Hey, it’s a ‘year in review’ post!
Yes, I am being awesome and joining the throngs of internet people who have published a look back at the past year, and a look forward at the next year.
Looking back
Professionally, 2009 was pretty awesome. I got to work with some of my favorite designers, I had my first speaking gig, I worked on some really exciting projects. Personally it had its high points too: we adopted our awesome cat Misty, went to London and Paris and Cancun, moved into a new apartment we love, saw close friends get married, and spent time with people we adore.
Unfortunately 2009 will probably always be overshadowed by the stress and grief that came with this year. Financially, the past year has been more difficult than others, for various reasons. Several animals in our families died. Someone close to my family committed suicide. Someone very close to me struggled with a powerful addiction. Last month was probably the worst of our lives, as we lost Jason’s mom to cancer. There were times when it felt like the cloud hanging over our heads would never lift, and it was hard to see the good in things.
Thankfully Jason and I have each other, our amazing friends, and our incredibly supportive families. They’re the only thing that’s gotten us through this very trying year.
Looking forward
I’m feeling so optimistic about 2010. Exciting things are happening here at Owltastic. I’m going to SXSW for the first time in a few months. My family member who was fighting dependency is getting help and making great progress (I’m so proud of you!). We’ve got great friends, and I’m encouraged that those friendships will only blossom in the next year. Jason, Misty and I are all healthy and usually happy. (Well maybe not Misty, she always looks pissed.)
I know a lot of people think resolutions are lame, but I don’t care. I love them. I make them all the time, especially at New Year’s. The problem is, I usually can’t even remember what they were by the time the following year rolls around. So this year, I’m writing them down, and publishing them here. If I succeed at any of these things in the next year, I will be happier.
This list is a total mess, and when I’m not frantically getting ready for a party I will have to sit down and organize it better. In the meantime, here my resolutions are, in all their glory:
- Stay connected with friends
- Lose weight (of course!)
- Get on a regular sleep schedule
- Respond to all flagged emails daily
- Communicate with clients more frequently
- Laugh more often, be less easily offended, don’t take things personally, don’t get so defensive when you’re wrong
- Check in with my family more frequently
- Go somewhere new every few months
- Finally get health insurance
- Write in Owltastic more
- Write at least one significant, useful, thoughtful web design tutorial / article a month
- Attend more web conferences
- Send more thank you notes
- Take more photographs
- Start knitting again
- Start illustrating again
- Read more, watch less TV
- Learn to cook and bake, at least a couple of things
- Keep a plant alive
- Listen, don’t interrupt or be distracted
- Go outside at least every now and then
- Don’t expect a gold star for everything you do
- At the end of each day, have a clean space for the following day’s work
- Try to look pretty every now and then, act like a girlfriend and less like a gross roomate
- Don’t put things off quite so badly
- Reduce my debt
- Pay bills on time
- Be better at video games
- Spend less time looking at Tumblr
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