Last year at this time, I was sitting in front of the TV, making oodles of chocolate covered holiday pretzels to distribute to various co-workers and my sons’ teachers. I listened to Christmas carols or watched holiday movies and felt warm and fuzzy and holly jolly. I addressed dozens of Christmas cards and stuffed them with my “annual” letter and a picture of my adorable children. I had no idea what would be in store for me in 2012, but I looked forward to it in anticipation of new beginnings.
Let’s just say that I have had many new beginnings and some new “firsts” in 2012:
I vowed to be more physically active. I began the year with a New Year’s resolution to begin exercising more and eating a few less M-n-Ms (or other sugary treats). With my trusty pedometer on my iPod to mark my accomplishments, I started getting up from my desk at work twice a day and walking a couple of laps around the floor. Once I felt comfortable with that, I stretched my efforts gradually, and when spring came I could be found walking a lap around our neighborhood a few times a week (sometimes with a short tag-along on a bike or scooter). By May, I was also walking the ½ mile from the parking lot to work in the morning, as well as the gargantuan hill back up in the afternoon. I lost about 40 pounds, and I feel so much better about myself physically.
I decided to change my name. In high school and college, I used a nickname instead of my given name almost exclusively. When I returned to my childhood hometown in my early twenties, I lost that because it confused people. So I went back to using my given name to make things easier for others. I should have stuck to my guns on that one. All I can tell you is that at some point early on in the year, I decided that I really wanted to go back to using my nickname. This time, however, it has been more difficult overall. So now I have my professional name and a personal one. I answer to either one, but it is truly easier to get my attention if you use my nickname. My personal feeling is that you should call people what they ask you to call them; it’s not a crime, it’s common courtesy (and you know who I’m talking to).
I went back to school to complete my Masters degree. I have now officially slogged through four of a total of ten courses towards my M.S. in Organizational Leadership from a snooty private college. I have spent the past six months with my face in a computer all day at work, and then for a couple hours each night on class assignments. If I stay on track, I will graduate in May 2014. And just to get this out of the way, no, I will not be going for the full enchilada and having people call me “doctor.”
I stayed out all night – and stayed awake, too. Now I know I spoke about this event in a previous blog, but it still stands out to me as something I had never done before – and probably will never do again. I will always remember this fondly, but I think it’s safe to say that for the most part I am typically a “my coach turns into a pumpkin at midnight” kind of gal. I enjoy my sleep too much to pay for that again!
I walked in my first 5K race.
As a result of my efforts to be more physically active, I set a goal for myself to enter and complete a 5K race. I was already walking at least a mile in my neighborhood exercise, and built myself up to two miles just before the race. On one brisk Sunday morning in September, I headed out to one of the local parks and joined hundreds of other racers at the starting line. My friend Astrid left me in the dust pretty quickly (I had no expectation of her going at my turtle’s pace) and sure enough, as I was reaching the one-mile marker, she was on her way back to the finish line. At about the two-mile marker, I started to feel a blister coming on my left foot, but I ignored it and kept going. I finished in 1:03:00, and I did not finish last, so I accomplished my goal!
I got my first tattoo. I came up with a design about a year ago, but it took me this long to work up the courage to actually sit down and let someone put a needle full of ink to my body. It was not nearly as painful as I had imagined in my mind. I love my body art, and I might just get some more down the road if I figure out what else I want. I’m not sure anything would top the meaning behind the piece that I got, so I may just stop at one. You never can tell…
I filed for divorce from my husband of fourteen years. This was probably the most difficult change I made this year, and it certainly required a lot of introspection and reflection on my part. I regret to inform you that I will not air all of my personal reasons or the dirty laundry of our relationship on such a public forum. I will only say that I came to the conclusion that it was the right decision for me.
I know there have been other memorable notes and highlights in my year, like going to Disney World for the first time, and even kissing a girl (just checking to see if you’re paying attention)! I wonder what 2013 will bring -- only time will tell what I will be able to reflect on next year.
And so in honor of my love for Broadway, here is a song about those five hundred – twenty five thousand – six hundred minutes.
Theme Song #16: Seasons of Love by the cast of RENT
Measure in love,
Selina
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