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Goodbye, 2012
Dec. 31st, 2012 06:09 pmAnd yet another year gone by. My biggest, grandest wish at the start of this year was just that 2013 be better than the year before. And I suppose it was, for the most part. It wasn't the smooth or easy ride I hoped for, but it still could have been much, much worse. So, at the end of the year, it's time for my most important personal tradition - what have I learned this year?
I learned that digital radiology makes it much easier to measure vertebral heart score, and that it's absolutely a habit worth getting into.
I learned how to manage a wet-to-dry tie-over bandage.
I learned a lot more about Argentine tango, including beautiful turns.
I learned that my community of choice can be incredibly, heartbreakingly generous given the slightest opportunity, and that goals that seem impossible to the point of being ludicrous can be achieved if I try.
I learned that Norovirus is quite possibly the least fun thing in the world.
I learned that my Italian is better and more fluent than I ever would have thought.
I learned how to make pasta by hand and by feel.
I learned what it looks like to watch the sun rise and set on another continent.
I learned what green almonds and fava beans and fresh chickpeas and real gelato taste like.
I learned what getting your eyebrows waxed feels like.
I learned that it's possible to take an idea to a tattoo artist, instead of just a picture, and that sometimes when you do that you wind up with something different from what you imagined but still incredibly perfect.
I learned how to use a spinning wheel to spin and ply yarn.
I learned that somehow, rewriting something can be harder and scarier than writing it in the first place.
I learned that honesty can be both scary and liberating.
I learned that my favorite cousin was a lot less sane and healthy than I knew, and that this cost him his life.
I learned how to make lekku (for all you Star Wars geeks out there).
I learned that, if something is making me scared or uncomfortable, it's best to actually tell people, and that my friends will trust me and try to help me when they can.
I learned that I can run a 5K if I put my mind to it.
I learned that even fake zombies can put you into a state of adrenal overdrive.
I learned that Venice is even more beautiful than I ever would have imagined.
I learned that too much history can overwhelm me to the point of existential crisis.
I learned what acupuncture feels like, and that one session can do more to heal me than 2 months of physical therapy.
I learned the best ways to diagnose leptospirosis in varying circumstances.
I learned that even the Committee to Form A Consensus on Lyme disease couldn't form a consensus on diagnostic and treatment plans for lyme disease, and that this is oddly reassuring.
I learned how to make bentos, and that lunch is just much more fun when it's varied and packed into a cute little box.
I learned that cancer is everywhere, no matter how old I'm not and how hard I try to fight it.
I learned that, no matter how hard I try to fight nature and entropy, it's a fight I cannot win - and that taking on broken animals is an inevitable ticket on the heartbreak express.
I learned that 4 days on vicodin is enough to make me incredibly sick with withdrawal when I stop taking it.
I learned that I am good enough at my job that, when I tell a client I'm moving on, they will not only offer to follow me, but offer to fund me and be my partner/manager if I ever want to open my own clinic.
I learned that, as hard as it is to cultivate the habit, that positivity is an important lifestyle.
I learned that I still need to work on trusting the people who love me - and that, thankfully, those people are willing to be patient with me as I try.
This year felt very much like falling forward, and trying to keep my feet under me. It started off wonderful, though it took a turn for the worse somewhere around midsummer. And it seems like I spent a lot of time focusing on experiences and events - traveling, running, crafting, cooking. I think my goals for next year will be to tuck in and focus more on personal growth. I'm still working on my selfwork, but it's worth putting in the effort to make that a forefront priority.
Well, that and getting my motorcycle license.
Happy New Year, everyone, and may 2013 be better than 2012.
What did you learn this year?
I learned that digital radiology makes it much easier to measure vertebral heart score, and that it's absolutely a habit worth getting into.
I learned how to manage a wet-to-dry tie-over bandage.
I learned a lot more about Argentine tango, including beautiful turns.
I learned that my community of choice can be incredibly, heartbreakingly generous given the slightest opportunity, and that goals that seem impossible to the point of being ludicrous can be achieved if I try.
I learned that Norovirus is quite possibly the least fun thing in the world.
I learned that my Italian is better and more fluent than I ever would have thought.
I learned how to make pasta by hand and by feel.
I learned what it looks like to watch the sun rise and set on another continent.
I learned what green almonds and fava beans and fresh chickpeas and real gelato taste like.
I learned what getting your eyebrows waxed feels like.
I learned that it's possible to take an idea to a tattoo artist, instead of just a picture, and that sometimes when you do that you wind up with something different from what you imagined but still incredibly perfect.
I learned how to use a spinning wheel to spin and ply yarn.
I learned that somehow, rewriting something can be harder and scarier than writing it in the first place.
I learned that honesty can be both scary and liberating.
I learned that my favorite cousin was a lot less sane and healthy than I knew, and that this cost him his life.
I learned how to make lekku (for all you Star Wars geeks out there).
I learned that, if something is making me scared or uncomfortable, it's best to actually tell people, and that my friends will trust me and try to help me when they can.
I learned that I can run a 5K if I put my mind to it.
I learned that even fake zombies can put you into a state of adrenal overdrive.
I learned that Venice is even more beautiful than I ever would have imagined.
I learned that too much history can overwhelm me to the point of existential crisis.
I learned what acupuncture feels like, and that one session can do more to heal me than 2 months of physical therapy.
I learned the best ways to diagnose leptospirosis in varying circumstances.
I learned that even the Committee to Form A Consensus on Lyme disease couldn't form a consensus on diagnostic and treatment plans for lyme disease, and that this is oddly reassuring.
I learned how to make bentos, and that lunch is just much more fun when it's varied and packed into a cute little box.
I learned that cancer is everywhere, no matter how old I'm not and how hard I try to fight it.
I learned that, no matter how hard I try to fight nature and entropy, it's a fight I cannot win - and that taking on broken animals is an inevitable ticket on the heartbreak express.
I learned that 4 days on vicodin is enough to make me incredibly sick with withdrawal when I stop taking it.
I learned that I am good enough at my job that, when I tell a client I'm moving on, they will not only offer to follow me, but offer to fund me and be my partner/manager if I ever want to open my own clinic.
I learned that, as hard as it is to cultivate the habit, that positivity is an important lifestyle.
I learned that I still need to work on trusting the people who love me - and that, thankfully, those people are willing to be patient with me as I try.
This year felt very much like falling forward, and trying to keep my feet under me. It started off wonderful, though it took a turn for the worse somewhere around midsummer. And it seems like I spent a lot of time focusing on experiences and events - traveling, running, crafting, cooking. I think my goals for next year will be to tuck in and focus more on personal growth. I'm still working on my selfwork, but it's worth putting in the effort to make that a forefront priority.
Well, that and getting my motorcycle license.
Happy New Year, everyone, and may 2013 be better than 2012.
What did you learn this year?
