1. What did you do in 2022 that you’d never done before?
I separated from the Navy! Saw the Grand Canyon! Had a whole month off, where I did a lot of traveling! Started a new job at a major academic center!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I make a lot of New Year’s Resolutions, which are not always the SMARTest goals (Specific-Measurable-Achievable-Relevant-Time-bound). Some of them are more like guideposts, directions I’d like to aim for when living my life. But actually, I just reviewed my list and I did pretty well last year!
This year, I’ll focus on making morning and evening routines since I’d like to use my time more efficiently and I’ve had some difficulties due to my commute, some leftover work, and, yes, too much phone scrolling.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My friend and former training partner had her second baby. Here comes Auntie Caroline!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No
5. What countries did you visit?
3. England, Germany, and Switzerland as part of my last-minute trip during my month off. It was a real delight to have that flexibility and the trip itself was fantastic.
I also had an amazing amount of domestic travel and visited so many national parks.
6. What would you like to have in 2023 that you lacked in 2022?
Relating to my resolutions, a more consistent approach to wellness and exercise in the form of a morning routine. There was a lot of flux last year so now that things are steadier, I really want to maximize my early mornings. Doesn’t work for everyone but it’s a great time for me!
7. What dates from 2022 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
31 March: Accepted my new job
17 June: Last day at work and Hail & Farewell
June-July: Amazing trips and sights in National Parks and abroad
1 Aug: First day at work
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my new job! The job hunt was a little stressful, since my search was so geographically limited. Although I had turned in my resignation papers to the Navy last September (’21), the job hunting process really accelerated in Jan-Mar ’22. I am very proud of myself for finally understanding the interview process and how to prepare for behavioral questions (STAR acronym works great). I felt like I belonged and if it didn’t work out, then it was just a suboptimal fit rather than an interview bobble or mistake. As it turns out, I had two top choices. One was perfect and is where I am today (love!). And the other just wasn’t a great fit even though there were some great moments during that interview process as well.
Also, I negotiated certain aspects really well, which made me feel very competent. I did slightly bobble a verbal offer phone call, where I could have hammered out terms a little earlier and saved a revision step on the written offer, but it wasn’t a big deal. I just wasn’t sure how to handle negotiations without an actual written starting point in front of me.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Well, SMS and I really wanted a house. A lot of factors went against us, starting with my job hunt since the bank knew that I could potentially have a gap in employment. Of course, I wouldn’t have since I could have done locums work, but it caused us to miss late ‘21/early ’22 buying opportunities. Then, Spring ’22 had an absolutely ridiculous run-up in prices and then interest rates eroded our purchasing power in a major way. This is a huge macro trend that impacted so many people, but on the micro, self-centered level, the crazy market of ’22 left us cold on buying a house. Plus, the houses around here in our price range tend to be really expensive piles that need a lot of work. Boo!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really. I got COVID in June 2022 and missed my 20th college reunion, which I was bummed about. I also decided to do the Couch-to-5-K training program at the end of the year so I could get back into a more consistent running habit without hurting myself in the process. #40s.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
SMS and I bought a king-sized bed! It’s so comfortable. And although I’ve always loved them in hotel rooms, it feels almost too big as a daily sleeper.
12. Where did most of your money go?
Savings, vacations, rent. I’m starting to think this question should go away. It’s a little silly. I mean, I feel the answer is boring unless I answer hookers and blow.
13. What did you get really excited about?
Hookers and blow. Hahaha.
I really love my job and I’m excited about my mid-career transition. I feel like I have at least 20 more years in me so it’s nice to have that large of a timeline to do great things!
14. What song will always remind you of 2022?
Anti-Hero, since it was everywhere the last month of the year!
15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? Happier.
– thinner or fatter? Fatter, but I will give myself a little grace that there were a lot of things in flux this year. Also, our new apartment complex has a gym so I’m excited to have consistent healthy habits as a goal this year.
– richer or poorer? Richer, although $LCID has not really helped with that.
16. What’s one thing you wish you had done more of?
I sort of wish that I had taken more time off between jobs but I had plenty of travel in June and July to feel like I had a great break. The month off was enough time given that no paycheck was coming in and we were spending money on vacations. Also, I really wanted to get started at my new job.
17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Phone-scrolling. I’m going to establish more of an evening routine that involves no phone! [Verbatim from last year]
18. How did you spend Christmas?
With SMS’ family with a Christmas dinner of Turducken! I also had an early “Christmas” with my family minus my resident physician sister 🙁 in Navarre, FL.
19. What was your favorite TV program?
White Lotus, hopped on the bandwagon late for that one! I also enjoyed Hacks. Next up is Wednesday, I think, based on recs from several people.
20. What were your favorite books of the year?
Fiction: Great Circle by Shipstead, Black Cake by Wilkerson, Cloud Cuckoo Land by Doerr, Nightcrawling by Mottley, Lessons in Chemistry by Garnus
Non-fiction: Mindset by Dweck, Undoing Project by Lewis, Hammerhead 6 by Frye, The Power of Regret by Pink, Medical Apartheid by Washington, The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Lewis
21. What was your favorite music from this year?
I enjoyed Harry’s House. I listened to Brothers Osborne Skeletons album, which was released in 2020. And ok, ok, I liked Taylor Swift and I even scored two tickets for next Summer. (I really wished I maxed out on six tickets and gently scalped them. Missed opportunity!). I really want to be cooler than mentioning Taylor Swift twice in a yearly wrap-up yet here we are.
22. What were your favorite films of the year?
Knives Out: Glass Onion. I really didn’t watch a lot of movies, but will keep better track this year!
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
42. I went to the spa in the afternoon and then SMS & I went out to a charcoal grill yakitori restaurant. Pretty mellow since SMS felt a little under the weather.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having a magic wand to separate keep/trash items when it comes to moving and unpacking.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2022?
A little slobby in my off-hours but this is the year I finally gave in to high-waisted jeans. Ugh, so unflattering but so on trend.
26. What kept you sane?
Maintaining a mindset of appreciation and gratitude for all the wonderful things in my life, maybe mixed in with a dash of the St Francis and Serenity prayers.
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2022.
I am not an “everything happens for a reason” person, but being adaptable and appreciative helps me through uncertain times.
This was such a fun post to read.
A few years ago, when we were shopping in-store for a new mattress (king-sized), a woman saw my husband and I looking at the options and asked if it was our first king-sized bed. When we said it was she replied: it’s going to change your life. And it has! I LOVE having a king-sized bed, and when we occasionally have to sleep in a double bed when we’re traveling I about lose my mind.
Ha – your answer to #12 got me laughing. Expenditures for “regular” adults are pretty boring (but then again, vacations are fun)!
I watched Glass Onion last night and was disappointed (I LOVED the original Knives Out), but it has rave reviews from so many bloggers. I did think Daniel Craig was amazing, though.
I haven’t seen the original. I didn’t have high expectations going in and I was amazed by the quality of the cast and cameos. The movie was a little silly and didn’t require a lot of brain cells, but I found it enjoyable.
These end of year surveys are so fun. Thanks for sharing your answers. I agree, question 12 doesn’t seem like it needs to be answered, because we know where most people’s money goes (rent, food, savings hopefully) LOL
I have never had a real job interview and having to change jobs terrifies me. I think I’d come to you for advice about the interview process because it sounds like you have it down 🙂