What did you learn this year?

[LadyShea]

Instead of resolutions for the New Year, I prefer to introspect on the previous year. Take an inventory so to speak. What did I do right? What mistakes did I make? Is there anything I need to fix or correct or start or stop? How can I use this info to improve our lives?

So, this year I learned that we can survive on way less money than I had thought we could, and that what seemed like impossible to make budget cuts weren't that bad. Even if we come out of broakassville I plan to maintain my decreased spending and even increase my efforts to economize.

I had it reinforced for me that dealing with huge, greedy corporations is difficult and frustrating under the best of circumstances, and like a horror show under difficult circumstances, but decided that it's purposeful on their part to make me give up...therefore I will never ever give up and let you win BofA!

I learned that kids grow up fast and am pleased that I worked hard at not taking my baby/toddler for granted now that he has been replaced with this huge kid.

I fucked up by putting a long term friendship at the shallow and polite level out of fear of going into deep honest land. But the truth hurts here, and there is no solving it, so I chose the "ignore it" road. That led to a different set of problems that I need to address now. I don't want to do that again.

What about you? Anything special?

[Gonzo]

I don't need drugs to be happy.

Production and the creative process thereof is the key to my own personal fulfillment.

I'm p. self-absorbed about how I spend my freetime, but I've always known that.

I am in love with Tim Brewer.

[Janet]

Almond flour is way too heavy for a normal amount of leavening.

Also, cake flour really does make a difference when you are making a cake, especially when you are mixing it with almond flour.

Gel mats for the kitchen are well worth the money. Especially when the money was paid by your best friend in the form of a surprise present.

I still suck at folding, in the cooking sense mind you, not the laundry sense.

[wildernesse]

Instead of resolutions for the New Year, I prefer to introspect on the previous year. Take an inventory so to speak. What did I do right? What mistakes did I make? Is there anything I need to fix or correct or start or stop? How can I use this info to improve our lives?

At this point, I can say that selling my car was good and not a mistake. Being a one car household has been just fine, but I need to get back into walking more instead of waiting for my turn with the car.

Not working after moving to Houston is still up for debate. On one hand, it has been wonderful to let go of the stress of my old job and get off the treadmill. I've been able to travel with RA and visit family and not have to beg for my time to be my own. I've become a much more patient person with other people and my anxiety level is much lower. On the other hand, I am unemployed and still stuck with the "what do I want to do with my life" question especially when it isn't working out the way I thought it might. I will probably look for ways to use my skills and develop new ones that would help me get a steady paying job if I needed/wanted one.

[Demimonde]

I have had a tremendous year. Going back to see my family in CA was day compared to night when I think of the fearful anxious wreck I was last spring.

I have learned not to fear those that love me, and trust that whatever conflicts may arise, love remains. I have reconnected in that spirit with so many people this year who I loved from afar. I am proud that I took the first steps towards rekindling those relationships and now look forward to deepening and strngthening those bonds.

I have learned to balance my school, work, home, and social lives to a degree that I never have had before. I have found joy and fufillment in all those categories, and feel like I have a strong foundation to move forward this year without regret.

The biggest hurdle is that I have learned not to regret and to grow. Shea, I think that is a great spirit you offer inthe OP that I never understood before. The best thing about this year is that I have learned to love myself, mistakes and all, and not tear myself down for perceived failings and faults. I am perfect just the way I am and just the way I am not.

Along with that goes living my life authentically. As I spent my adult life afraid of losing love, this year I learned to be myself and speak my mind despite the fear. I have found my voice and am proud to use it. With it I have found the agency to assert myself, which is a great feeling.

This has been an amazing year of growth and creativity. I stand here a strong, smart, and beautiful woman. I am happy to be where I am and glad to be alive and loved.

[biochemgirl]

I learned that anyone that says you can sleep when you're dead is too damn well rested. So I guess I also learned that it is possible to function with severe sleep deprivation, although barely.

Seriously though, we've really learned what we can do without as a one income family. And what really isn't important anymore. Spending time with my family is important, stuff is not. We've cut back in a lot of ways but our enjoyment of life is so much more. And I love coming home from work and we're together, if Malloch were working we would hardly ever have time together as a family.

Oh and I've also learned that I don't care what anyone may think about our non traditional family roles.

[BracesForImpact]

I learned that the reason tiny problems used to really upset me was because I was constantly ruminating on the large ones.

I realized that a positive inner attitude, a positive presentation to the rest of the world, and a brave step forward goes a LONG way.

There are times you cannot change it and you cannot get the hell out, so you have to learn to accept it and live with it.

It's a good thing to learn from your mistakes. It's a bad thing to continuously punish yourself for them.

Most importantly, I learned not to worry too much. I got this shit.

[Dingfod]

I learned that Fidelity Investments is as bad and as slow as any governmental agency, thus good only for long-term investments where ready cash is not needed.

I learned that I don't need much of the trappings of modern consumerist society.

I've learned to worry less, but am still working on not worrying much at all.

[inland wave]

I learned when life altering choices need to be made one must chose wisely.

Learning to spend less and enjoy life more (this is a work in progress).

Learned that I can adjust to having a life of couple togetherness instead of the living together, but apart life style of shift work with my SO.

[Sonoma Bear]

This year I learned, once again, that it's good to be alive. In the early autumn of 2009, Mulebear took me to Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta for some tests - I expected to be in and out on the same day. In doing the first test, I died on the table and had to be resuscitated. This amplified the problems I'd gone in to have tested, so it was decided that I'd need to have dialysis. It turns out that I'm extremely allergic to Heparin, a drug that is typically used for this procedure. My heart stopped once again, and this time I got broken ribs from being revived. It was about five months before I was able to leave on my own power. I had to learn to walk again, had a bout of ICU Psychosis, but I finally got to come home.

I'm doing well now, but I owe much of my recovery to Mulebear - who was at the hospital day and most nights, reading to me, helping exercise me, talking to me, gently explaining to me that the hallucinations weren't real. I remember him wheeling me out to a cobblestone court to sit in the sun and talk with him. I owe him more than I can ever say, though I do try. Without him, I honestly don't believe I'd be here.

So yes, it's good to be alive. Every day. Every moment.

[Qingdai]

Well crap, now anything I say is going to sound trivial.

I learned that the developmental delays of prematurity also include a fair amount of social and behavioral delays you are not warned about.

Also, that I like beer.

[irukandji]

i learned that ya just never know what
you can live through until the most
recent disaster/dilemma/loss has passed...
and you find yourself still standing...

ok, down on one knee with bleeding eyeballs
and smoke belching out of your ears
but still "here" and trying to figure out if
things are actually better or you have just
become used to the new awful circumstance,
which, by becoming familiar, might actually
have reset to the new "normal" ... and ya
did it, once again, stone cold sober...

i hate it, but i respect it

[curses]

Last year I learned that I can actually do it. If I want it bad enough and I stay focused, I can do it. This is a huge revelation for me. I'm gonna be an awesome photographer and a kickass photo retoucher.

[Malloch]

1. Squirrel Tastes likes chicken
2. If you think you have a room baby proofed, put the baby in there. They will show you how its not.
3. Being able to sleep through anything does not endear you to your spouse.
4. Crisco is slippery.
5. Always catch up on family gossip when going to the inlaws, especially before touting the greatness of copper cookware.
6.That little spot between furniture that you didn't think you needed to cover? Yep he can fit through there, you can't.

I'm sure there's more. I'll add as I think of them.

[biochemgirl]

3. Being able to sleep pretend to sleep through anything does not endear you to your spouse prevent your spouse from putting the pillow over your head until you stop moving.


:fixed:

[Qingdai]

Oh crap, she's on to us Malloch.
Don't let her tell Chunksmediocrites!

[Clutch Munny]

I've been thinking about this off and on, but my growing suspicion is that I didn't learn a goddamned thing.

[LadyShea]

Nonsense Clutch.

[Pinecone]

I'm slippin off into the elderlies and forgot more than I learned.:shakecane:

[lisarea]

OH! I know!

I learned to be more discerning about what I consider obligations. And really, I don't have very many of them. For the large part, I do what I want to and don't do what I don't want to.

So basically, I have learned to be more of an asshole, and I'm much happier this way.