Sunday Stealing: Looking Back

It seems crazy that we are thinking about the end of another year and the start of a new one again. This year seemed to go so fast! Then again, the older I get the faster I seem to think time passes, anyway. I wonder why that is? Because we are more aware of the ticking of the clock? Or that we understand just how precious time and life are? Whatever the reason, we do seem to get reflective and melancholy at this time of the year. Sunday Stealing and Bev, our hostess, are no different and today provide a list of year end reflections.

1. First things first, did you have a good year?  For the most part, I had a very good year. Oh, there were some not so great moments mixed in there, but they were fewer than and outweighed by the good ones.

2. If you traveled, where did you go?  We enjoyed our first cruise. It was up the coast of New England with stops in Boston, Portland, and Bar Harbor...then over to St. John in New Brunswick and Halifax in Nova Scotia.

3. Which fashion trends did you love?  I have no idea. I really don't pay attention to fashion. I just wear what I like or what looks good on me or is comfortable whether or not it's in style.

4. Which fashion trends did you hate?  See the above answer.

5. What was your favorite article of clothing this year?  My Vionic flip-flops. I was able to walk all day in them without foot pain. That is really a major thing!

6. What song sums up this year for you?  The ones that come to mind are 

and 

7. What was your favorite movie of the year?  Aquaman, but I'm not sure it came out this year or last. I'm not sure I went to see any movie in the theater this year.

8. Did an actor/actress catch your attention for the first time this year? Jason Mamoa from Aquaman really caught my eye.  :)

9. Favorite new TV show?  The Masked Singer. 

10. Did you make any big permanent changes this year?  No, not really.

11. What was one nice thing you did for yourself?  Changed my hairstyle and added highlights that help hide the gray as it's growing in...in the hope of eventually going totally gray. I'm tired of dealing with the upkeep of color.

Not the best picture, but you can sort of see the highlights.

12. Did you develop a new obsession?  No. I'm not really the obsessive type.

13. Did you vote?  Yes.

14. Did you move?  No.

15. Did you get a job?  No, but I have sort of been keeping my eyes open for something else.

16. Did you get a pet?  No.

17. Do you regret not doing anything?  No.

18. Do you regret doing something?  No.

19. Have you done anything that scared you?  No.

20. Did anyone/thing make you so mad it stayed with you for days?  No. I don't hang on to anger for very long.

21. Did you lose anyone close to you?  No, but I had to watch quite a few residents at the home pass away.

22. Who was important to you this year but wasn’t important last year?  I don't think anyone fits that description other than residents at the nursing home who were new this year. All the residents take up space in my heart.

23. Who wasn’t as important to you this year as they were last year?  Again, I don't think anyone fits this description.

24. If you could have a do over on one thing you did, would you take it?  From the past year? No.

25. What was the best moment of the year for you?  How to choose????  Going on the cruise with Tim...the birth of our youngest grandchild...finding out about my biological father and half-siblings...meeting my sister in person...corresponding with my father...my grandson finally calling me by name (Nuh-Nuh, which is Nana)...

26. What was the worst?  I don't know...it might be a tie between how awful my boss can be and the week we lost 4 dementia residents in a row.

27. What are you most proud of accomplishing?  I can't really think of anything this year except that I haven't let my boss get to me so much I quit (or snapped and told her off).

28. What have you learned about yourself this year that you didn’t know in the years prior?  I guess that I can do my job. I mean, I never thought I was the type to be able to do the things I am called on to do, see the things I see, or hear the things I hear and, not enjoy it, but be glad I can do it for these people. I used to hear nurses and aides talking about things and I was sure there was absolutely no way I could handle it. But God has expanded my heart...and maybe armored it a bit.  :)

29. What do you wish for others for the coming year?  Peace and an unshakable joy in this life, no matter the circumstances.

30. What do you wish for yourself?  Weight loss and less pain.