Blog on 2012!

On this, the last day of 2011, I wanted to review the goals I made for this year. I believe in making resolutions and goals (as long as they don't contain the words weight loss, money or organization, you're just setting yourself up for disappointment.)

2011 was a crazy year of healing, transition and change. This was the year I left North Park (this time as a graduate) I started a new job, cut my hair, and got a tattoo. It was a financially difficult year, I'm now working on repaying all my student loans, and this was the first year I didn't spend Christmas with my family.

This dear friends is 2011!

Resolutions from last year End of the year update

1. Find a new and exciting job Now working as the Membership Director for the McDonald's Cycle Center

2. Buy a new bike, preferably a good road bike. I got two new bikes this year, a Cannondale CAAD 9 road bike and a Trek FX Fitness bike.  

3. Do more state side travelling In September I visited my friends Ashleigh and Nate in St. Louis for a five day respite. 

4. Make more jewelry and market it. Didn't do that. I didn't pull out my beads all year until last week.

5. Try my hand at freelance costume design Developed a solid resume with the help of the incredible Maggie Fulilove-Nugent, and costumed two shows back to back in November and December.

6. Do more babysitting to fill in the gaps I've luckily kept up a good consistency with sitting since leaving professional child care. And it has definitely filled in more than a few financial gaps. This year all the money I make from babysitting and childcare is going to my travel fund.  

7. Get a smart phone. Smart phone is got. Since July I've enjoyed my fancy little phone with no buttons.

8. Outfit the apartment with internet and Netflix access Not so much.

9. Buy cool kitchen stuff. I recycled some IKEA tables and made a center island and a new microwave/toaster oven table. Inherited a dutch oven, two skillets, and a load of reusable tupperware. I kept the basket from a "gift basket" we received at work and that is now in use as a bread/coffee/whatever basket. I also got two new teapots and a new french press. Last but not least, I got rid of all the wine bottles on my counter. 

10. Read more books just for fun. I'm still plowing through Bonhoeffer. But I did finally finish a biography of William Wilberforce, and a book about the life and work of Mister Rogers. 

11. Visit more churches. Ironically I made this goal because I was intending to leave the church I had been attending. Instead of another church I got a miracle. God gave me the church I already had. They became my family, my rock and my touchstone. He is so good. God also brought us a new pastor. 

12. Find a consistent Bible study. See the above

13. Apply to at least one grad school. Nope

14. Kiss the boys and make them cry. Well, I think I cried a couple times instead. But my relationships with men have ended on a good note this year. 

15. Blog on! I'm still here!


Other things of note from 2011:
1. I originated the role of Mrs. Raven in the world premier of Lilith. Lilith was a very special production to me. It was a huge factor in my post-grad recovery process and the closest thing to perfect as I've ever experienced.
2. I made the transition from "biker" to "cyclist" this year. My acquisition of Rogue 2 (my Cannondale) inspired me to find a job in the "bicycle" industry. I began cycling regularly about 20 miles a day, and in September finally made some long awaited trips. The first was to the Chicago Botanical Gardens and the second was a 100 mile ride from Evanston to Kenosha and back.
3. At the end of last year I realized a big flaw in the way I related to my friends. I resolved to be more intentional about being honest with the people I loved and also creating boundaries with those people. Sadly, this ended a couple friendships. But I don't regret that for one minute; you need to remove what's hurting you before you can heal.
4. Started seeing a therapist in October. I'm trying to be open and honest about going to therapy because I believe having such a assist can really help.
5. Finally got my tattoo.

As of right now I have only one goal for 2012
1. Save money. Go to Great Britain.

Simple enough.