End of Year Meme 2014
1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
Witnessed the inner workings of the mental health crisis assessment team.
Prevented a teenage suicide.
Wore a hospital gown.
Put a house on the market.
Raised a puppy.
Helped apply a plaster cast.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I only had the one, which was to get a paramedic job in Nelson. I achieved that, but ironically it's also the source of my current unhappiness, and the reason we're moving back to Wellington in the new year. Be careful what you wish for... I haven't decided yet if I'll make more for next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Plenty of births happening in my circle of friends and acquaintances. Congrats all!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Our beautiful cat Severus. Far too young to die. We weren't ready to lose him. We miss him terribly.
5. What countries did you visit?
Australia.
6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
To have career, household and happiness all in one place. For the move to Paraparaumu to be the answer to our present dissatisfactions and a launching point for a fresh, positive new phase of life.
7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory?
May 9 - the night Sev died.
May 14 - my last day of work as a permanent with WFA.
Aug 6 - the day we picked up Topaz
Sept 5 - the day I gained my ILS
Dec 2 - when Aldi broke her foot in front of me
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Gaining my ILS qualification.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being more honest and upfront about where my loyalties and affections lie re: city to live in.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Some deterioration of my mental health. Otherwise, Aldi's the one who broke her ankle and foot.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new tattoo. My puppy.
12. What merited celebration?
Moving back in with Aldi. Gaining my ILS. Topaz's accomplishments as she learns and grows.
13. What made you appalled and depressed?
The incompetence of some of my coworkers and the general work culture at Nelson St John.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, bills, flights, wine. My half-sleeve tattoo. Dog things.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Topaz! Finally getting a puppy. She's just what I imagined and wanted.
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Doesn't Remind Me - Audioslave
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder
ii. thinner or fatter? Same
iii. richer or poorer? Richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. My WiP is suffering hugely from my lack of motivation. In general, however, I've put huge amounts of energy into doing all sorts of things this year. There's not much I could have done more of besides relaxing, taking a step back, appreciating the moment, letting loose and having fun.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Argued, disagreed, been defensive with people I care about.
20. How will you be spending New Year's?
Working and hoping desperately that 2015 will be a good year.
21. Did you fall in love in 2014?
With my clever, loyal, lovely puppy.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Vikings.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not hate, no. Dislike, yes. Disappointed by, yes.
25. What was the best book you read?
Hmm. Tough choice. It's been a good year for books. Fool's Assassin was a joy purely because it exists and continues the tale of beloved characters. Two Boys Kissing was delightful and inspiring. But I think We Need to Talk About Kevin takes the prize this year, for tackling such a challenging, subversive, and shocking topic with humanity and insight and for the sheer ambitiousness of its execution.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Spotify - ALL the music at my fingertips.
27. What did you want and get?
A paramedic job in Nelson. If success is getting what you want, and happiness is wanting what you get, then I've been unhappily successful.
28. What did you want and not get?
My book published. The contract ran out after the editor left unexpectedly. Now I've had to sign a new contract and everything is delayed.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Pride.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32. Friends came down from Wellington to surprise me. We had cake and went on a road trip. Great fun! I'm lucky in my friends.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Sev still being with us, healthy and alive.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
Jeans, t-shirts, fuzzy sweaters, down jacket.
33. What kept you sane?
I didn't stay sane. I had a lot of difficult, dark days. Coping involved venting with close friends, wine, reading, walks with the dog, and regular trips to Wellington.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Katheryn Winnick
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Ebola outbreak in Africa.
36. Who did you miss?
Aldi, when I wasn't around. Sev. My Wellington friends, a lot.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Anna. I only just now realised I didn't know her especially well until early this year. Now she's a close friend and I'd be much poorer in friendship without her. Also Mario, for being an incredible tattoo artist and an awesome guy.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.
Self-sacrifice only works so far. Eventually, making others happy at your own expense rebounds in your face. Meanwhile, pursuing your own dreams and goals creates inner alignment of values and emotions, which in turn makes for a happier culture in your life. Sure, consideration for others is important when seeking personal satisfaction, but in a concurrent way: respect as well as joy; service to others as well as self-fulfillment. Denying how you feel sours enjoyment of life. That leads to all sorts of spreading negative consequences. Unhappiness is catching. So is happiness. Pick one.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“Here's what I find about compromise
Don't do it if it hurts inside,
'Cause either way you're screwed,
Eventually you'll find, you may as well feel good;
You may as well have some pride.”
- Indigo Girls, “Second Time Around”
Witnessed the inner workings of the mental health crisis assessment team.
Prevented a teenage suicide.
Wore a hospital gown.
Put a house on the market.
Raised a puppy.
Helped apply a plaster cast.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I only had the one, which was to get a paramedic job in Nelson. I achieved that, but ironically it's also the source of my current unhappiness, and the reason we're moving back to Wellington in the new year. Be careful what you wish for... I haven't decided yet if I'll make more for next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Plenty of births happening in my circle of friends and acquaintances. Congrats all!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Our beautiful cat Severus. Far too young to die. We weren't ready to lose him. We miss him terribly.
5. What countries did you visit?
Australia.
6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
To have career, household and happiness all in one place. For the move to Paraparaumu to be the answer to our present dissatisfactions and a launching point for a fresh, positive new phase of life.
7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory?
May 9 - the night Sev died.
May 14 - my last day of work as a permanent with WFA.
Aug 6 - the day we picked up Topaz
Sept 5 - the day I gained my ILS
Dec 2 - when Aldi broke her foot in front of me
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Gaining my ILS qualification.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being more honest and upfront about where my loyalties and affections lie re: city to live in.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Some deterioration of my mental health. Otherwise, Aldi's the one who broke her ankle and foot.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new tattoo. My puppy.
12. What merited celebration?
Moving back in with Aldi. Gaining my ILS. Topaz's accomplishments as she learns and grows.
13. What made you appalled and depressed?
The incompetence of some of my coworkers and the general work culture at Nelson St John.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, bills, flights, wine. My half-sleeve tattoo. Dog things.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Topaz! Finally getting a puppy. She's just what I imagined and wanted.
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Doesn't Remind Me - Audioslave
Click to view17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder
ii. thinner or fatter? Same
iii. richer or poorer? Richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. My WiP is suffering hugely from my lack of motivation. In general, however, I've put huge amounts of energy into doing all sorts of things this year. There's not much I could have done more of besides relaxing, taking a step back, appreciating the moment, letting loose and having fun.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Argued, disagreed, been defensive with people I care about.
20. How will you be spending New Year's?
Working and hoping desperately that 2015 will be a good year.
21. Did you fall in love in 2014?
With my clever, loyal, lovely puppy.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Vikings.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not hate, no. Dislike, yes. Disappointed by, yes.
25. What was the best book you read?
Hmm. Tough choice. It's been a good year for books. Fool's Assassin was a joy purely because it exists and continues the tale of beloved characters. Two Boys Kissing was delightful and inspiring. But I think We Need to Talk About Kevin takes the prize this year, for tackling such a challenging, subversive, and shocking topic with humanity and insight and for the sheer ambitiousness of its execution.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Spotify - ALL the music at my fingertips.
27. What did you want and get?
A paramedic job in Nelson. If success is getting what you want, and happiness is wanting what you get, then I've been unhappily successful.
28. What did you want and not get?
My book published. The contract ran out after the editor left unexpectedly. Now I've had to sign a new contract and everything is delayed.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Pride.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32. Friends came down from Wellington to surprise me. We had cake and went on a road trip. Great fun! I'm lucky in my friends.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Sev still being with us, healthy and alive.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
Jeans, t-shirts, fuzzy sweaters, down jacket.
33. What kept you sane?
I didn't stay sane. I had a lot of difficult, dark days. Coping involved venting with close friends, wine, reading, walks with the dog, and regular trips to Wellington.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Katheryn Winnick
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Ebola outbreak in Africa.
36. Who did you miss?
Aldi, when I wasn't around. Sev. My Wellington friends, a lot.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Anna. I only just now realised I didn't know her especially well until early this year. Now she's a close friend and I'd be much poorer in friendship without her. Also Mario, for being an incredible tattoo artist and an awesome guy.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.
Self-sacrifice only works so far. Eventually, making others happy at your own expense rebounds in your face. Meanwhile, pursuing your own dreams and goals creates inner alignment of values and emotions, which in turn makes for a happier culture in your life. Sure, consideration for others is important when seeking personal satisfaction, but in a concurrent way: respect as well as joy; service to others as well as self-fulfillment. Denying how you feel sours enjoyment of life. That leads to all sorts of spreading negative consequences. Unhappiness is catching. So is happiness. Pick one.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“Here's what I find about compromise
Don't do it if it hurts inside,
'Cause either way you're screwed,
Eventually you'll find, you may as well feel good;
You may as well have some pride.”
- Indigo Girls, “Second Time Around”