Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013

At the end of every year, I can't help but get a little retrospective. Over the past 3 or 4 months, I can't lie, I've been feeling pretty blah. That's not to say everything has been terrible. Looking back on the past year as a whole, I'd say it was somewhere in the middle. In relation, overall it was not as good as 2011, but better than 2010.

If I had to give 2012 a theme or title, it would be despite the setbacks, hope remains.

Alright, here we go, lets start with the good:

• even though I'm still single, dating came a lot easier this year than last, actually got excited about a few of them this year, compared to last year which seemed like a total write off
• the trip to Turkey was awesome
• made progress decorating my place, finally
• organized my storage space, to me that's been the most surprising in a way
• finally cut my hair, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be
• a new car
• met more and more volleyball peeps, playing higher level ball more frequently
• cooked for the first time: chili, tiramisu, rice pudding, meatballs, roasted veggies
• concerts: black keys, death cab, arkells
• finally played Settlers of Catan, it's awesomely addictive
• I got a raise at work, it wasn't amazing, but it wasn't terrible
• Finally splurged on a decent coffee grinder, best thing I bought all year

Now the bad:

• it's been a year of injuries, some of which will never ever get better (torn right ACL, torn right medial meniscus)
• more dates is great, but it's also more drama
• remaining grandparents' health continue to deteriorate, though I suppose it's feeling more of an inevitability
• still at the same job, I am doing very little and learning even less, I don't even know if I want to stay in my field at all, but I can't afford to go back to school either
• my old car broke down on the side of the highway, one highway exit away from my place at 2am on the coldest night in January, FML
• a new car, as much as I like not having to worry about every new random sound and that I can haul stuff, it was a cost I was hoping was not going to come until later, and the ongoing cost of a new car I underestimated
• especially after replacing the brakes just a month earlier, goodbye money, it was nice to know you
• my kitchen is still a mess more often than not
• Ikea discontinued a lot of their birch stuff, sucks when you've already committed to decorating using that colour little by little
• NHL lockout

Looking on the bright side:

• despite 3 months of inactivity, I still fit in my clothes, albeit more snuggly
• even though my injuries are severe and will never heal, I am back to playing vball, though I may never get back to where I was before, I was going crazy without it
• I still have my job, I can still pay my bills and survive
• there are a lot of people who have it worse off than me, and for that I should be thankful

Observations:

• life is going to continue to happen, regardless if you choose to check out (mentally, emotionally or physically) or not, may as well and try to have a good time, and when things aren't so good, to just try your best to ride it out
• change isn't inevitable, but the passing of time is, they are not connected
• the more I realize how little I control, the more in control I feel
• I wish I did more of the things that I like (learning to cook new things, trying different restaurants, travel, concerts, volleyball), but that's really within my control, I suppose that should be my resolution for 2013