Auld Lang Syne

I don't often have regrets. I did for awhile, but then realized how trivial and pointless they are. So now, as the year 2009 is coming to a close, I'm reflecting on everything that has happened, and pondering the upcoming year.

I had a lot of freedom this past year in Arizona. Not many calls from home, a ton of different trips and adventures with friends, and at one point, newfound single-ness. I loved it all (although that single-ness stretch was definitely not fun to go through at the time)! I loved my home, I loved my roommates, I loved my friends, my classes, my commuting. And then I graduated, and it was over. Actually... I graduated, turned 21, and moved-- all in one weekend-- and THEN it was over.

I spent the summer just hanging out and enjoying an old-school vacation: I saw friends, went on fun dates, took a roadtrip over the mountains, went kayaking and paddle-boating, hit up the fair for a sweet monster truck show. It was an amazing summer; guilt-free and full of activities is the only way a summer should be.

And then fall came- my absolute favorite time of year. I began to worry about money, about wasting time, and my future. This would probably be where regret would come in.... if I chose to have any. Could I have spent some time during the summer looking for jobs so that I wouldn't be broke? Yes, I could've. Did I? Nope. C'est la vie.

My mom left for Germany, I got a job I hated and quit, I lost an old friend, got a new job that I love, went to multiple Christmas parties and celebrations, and now...here I am. Everything in that last sentence felt like it happened within a very short amount of time, somewhere between autumn and winter. It's been very cold but very sunny in Seattle for the past few months, which is throwing my inner calender off; I see this weather as a gift from God however, partly because it is my favorite, and partly because if all of that had occured under cloudy gray skies and torrents of rain, I would probably feel much, much worse. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a real thing, my friends... not pretty.

Add to that an increase in weight by about 5-10 lbs (another would-be regret...) and you have quite the end to a very full year.

Last year I didn't make resolutions (I'm usually great about keeping them for a month, maybe, and then completely letting them die) because the only one I was ever able to keep was to give up soda. This year however I would love to make a couple:
The ever-popular: Work out more, get back in shape! And: to memorize one verse a week. I feel that both will be extremely helpful for my physical, mental, and spiritual health this year. And both are do-able! I just need some intrinsic (and extrinsic) motivation. Hmm... I'll think on that.

Also, not necessarily resolutions, but more like...goals... that I have, would be to keep in touch better with my friends. I'm a huge fan of snail mail, so maybe that will be a way that I do that. But friends here even- I'm not great about making time for them either. What's with that? So there's an area I can improve in.

Goodbye 2009! Thanks for everything :) And welcome 2010! I cannot wait to experience you :)