Two Zero One Five

January 1, 2016 at 11:59 am (Uncategorized)

You want a resolution? I want a revelation. Barring one of those…resolutions will have to do. First I’d like to do a little reflecting on the year that was, though.

2015 was a pretty cool year for me. I finished up working at Portland YouthBuilders, spent six weeks in Asia, turned 25 (weird, even still), ran my first Hood to Coast, started (and finished!) my first term of grad school at Oregon State, and a bunch of smaller adventures besides. I went to my first pride parade. I got caught in a lightning storm in woods. I built a beeramid. I saw a whole bunch of my favorite artists live. I did what some might consider an “unreasonable” amount of karaoke. I got not one, but TWO Size 10-reShoeunions after 3 years without any.

And that’s just me! Maybe even cooler than my own things are getting to see what my friends are achieving. People are getting married, having kids, launching careers, buying houses, doing their own traveling, and generally being the wonderful people I know them to be. I celebrate their successes as much as my own. It’s really been a pleasure to witness that, whether afar from social media or getting to be right there next to them.

After a couple more difficult years, 2015 really came through. Here’s to upward trends! How are we going to keep the party rolling, you ask?

Well, I’ve got some resolutions:

  • Run. Every Day. It might not be very far, but this is a goal that I think will help keep me healthier and happier. It also will help with achieving my second 2015 goal, which is…
  • Run a <2:00 half marathon before I turn 26. Right now my goal is the Vancouver Half Marathon, which is June 19th. Just over 6 months to get there!
  • Treat unexpected things that happen like I wanted them to be that way, and relax regarding the things I either can or can’t control. Stressed out about a paper? Uncertain about something that hasn’t been explained? I’m not going to worry about it. This is how it is, how I want it to be. Super gross, hailing sideways? Looks like I am going to fight the elements on today’s run! Positivity is a choice, and in 2016 I am going to make that choice.
  • Tell the people that I care about that I care about them.
  • Sing more – the only thing better than singing is MORE singing.
  • Embrace the moment. This is the last time I’m going to be in school, so why not enjoy it? Every day has something to offer, even the ones that are me slogging away on a paper, or trying to decipher economics. Where else would I rather be than right where I am?

 

By the time 2017 rolls around, I will be nearly done with grad school. My life could look just about the same as it does right now, or everything could have changed. There are going to be a bunch of downs, I’m sure, but presumably even more ups in the year to come. The new year isn’t a magic bullet that’s going to change me, or fix me. It presents an opportunity to check in with where I’ve been and where I want to go. Small efforts every day will result in the reward; will BE the reward. I’m not ever going to get anything except whatever present moment I’m living in, so hopefully I can build this series of moments into a life worth living.

 

 

 

I will take revelations if you’ve got ’em, though.

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