Rather than a meme. It's an actual post. Inspired by several that are going around at the moment - recent ones from Den of Chaos and Craftastrophies in particular.
2008 was a year of crap for me. In the process of the year, I had a number of crap things happen to me, and when I thought I couldn't get any lower, the world just beat me down a little more. This year I was suspended from my job (not in a Bad Way but in a "we can't keep you on the books so we'll suspend you rather than fire you"), failed a subject for uni because of my shoulder rendering me un'allowed to complete it, thus added an extra year to my course, ran up a large amount of debt, gained weight and losing condition, and got Depressed to boot. Somewhere in there I was also investigated for fraud, had more appointments that I really care to think about, had to replace my manual car and sold my beloved scooter. It was also crap for a number of my friends. One had the rug pulled out from underneath her when her fiance called off their engagement shortly after their engagement party; another had the worst birthday ever when her father committed suicide; and the list goes on.
But all of that fades. Even now, without looking back over diaries and journals, it's hard to remember these things. The stand outs would be surgery, but that was in early December... it shouldn't have coloured the year like it did. But in the end, the year was bid farewell to on NYE rather than the new one being welcomed. I have things to be grateful for - my kitty, my health, my potential, my brain, my sweety, my boss being fabulous about me coming back when I'm cleared to.
We as humans are so quick to remember the negatives; so easily led down the path of listing our flaws and failures rather than our talents and achievements. So for 2009, I will try to focus on the positives. Thanks to Bing Crosby / Perry Como, I will try to do more of this:
You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene
Showing posts with label 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2008. Show all posts
Monday, January 5, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
2008 in review
The year is at its end - THANKYOUGODDESS!!!! I cannot tell you how much crap has been thrown at me and mine this year. Family dramas, engagements, cancelled engagements, injuries, surgery, suicides, death, births, house dramas... it just goes on and on. So here's a more balanced review of 2008:
What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Proposed to my sweetheart
Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions?
- do today what I can, rather than putting it off for tomorrow (getting better at this!)
- get back into yoga (sadly no but I have had a shoulder op so that's not surprising)
- enjoy the day and forget about tomorrow; live in the moment! (getting better at this too!)
- save 10% of my wages by the end of the year (bwahahahahahahaha - not even close but working on it)
- live within my means most of the time (improving)
- not buy any clothes (most of the year but not by choice)
- similarly, knit and craft from stash only (improving on this too)
Overall - not a bad year
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Heh - that's amusing as a student midwife. Close personally? Yes, a couple of friends did. No relatives as yet.
Did anyone close to you die?
Yes - one just the other day which still has me reeling
What countries/states did you visit?
New South Wales only - that's kind of sad!
What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
My arm back in one piece with full range of movement; a husband
What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory?
17th May - the day I proposed!
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving the year and not giving up
What was your biggest failure?
Being less fit than when I started the year
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Shoulder issues, bronchitis of doom and that's about it
What was the best thing you bought?
My new car - her name is Saffron and she is yellow and an automatic. Best thing I bought by far!
Whose behavior merited celebration?
My own in completing this year with a strong GPA
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Anyone involved in Darfur
Where did most of your money go?
Rent, bills and new glasses
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Homebirth conference
What song/album will always remind you of 2008?
Faker: This Heart Attack
Compared to this time last year, are you:
1. happier or sadder? happier
2. thinner or fatter? fatter
3. richer or poorer? richer in lots of ways and not just in money (though just barely)
What do you wish you’d done more of?
Smiled and laughed
What do you wish you’d done less of?
Cried
How did/will you spend Christmas?
Caroling at the rowing club, then bbq lunch at home, and later a turkey roll and some veges in the crockpot
How did/will you spend New Year's?
Mexican party at A&A's house
Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Osk
Did you fall in love in 2008?
Ever more!
How many one night stands in this last year?
Hmmmm - I could say "2" or "200" and you'd never know, would you ;)
What was your favorite TV show?
Life on Mars
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yep
What did you want and get?
A fiance; a solution to my shoulder issues; a pathway to healing
What did you want and not get?
To go to Ithica
What were your favorite films of this year?
Dark Knight, Quantum of Solace, St Trinians
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 28 and I had a joint party with a friend who is a day younger and 10 years older
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Red and orange make the world go around; tshirts and jeans are a staple
What kept you sane?
Osk, talking a lot, blogging, LJ, OS, Kate, Alice, alcohol and a sense of humour
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Daniel Vettori
What political issue stirred you the most?
Abortion legalisation in Victoria
Who did you miss?
Monica
Who was the best new person you met?
Kate!
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I will survive whatever the world throws at me, and I don't have to be gracious about it and the sun will still come up tomorrow
What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Proposed to my sweetheart
Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions?
- do today what I can, rather than putting it off for tomorrow (getting better at this!)
- get back into yoga (sadly no but I have had a shoulder op so that's not surprising)
- enjoy the day and forget about tomorrow; live in the moment! (getting better at this too!)
- save 10% of my wages by the end of the year (bwahahahahahahaha - not even close but working on it)
- live within my means most of the time (improving)
- not buy any clothes (most of the year but not by choice)
- similarly, knit and craft from stash only (improving on this too)
Overall - not a bad year
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Heh - that's amusing as a student midwife. Close personally? Yes, a couple of friends did. No relatives as yet.
Did anyone close to you die?
Yes - one just the other day which still has me reeling
What countries/states did you visit?
New South Wales only - that's kind of sad!
What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
My arm back in one piece with full range of movement; a husband
What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory?
17th May - the day I proposed!
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving the year and not giving up
What was your biggest failure?
Being less fit than when I started the year
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Shoulder issues, bronchitis of doom and that's about it
What was the best thing you bought?
My new car - her name is Saffron and she is yellow and an automatic. Best thing I bought by far!
Whose behavior merited celebration?
My own in completing this year with a strong GPA
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Anyone involved in Darfur
Where did most of your money go?
Rent, bills and new glasses
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Homebirth conference
What song/album will always remind you of 2008?
Faker: This Heart Attack
Compared to this time last year, are you:
1. happier or sadder? happier
2. thinner or fatter? fatter
3. richer or poorer? richer in lots of ways and not just in money (though just barely)
What do you wish you’d done more of?
Smiled and laughed
What do you wish you’d done less of?
Cried
How did/will you spend Christmas?
Caroling at the rowing club, then bbq lunch at home, and later a turkey roll and some veges in the crockpot
How did/will you spend New Year's?
Mexican party at A&A's house
Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Osk
Did you fall in love in 2008?
Ever more!
How many one night stands in this last year?
Hmmmm - I could say "2" or "200" and you'd never know, would you ;)
What was your favorite TV show?
Life on Mars
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yep
What did you want and get?
A fiance; a solution to my shoulder issues; a pathway to healing
What did you want and not get?
To go to Ithica
What were your favorite films of this year?
Dark Knight, Quantum of Solace, St Trinians
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 28 and I had a joint party with a friend who is a day younger and 10 years older
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Red and orange make the world go around; tshirts and jeans are a staple
What kept you sane?
Osk, talking a lot, blogging, LJ, OS, Kate, Alice, alcohol and a sense of humour
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Daniel Vettori
What political issue stirred you the most?
Abortion legalisation in Victoria
Who did you miss?
Monica
Who was the best new person you met?
Kate!
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I will survive whatever the world throws at me, and I don't have to be gracious about it and the sun will still come up tomorrow
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