Since 2011, I’ve used this list to help reflect back on the year. I really enjoy looking back while preparing to move forward. So…
1. What did you do in 2014 that you’d never done before?
Lived in Silicon Valley! SMS and I really enjoy the area! Oh, that gives me a corollary- I have paid a higher rent than I ever thought possible/reasonable for an apartment that wasn’t tiled in gold.
I wanted to have a better appreciation for time, “to use my time more as a gift, rather than something to waste or let go mindlessly.” I did fairly well but started to slip towards the end of the year, especially in regards to mindless web surfing. I plan on recommitting this year because the days can feel long, but the years are short!
I also have a few smaller goals that are not terribly creative, but I have them in my planner as gentle reminders.
Oh man. The babies are coming! My sister-in-law and my brother had their beautiful baby boy! One of my really close college friends had a baby girl! Both couples gave each child a beautiful name! Several Facebook friends (whom I genuinely like and consider friends, we just mainly keep up through Facebook) had babies and many more are on the way in 2016!
No
Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Cambodia
Publications!
2/10/15: Sapporo Ice Festival
6/20/15: Leaving Japan for the second time
12/23/15: Great Christmas with my family, minus Joe and Nicole
Doing my best to optimize my fellowship.
Not understanding the Navy game and being surprised at a fairly obvious outcome for my next job assignment.
Plane tickets!
12. Where did most of your money go?
Travel, rent, savings
Travel! Exploring places with SMS and taking advantage of the #explorearoundyou ethos, inspired by my friend Emily.
Unfortunately for SMS, “Hello” by Adele made a late year, complete stuck-in-my-head appearance. I also discovered The Turnpike Troubadours this year and I love them!
16. What’s one thing you wish you had done more of?
Same as last year, meditate! I’d like to work on giving myself some space between action and reaction. Sometimes my opinions come out more forcefully than is helpful.
I’m getting better, but I’m really going to focus less on time-suck websites and spend my evenings productively- otology studying, language training, maybe a self-defense class?
SMS and I had a relaxing day after coming back from Colorado the day before. We exchange gifts, hung out and went to Star Wars that evening. It was pretty awesome!
I really didn’t watch TV this year. I watched one episode of Sons of Anarchy, which seemed cool but as SMS said, “[Did I] really want to start a series that would give me nightmares?
21. What was your favorite music from this year?
Turnpike Troubadours, new Brandon Flowers
22. What were your favorite films of the year?
I don’t watch a lot of movies either and this year seems a little Sci-Fi heavy: The Martian, Star Wars and Ex Machina.
35. SMS made dinner for me and we had a low-key evening. I couldn’t take off work because I had to make up the time for our later-in-the-month incredible vacation to Thailand and Cambodia.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Current job satisfaction.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
Slightly uneven. I’d like to work on refining my everyday style.
SMS! He’s a great listener and really helped me through some tough (for me) times. Sometimes he can be unflinchingly honest which can be hard in itself but it always makes me reflect and commit to personal improvement.
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.
Prestigious institutions have their own internal issues and appearances can be deceiving. This isn’t exactly a new realization but one that was reinforced this year.
Portmanteau Suitcase 