Let me tell you about my year (meme): 2013
Jan. 5th, 2014 01:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vaneramos1. Where did you begin 2013?
At home with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
djjo
2. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Got paid for a photo essay in a magazine. Started writing a column for a national (American) magazine. Attended a national conference for professional writers.
3. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
One of my resolutions was to eat salad every day for lunch. That worked very well for eight or nine months. I set a number of writing goals that I didn't keep. However, I did learn how to use Photoshop Lightroom, and threw in a photography course. I had a goal of taking off one week of every 12. I did that three times, and the writing retreat in August at the cottage was one of the best things that happened all year. I haven't set anything concrete for 2014, but I have some ideas that I hope to solidify in the next few days.
4. Were you in school (anytime this year)?
I took a travel and landscape photography course from Rob Stimpson at Haliburton School of Art for a week in July. Excellent!
5. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
6, Did anyone close to you die?
Not that I remember.
7. What places did you visit?
Easton Mountain, NY. Stayed a few days in Toronto for the PWAC conference. Haliburton, ON. Winnipeg, MB.
8. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
I need a lot more income from writing by the end of the year. I would like an opportunity to travel somewhere much different from anywhere I have been before.
9. What dates from 2013 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
No particular date was life-altering. 2013.7.4. was the 10th anniversary of the day Danny and I met. We spent our anniversary week at art school, went out for dinner in a little restaurant in Haliburton, and celebrated with some friends and family at home a couple weeks later.
10. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
See 2. above.
11 What was your biggest failure?
Not pushing harder to achieve writing goals. Not spending enough quality time with close friends.
12. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Between July or August and November I went through the worst episode of depression I have had in years. I was in denial for the first few weeks. It was not nearly as bad as the ones in 1995-96 and 1998, but was still debilitating. I have been relatively well since Nov. 21. Whatever goals I set for 2014 will have to do with looking after myself better, acknowledging pain and being more flexible.
13. What was the best thing you bought?
A 55-250mm Canon lens.
14. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
When I told my friend Holly that I was going through some bad depression, she quickly planned a games night. It seemed especially kind since she and her husband, Allison, have a toddler and plenty on their plates. They invited their friends, Liz and Steve, who Danny and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting. It was just a sweet and simple gift, exactly what I needed, and it cheered me up.
15. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
My father.
16. Where did most of your money go?
We have been living off Danny's savings. The bit I earned went towards attending the writers' conference, a tripod for the camera, time with my daughters and taking over cottage expenses.
17. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The men's spring knitting retreat. The photography course. Spending extended time alone at the cottage, probably for the first time since before my daughters were born. Getting a column in Gluten-Free Living. Getting a photo on the cover of Edible Toronto.
18. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Music was not high on my radar this year. I read a recent biography of my favourite composer, Sibelius: A Composer's Life And the Awakening of Finland, and was interested to gain insight into his life. I discovered an unfamiliar work by him and was blown away: Skogsraet (Wood Nymph).
19. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? About the same.
b) thinner or fatter? I lost some weight this year but have gained it back.
c) richer or poor? Poorer but I have a little steady writing income to build upon.
20. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Making love. Gardening. Getting out of the house. Pitching stories. Being with friends.
21. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Playing Civilization V. I lost some days and weeks in late summer and early fall playing computer games before realizing I was in avoidance, depressed.
22. How did you spend Christmas?
In bed with the flu reading A House For Mr Biswas by V.S. Naipaul given to me for Christmas in 1989 by Jay Reimer, one of my closest friends in university.
23. Did you fall in love in 2013?
Not even remotely. I recall two incidents of flirtation. I still love Danny and my status as polyamorous is becoming dubious. Asexual?
24. What was your favourite TV program?
I discovered Doctor Who in 2013. Got swept away.
25. What did you do for your birthday in 2013?
Met some friends at The Penny Whistle.
26. What was the best book you read?
Aleph by Paulo Coehlo. I resonated with it very emotionally, if not philosophically.
27. What did you want and get?
A photo essay published. Good quality extended time to myself at the cottage. Inspiration for a long-form nature essay.
28. What did you want and not get?
Good, steady income.
29. Did you make some new friends this year?
A few at the men's knitting retreat, PWAC, the photography course and especially our weavers and spinners guild.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Hanging out more with a few close pals. A trip somewhere far away.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
I started wearing vividly colourful handmade knitwear that I regard as wearable art.
32. What kept you sane?
I did not keep sane. Learning core spinning and practising it helped me recover from from depression. So did my therapist.
33. What celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Matt Smith
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The decline of Canadian democracy under Stephen Harper's regime. The progress of same-sex marriage rights for our American neighbours and friends.
35. Who did you miss?
Mom. The close, supportive family I lack. I really need to let go of that.
36. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2013.
Tragedy and brokenness are part of living, just like the dead tree that continues to nourish the forest ecology around it for decades or centuries. The avoidance of pain is futile and probably harmful. Being happy is not as important as living a meaningful life.
At home with
djjo2. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Got paid for a photo essay in a magazine. Started writing a column for a national (American) magazine. Attended a national conference for professional writers.
3. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
One of my resolutions was to eat salad every day for lunch. That worked very well for eight or nine months. I set a number of writing goals that I didn't keep. However, I did learn how to use Photoshop Lightroom, and threw in a photography course. I had a goal of taking off one week of every 12. I did that three times, and the writing retreat in August at the cottage was one of the best things that happened all year. I haven't set anything concrete for 2014, but I have some ideas that I hope to solidify in the next few days.
4. Were you in school (anytime this year)?
I took a travel and landscape photography course from Rob Stimpson at Haliburton School of Art for a week in July. Excellent!
5. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
6, Did anyone close to you die?
Not that I remember.
7. What places did you visit?
Easton Mountain, NY. Stayed a few days in Toronto for the PWAC conference. Haliburton, ON. Winnipeg, MB.
8. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
I need a lot more income from writing by the end of the year. I would like an opportunity to travel somewhere much different from anywhere I have been before.
9. What dates from 2013 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
No particular date was life-altering. 2013.7.4. was the 10th anniversary of the day Danny and I met. We spent our anniversary week at art school, went out for dinner in a little restaurant in Haliburton, and celebrated with some friends and family at home a couple weeks later.
10. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
See 2. above.
11 What was your biggest failure?
Not pushing harder to achieve writing goals. Not spending enough quality time with close friends.
12. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Between July or August and November I went through the worst episode of depression I have had in years. I was in denial for the first few weeks. It was not nearly as bad as the ones in 1995-96 and 1998, but was still debilitating. I have been relatively well since Nov. 21. Whatever goals I set for 2014 will have to do with looking after myself better, acknowledging pain and being more flexible.
13. What was the best thing you bought?
A 55-250mm Canon lens.
14. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
When I told my friend Holly that I was going through some bad depression, she quickly planned a games night. It seemed especially kind since she and her husband, Allison, have a toddler and plenty on their plates. They invited their friends, Liz and Steve, who Danny and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting. It was just a sweet and simple gift, exactly what I needed, and it cheered me up.
15. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
My father.
16. Where did most of your money go?
We have been living off Danny's savings. The bit I earned went towards attending the writers' conference, a tripod for the camera, time with my daughters and taking over cottage expenses.
17. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The men's spring knitting retreat. The photography course. Spending extended time alone at the cottage, probably for the first time since before my daughters were born. Getting a column in Gluten-Free Living. Getting a photo on the cover of Edible Toronto.
18. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Music was not high on my radar this year. I read a recent biography of my favourite composer, Sibelius: A Composer's Life And the Awakening of Finland, and was interested to gain insight into his life. I discovered an unfamiliar work by him and was blown away: Skogsraet (Wood Nymph).
19. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? About the same.
b) thinner or fatter? I lost some weight this year but have gained it back.
c) richer or poor? Poorer but I have a little steady writing income to build upon.
20. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Making love. Gardening. Getting out of the house. Pitching stories. Being with friends.
21. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Playing Civilization V. I lost some days and weeks in late summer and early fall playing computer games before realizing I was in avoidance, depressed.
22. How did you spend Christmas?
In bed with the flu reading A House For Mr Biswas by V.S. Naipaul given to me for Christmas in 1989 by Jay Reimer, one of my closest friends in university.
23. Did you fall in love in 2013?
Not even remotely. I recall two incidents of flirtation. I still love Danny and my status as polyamorous is becoming dubious. Asexual?
24. What was your favourite TV program?
I discovered Doctor Who in 2013. Got swept away.
25. What did you do for your birthday in 2013?
Met some friends at The Penny Whistle.
26. What was the best book you read?
Aleph by Paulo Coehlo. I resonated with it very emotionally, if not philosophically.
27. What did you want and get?
A photo essay published. Good quality extended time to myself at the cottage. Inspiration for a long-form nature essay.
28. What did you want and not get?
Good, steady income.
29. Did you make some new friends this year?
A few at the men's knitting retreat, PWAC, the photography course and especially our weavers and spinners guild.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Hanging out more with a few close pals. A trip somewhere far away.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
I started wearing vividly colourful handmade knitwear that I regard as wearable art.
32. What kept you sane?
I did not keep sane. Learning core spinning and practising it helped me recover from from depression. So did my therapist.
33. What celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Matt Smith
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The decline of Canadian democracy under Stephen Harper's regime. The progress of same-sex marriage rights for our American neighbours and friends.
35. Who did you miss?
Mom. The close, supportive family I lack. I really need to let go of that.
36. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2013.
Tragedy and brokenness are part of living, just like the dead tree that continues to nourish the forest ecology around it for decades or centuries. The avoidance of pain is futile and probably harmful. Being happy is not as important as living a meaningful life.
