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wrap it up, part 2
Jan. 11th, 2009 01:32 pmI wrote this 11 days ago, but I kept thinking I'd change it. The sell-by date is rapidly approaching though, so I guess I'll just post it.
Final thoughts on 2008. First, the good stuff: I went away on vacation twice to Provincetown. I went to a Red Sox game with Patrick and we had awesome seats that I got from work — and they won the game! I read 52 books, and most of them were pretty good. I spent some time with most of my friends. I dated someone for three months. I didn't have cancer. I survived surgery and feel really good now. My aunt is finally healing from her third surgery. I reconnected with a bunch of people by joining Facebook and LinkedIn. One friend had twins. Another friend finalized her divorce and moved into a new house. My immediate family is all doing pretty well.
Now the bad: Let's face it, this wasn't a great year for anyone other than maybe Barack Obama. The economy tanked. Gas prices rose higher than we'd ever seen them. We were forced to notice the environment when we all watched China prepare for the Olympics. We were forced to gag at the juggernaut of hype that surrounded Sarah Palin. Various terror attacks, including the horrible one in Mumbai. Paul Newman died.
And on the personal side, bad stuff happened to me and mine. One of my closest friends got diagnosed with a serious chronic illness. Another friend had some other health issues. I had pneumonia for a month. I had a fist-sized tumor in my chest. My cubemate got laid off. Many people in my life had and are having financial woes. I watched my own 401k account lose over 50% of its value. My workplace laid off a significant number of people, causing everyone else to feel survivor's guilt and stress that we could all be next. All the normal minor things happened, too. Car troubles, power losses, minor sicknesses, etc. My guy broke up with me!
But, despite all of that, I am hopeful about 2009. We have elected a potentially good president; at least a good man, which is more than we could say about the last eight years. This can only help our standing in the world, and will hopefully improve our economy and lives. I also believe that this economic downturn/recession/depression can't last forever. Perhaps by the end of 2009 we will all breathe more easily.
I think part of the reason I feel optimistic is because I feel healthier. My tumor seems to really have played a part in my overall health, because now that it's gone I feel a lot more energetic and alert; I'm even getting better sleep. So, I am going to actually make a few resolutions for this new year; hopefully this will help me keep moving down the happiness path.
1. I resolve to keep up with my meds. I am sometimes willfully bad about them. No more.
2. I resolve to fit exercise into my life.
3. I resolve to move out of here before the end of the year.
4. I resolve to spend more time with my friends.
5. I resolve to maybe consider perhaps thinking about dating again. Maybe. Possibly.
I'll also do my usual stuff that keeps me happy: I will take more pictures, read more books, watch more tv and movies, and listen to more music. I'd like to take another trip this year. Maybe abroad — I have my shiny new passport, after all!
So goodbye 2008, hello 2009. Try not to suck, will you? I really mean it this year. Thanks!
Final thoughts on 2008. First, the good stuff: I went away on vacation twice to Provincetown. I went to a Red Sox game with Patrick and we had awesome seats that I got from work — and they won the game! I read 52 books, and most of them were pretty good. I spent some time with most of my friends. I dated someone for three months. I didn't have cancer. I survived surgery and feel really good now. My aunt is finally healing from her third surgery. I reconnected with a bunch of people by joining Facebook and LinkedIn. One friend had twins. Another friend finalized her divorce and moved into a new house. My immediate family is all doing pretty well.
Now the bad: Let's face it, this wasn't a great year for anyone other than maybe Barack Obama. The economy tanked. Gas prices rose higher than we'd ever seen them. We were forced to notice the environment when we all watched China prepare for the Olympics. We were forced to gag at the juggernaut of hype that surrounded Sarah Palin. Various terror attacks, including the horrible one in Mumbai. Paul Newman died.
And on the personal side, bad stuff happened to me and mine. One of my closest friends got diagnosed with a serious chronic illness. Another friend had some other health issues. I had pneumonia for a month. I had a fist-sized tumor in my chest. My cubemate got laid off. Many people in my life had and are having financial woes. I watched my own 401k account lose over 50% of its value. My workplace laid off a significant number of people, causing everyone else to feel survivor's guilt and stress that we could all be next. All the normal minor things happened, too. Car troubles, power losses, minor sicknesses, etc. My guy broke up with me!
But, despite all of that, I am hopeful about 2009. We have elected a potentially good president; at least a good man, which is more than we could say about the last eight years. This can only help our standing in the world, and will hopefully improve our economy and lives. I also believe that this economic downturn/recession/depression can't last forever. Perhaps by the end of 2009 we will all breathe more easily.
I think part of the reason I feel optimistic is because I feel healthier. My tumor seems to really have played a part in my overall health, because now that it's gone I feel a lot more energetic and alert; I'm even getting better sleep. So, I am going to actually make a few resolutions for this new year; hopefully this will help me keep moving down the happiness path.
1. I resolve to keep up with my meds. I am sometimes willfully bad about them. No more.
2. I resolve to fit exercise into my life.
3. I resolve to move out of here before the end of the year.
4. I resolve to spend more time with my friends.
5. I resolve to maybe consider perhaps thinking about dating again. Maybe. Possibly.
I'll also do my usual stuff that keeps me happy: I will take more pictures, read more books, watch more tv and movies, and listen to more music. I'd like to take another trip this year. Maybe abroad — I have my shiny new passport, after all!
So goodbye 2008, hello 2009. Try not to suck, will you? I really mean it this year. Thanks!
