It's that time of year again.
"It's the most wonderful time of the year."
Or, something like that!
It's the end of the year. Kal Barteski says it really well: "The last few days have been exhausting. The packing + holiday preparations and busy small people and working-late-husband and long nights in my studio coupled with a baby-who-is-making-nights-longer have been taking their toll. And I'm trying to coffee through because THIS IS MY FAVOURITE PART OF THE YEAR. That last 10 days. The part where we take inventory and deep breaths and the whole year sort of floods back while we are too busy to simmer with it. I love these days. I get so sentimental and I've decided that's okay. I am going to wallow + back float + starfish + soak it up. Because this is the push. This is the finish line. This is the BURST of awesome before 2011 is a chapter closed and we are fresh in a new adventure."
Me too, me too. This IS my favourite part of the year. I love taking inventory of the year-that-was. I love looking ahead to a whole new year, a whole new block of time that will be filled by great things. I love that work takes a back seat and family and loved ones and oneself step up to the front. As do: snowflakes, ornaments, glitter, gifts, sweet things, delicious things, hugs, smiles, and movies on TV. It's their time to shine.
However, despite how much of a Christmas-ite I might sound like, let it be noted that this time last year I was really not feeling any of this glitter and love. It was raining non-stop, so the yards were sodden and grassy, the lake had risen, which felt apocalyptic, and the chimney was flooding my basement bedroom with water that smelled strongly of creosote. I felt really low in energy and in spirit. Christmas felt like a charade - all these lights up and people saying "Merry Christmas" and parties and all that, and none of it rang true with me, at all. I let myself lay low, and let Christmas roll over me like a wave I didn't want to catch.
So, if you're not into it, I get that. It's OK too.
A whole year has gone by. A really really good year. I've met an amazing man who is my support, my "Zen master", my challenger, my sweetie. "He meets my toes with his," as a friend said. I've also continued my yoga practice with some amazing women who feel at times like the best possible interpretation of the word "coven". Yoga has brought me to myself, my physical body, my inner self. In life in general, I can feel my deep roots pushing growth upward, outward.
I'm excited for 2012. See you there!
***
Here is the year-end questionnaire. I like it. I do it for myself and send it to a circle of close friends. Do with it what you will. It's a fun way to take inventory of the year that just was.
1.What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
2.Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
4.Did anyone close to you die?
5.What countries did you visit?
6.What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
7.What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
8.What was your biggest achievement of the year?
9.What was your biggest failure?
10.Did you suffer illness or injury?
11.What was the best thing you bought?
12.Whose behaviour merited celebration?
13.Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
14.Where did most of your money go?
15.What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
16.What song will always remind you of 2011?
17.Compared to this time last year, are you:
i.happier or sadder?
ii.thinner or fatter?
iii.richer or poorer?
18.What do you wish you'd done more of?
19.What do you wish you'd done less of?
20.How will you be spending Christmas?
21.Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
22.Did you fall in love in 2011?
23. How many one-night stands?
24. What was your favorite TV program?
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
26. What was the best book you read?
27. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
28. What did you want and get?
29. What did you want and not get?
30. What were your favorite films of this year?
31.What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
34. What kept you sane?
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most/least?
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
37. Whom did you miss?
38. Who were the best new people you met?
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
40. What are your plans for 2012?
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