Prompt for December 21: Look. Sometimes you are left standing on the outside looking in. As you stood there, on the other side of the glass, were you thankful for the boundary? Or do you wish you could’ve been on the action-side?
No, I don’t think I would have changed anything in this regard for 2012. Sometimes when I was super busy with school, I wished I could have been more involved in the social things happening around me, like spending time with friends or other activities. Looking back, I know that I wouldn’t have been able to do both successfully. There were a few projects that I would have liked to be involved with, but the same thing goes; I’m already over-involved. To get tangled up in more would have been too consuming. I haven’t worked at my second job as a residential case manager for adults with psychiatric issues this whole year– this was a touch one for me, because I really did (and still do) miss my clients. But I had to draw the line somewhere. I needed the time to finish schoolwork and actually be around my family. I think I was standing exactly where I should be to be successful in the ways I was in 2012.
Prompt for December 22: Song. What has been your theme song this year? Have there been several? Make us a mix tape and tell us the meaning behind it.
I don’t think I’ve had a theme song for 2013. When I think back over the year, the music that stands out are more recent finds: fun and Alex Clare. I also listened to a lot of Adele, Anthony Hamilton, TI, Michael Buble and John Legend.
Prompt for December 23: Appreciate. For what did you find a new appreciation this year?
Time to do nothing. This was a very busy, time-consuming year for me. So I really cherished those moments that I could just lay down and do nothing or zone out in the midst of bad television. This isn’t a normal statement from me, but I did cherish this time. I also cherished moments when I was cooking, especially when trying new recipes.
Prompt for December 24: Change of heart. Did you have a change of heart about something or someone in your life this year? What or who was it? Why?
I don’t know if I’ve necessarily had a change of heart. I think I’ve just had a bit of a shift of attitude. I can’t accomplish everything and I certainly can’t please everyone either. I think I’ve just chose to try to accept that and deal with it situationally. I know there have been people I’ve let down in small ways, and there are also people who let me down in small ways. Nothing drastic. Every relationship- coworkers, friends, etc grows and expands and changes over time. I’m just very grateful for the people who are in my life.
Prompt for December 25: Traditions. Do you follow old traditions or do you work to create new traditions? What role has tradition played in your life over the past year? Are there traditions you hope to create or embrace in 2013?
I love traditions. I really, really do. I think one big thing I learned in my 20’s is how much I do love celebrating and honoring traditions and cultivating new ones. I don’t think I appreciated tradition before my 20’s (as much as I do now), but every year I seem to grow more grateful for them. I think that’s why I enjoy holidays so much, because they all have some type of tradition associated with them: a new year means I’ll be doing the Polar Bear Plunge; we relive our first date on our anniversary, Valentine’s day we eat lobster at home, Father’s Day we update Mr. O’s scrapbook Wolverine and I made him in 2011; camping in the summer, decorating our tree for Christmas and getting new ornaments every year. Mentioning what we are thankful for at dinner time. I’ve left a lot off this list, but I do love traditions.
Prompt for December 26: Typical day. Describe a typical day in your life. What do you think would surprise most people about your ordinary day? How do you cherish and appreciate the everyday?
My ordinary life is just that: ordinary. I wake up when Mr. O goes to work and steal a hug and a kiss before he leaves (and Wolverine too if it is a morning we have him before school.) Then I lay back down and fall asleep for another 20 or 30 minutes before I need to get up and go to work. I’m almost always a few minutes late for work every day, which is why I should never ever lay back down after Mr. O leaves. I developed the habit in mid-to-late 2012 to make my own coffee in the morning which is saving me loads of money. At work, I do work-type stuff. I work late and then head home. My nights usually consist of cooking dinner and relaxing with Mr. O and Wolverine. For the first half of the year, I did a lot of schoolwork at nights and the second half of the year I did a lot of Spry-stuff at night. My weekends are a blur of cleaning and kid-related activities. They are usually tiring but loads of fun….and repeat and repeat.
Prompt for December 27: Hidden talent. Do you have a hidden talent? Dazzle us.
Hmm. I’m a pretty good parallel parking. I didn’t learn that in 2012 though. I make a mean Chicken Mozambique. I think perfected that this year, though I started to attempt the recipe in 2011.
Prompt for December 28: All grown up. What did you want to be when you grew up? Are you that thing? If not, are you working to become it, or have you chosen a completely different path?
Oh, good questions. Am I what I wanted to be when I grew up? No, not right now. Am I close to it? Well, maybe. Growing up, I wanted to be everything. I wanted to be a singer, a teacher, a writer, a mother, a wife, the president, an astronaut, you name it. If it sounded like a challenge, I wanted in. I no longer wish to be an astronaut or the president. I’m certainly not a famous singer, though I do sing quite a bit in the car. I just graduated and that opens the door to be able to teach at the university-level. I wrote a thesis this year, so I think that makes me a writer. I’m not a real mother or wife yet, but I’m helping my boyfriend parent his incredible child, and THAT my friends is one of my favorite things in life. The role I play in Mr. O and Wolverine’s life. I think I’m very close to being at the place I though I wanted to be as a child. Right now though, I’m exactly where I am supposed to be in life….and that feels good.