's a tie between Lost and Dexter - if I have to choose current shows. If not, then it's probably Arrested Development.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No. I'm not one of those people who claims to not hate. But I can't think of anyone new... I do try to NOT waste energy on actively hating people.
24. What was the best book you read?
I've read pitifully few books this year, and I'm not sure any of them could even be thought of as the "best" of anything. Maybe Eat, Pray, Love? Most of the books I read were darker in tone, because for the first 6 months I felt dark and bleak. This book was actually a comfort.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Modest Mouse.
26. What did you want and get?
My own apartment, an ice cream maker, a job, lots of Proseco
27. What did you want and not get?
I don't need to talk about it, as it will make me sound like a greedy fucking princess who just wants another pony...
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Hmm. Star Trek? I really didn't see a lot of new movies. I really liked Gran Torino and UP, too.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was taken out to dinner by a few different peeps. And lunch. And music. I turned thirty-tubular.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
God, really? Ok. But, again, this will smack of extreme ungratefulness... You know what? I just can't. Sorry.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Cold-aversion in winter, flip-flop-embracing in summer? Generally, I shoot for "flattering and classic". I hope I hit that most of the time.
32. What kept you sane?
Friends. Theatre.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jon Stewart?
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Health care.
35. Who did you miss?
Duh, everyone far away.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Hmm. Probably a pretty little hippie chick named M. I don't think I met many people this year...
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
This is interesting. I was actually going to write a whole post just on this. I was at a yoga class in February or March, in a particularly muscle-burny position, and the instructor said something that has stuck with me, and that I've thought of MANY many times since. She said:
"I know this is uncomfortable, but instead of fighting it, breathe into the pain. Because you know it will end."
Wow. Yes, that rang completely true. My natural instinct is to shrink from pain, or cover it up, not to breathe into it. Not to accept it, look at it for what it is: uncomfortable but temporary.
I sometimes feel like I'm not doing my job if I'm not worrying about something. Usually it's the same stuff over and over again. But it is, all of it, temporary. I need to learn to just let some of it go. Though I can recognize the wisdom in not worrying about the things you can't change, I need to try to LIVE it, too...
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. (Well, here's the whole song...)
I listen to the wind
to the wind of my soul
Where I'll end up well I think,
only God really knows
I've sat upon the setting sun
But never, never never never
I never wanted water once
No, never, never, never
I listen to my words but
they fall far below
I let my music take me where
my heart wants to go
I swam upon the devil's lake
But never, never never never
I'll never make the same mistake
No, never, never, never
-The Wind, Cat Stevens
2 comments:
Re #12: Whenever I'm asked to write about the "preson I admire most", I always put my fiance, J. His generosity, strength, courage and kindness are rare attributes that I admire greatly. His behavior DOES indeed merit celebration! I'll tell him you said so. And, he'll demur and stammer and blush. He's not good with compliments.
I think my answers to #27 and #30 are probably pretty similar to yours and I wouldn't post them for the same reasons.
You had quite a 2009, and when you look back on it, I think you see more positives than negatives, all in all. You're awesome, by the way, did I tell you?
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