A Year in Review

Each year I have started to make lists of things I want to accomplish before my next birthday- things more specific and less grandiose and unmanageable.  I was supposed to do a follow up on my half birthday to check where I was at.  I definitely missed a few good ones on the 22 year list, but all in all I feel good about what I was able to accomplish this last year.  I am eager to start fresh with my 23 things to do before I am 23 list for this year.  

22 Things to Do Before I am 22

1. India- Ghana was a good run, now it is time to take what I have learned and do it all over again in a field study next summer.

Okay, check. Writing this in India.

2. Anxiety Check- It is time to make a conscious effort in managing my anxiety. Whether that is by doing yoga or meditating or working out more, I don’t care; I just need to do something.

I’ve now done yoga, meditation, and more working out.  I don’t think overcoming anxiety is something I could just check off, but I think I was able to come to a pretty healthy place during the school year.  I’ve had some of the best friendships I have had my entire life which has added to additional support.  Rock climbing, I have found, also helps. 

3. Journal- If I want to write, I need to do a whole lot more of it. I want to write in my journal daily.

I’ve missed a few, but all in all I feel good about this.  Check.

4. Books- This list could be daunting, but I’ve pruned it down to three and a half. Something C.S. Lewis that I haven’t read yet along with his biography on the OED, Death of a Moth, and Leaves of Grass. The .5 is this book on writing poetry, but that way I won’t feel bad if I don’t finish it.

Hmm… the OED doesn’t even have biographies.  Oops.  I did not read Leaves, Grass of Death of a Moth, or that writing on poetry book, but I did do eight C.S. Lewis books, so that has got to balance out something.  The only one I care to carry over into the 2011 list is Leaves of Grass.

5. Konstantine- A Something Corporate song I have kept close to heart for years now, and it is time I found the music for it and learned to play the 10 minute song on the piano.

Thanks to my Patrick, I now have the transcribed music and was able to start learning before I left for India.  This is a really big deal to me…

6. The Door- I’ve been working on an idea for a painting based off of E.B. White’s short story for too long now. Incidentally, I have also been meaning to paint something larger than 16x20. Ta da! A plus B equals my next painting.

I didn’t paint a single thing last year.  I still like this concept although it has changed a little bit.  A painting goal has been added to my 2011 list.

7. Photography- Okay, time to be serious now. Get a website that works, and learn to use professional lighting.

Started making serious headway in my website, but didn’t quite make it to the end.  As far as lighting I think I have decided that I prefer natural lighting.

8. Marriage- Ha! Just a joke, but really I can admit that my extreme disgust for marriage is probably unhealthy. So yes, I am auditing marriage prep this semester. Yup. I got a good recommendation, and I’m willing to see what the big fuss is all about.

I read this and I laugh.  Seriously, marriage prep changed my life.  My entire outlook on the “m word.”  And not in a creepy way either.  I recommend it to anyone who doesn’t see the value of marriage.  I feel completely opposite now.

9. Service- Why don’t I do more of this again? I need to do something routinely, and am leaning towards Rape Crisis through BYU.

Yikes… I tried, but didn’t have a car, so I was not able to join the rape crisis team with Maggie.  I looked into other service options but none of them really panned out.  I want to do something that resonates with me.  Something personal.  Any ideas?

10. Vegetables- I never had that magical transformation in your taste buds when you start liking vegetables. Maggie told me that you can make a kid eat vegetables by serving them seven times cooked in the same way. I don’t want to be a picky eater. Gradual exposure therapy will hopefully ease me into onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms.

I have made no headway with mushrooms, tomatoes, or onions, but I have noticed I am doing better with the rest of the vegetable family.  I’ve made it a goal to eat healthier in general when I come home from India.

11. Jots- Carrying a small jotting notebook around with me in Ghana was great for research, but even greater as a writer. No more writing on napkin bands or the back of receipts.

Could do better, but I did make it a goal to have it on me.  It is fantastic. 

12. 116- I hate memorizing. I do. But Shakespeare’s sonnet 116 is something worth having on memory.

Oops, one my 2011 list.

13. Handwriting- It isn’t comforting to look through my journals and see that there is all madness and no method to my inconsistently deformed handwriting. The goal is calligraphy, the more realistic mile marker will be a semi decent signature.

I have noticed I am getting more consistent with my deformed handwriting.  I’ve still got a ways to go, but I think this counts for something.

14. Cooking- I have finally realized that there is something satisfying about this activity. To help remember that, I want to cook something once a month to share with friends of family.

I could have done more with this.  Something to add to the 2011 list.

15. Who be me?- I have never had a picture taken or drawn or painted or anything that I feel reflects me. This year I want to take or make a representative self-portrait.

Fail.  I’ll try again this year.  Since my sister, Vannessa, is more into photography maybe I’ll get something out there.

16. What future?- I have to look into options for grad school. Not decide or have a plan, because that is terrifying, but get involved in the process and know what is out there and what I have to do to get there.

I now have a date for graduation.  Never thought that would happen.  Slowly but surely it all falls into place.

17. Mornings- I have a new appreciation for waking up early. I want to keep it up and say morning prayers and eat breakfast.

Yeah… classes did not start until 2 PM for me.  Guess how late I was sleeping in?

18. Vitamins- Nothing to it (or so they keep telling me). Just remember to take them.

Again, added to my healthy eating goals for this year.

19. SID- I want to learn about international development without having to declare the minor, so I figure joining this club will be a good alternative and a way to make new friends with similar interests.

I joined this club, but was not very active, and often become frustrated with the great, helpless enigma of development.  I’ll keep going, but I’d like to branch out and also find a new club for my 2011 goals.

20. Un libro por favor- I want to reread Harry Potter. In Spanish.

Since I am now finished with my Spanish courses I need to make sure I get around to this.  It is in my 2011 reading goals.

21. Self defense- This one I have a hard time believing will happen, but it really would be useful to know a thing or two about defense.

Totally signed up for self defense AND martial arts when I get back.  I’m really excited about that.  Thank you to Charity for showing me how to get into it!

22. Hero appreciation- I want to write Greg Mortenson a handwritten letter. Maybe, just maybe if my handwriting is convincing enough (see number 13), I’ll do something with his program someday.

Not too late to do this, but I never got around to it.  Unfortunate.