Monday, January 4, 2016

2015: A Watershed Year

It's a brand new year, a brand new season!

1. What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before?
I graduated with a Master's degree!
I became an occupational therapist!
I started a new job!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No resolutions this year. I was too busy making it through fieldwork, studying for my board exam, and starting my new career.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Hmm. I think maybe my niece gave birth earlier in the year.... Like I said, I've had things on my mind.

4. Did anyone close to you I die?
I don't think so. I would remember, wouldn't I?

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
More money. But that is actually happening already, due to aforesaid new career.

7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 17. The day I graduated.
August 10. The first day of my new job.
September 1. The day I took my board exam.
September 10. The day I found out I passed my exam.


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Passing my board exam with flying colors.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Unbelievably, I can't think of one!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No. Since I went off of gluten, I have felt better.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A desk/bookshelf combination to be my new "office."

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My youngest son, who got a job and a house and is doing a wonderful job of bachelor-ing. He even bought a breadmaker and makes bread every night for his daily lunches!



13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Someone who was supposed to help me when I started my new job, but didn't.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills.

15. What did you get really excited about?
Getting to know the kids I work with, and learning to be a great school OT.

16. What song will always remind you of 2015?
Hogan's Heroes theme song. Watching Hogan's Heroes was my fallback de-stress activity. I think by now I can quote most of the episodes.


17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? much happier
 thinner or fatter? about the same

– richer or poorer? a little richer as far as every day living goes, but deeper in debt.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Relaxing.


19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Cleaning and organizing. Technically, we haven't had Christmas yet. That is scheduled for January 10.


21. Did you fall in love in 2015?
No. But I didn't fall OUT of love either, which is an accomplishment in this day and age.

22. What was your favorite TV program? 
Reruns of Hogan's Heroes.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No. But I dislike someone. See #13.

24. What was the best book you read?
No More Meltdowns.


25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Pandora.


26. What did you want and get?
To pass my Board Exam well, so that I would never feel it was a fluke. And I did!

27. What did you want and not get?
A Christmas trip to visit out of town relatives for a big family reunion. We couldn't go because of the weather.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I think the only film I watched was "Minions." I went on a "date" with my bachelor son to a real movie theater. That's big time, right there.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I don't remember what I did on my birthday. I turned 53.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If my husband had not been sick and depressed.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
Professional and approachable.

32. What kept you sane?
Back rubs from Hubby. Adrenaplex and Blood Builder (vitamins).


33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I had other things on my mind this year, so I have no idea how to answer this one.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I'm still distraught over government health care. ISIS is not exactly a relaxing subject either.

35. Who did you miss?
My daughter, who lives in Texas with her husband and our two grandkids.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Several people, actually. All of them therapists of one sort or another. But especially the one who was my fieldwork instructor at the pediatrics clinic and taught me almost everything I know about occupational therapy with children. And then my other fieldwork instructor who taught me it's okay to loosen up.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.
Do what you think is right, and it probably is. Or, if you act like you know what you're doing, people will believe that you do.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Can't think of one. If I do, I'll let you know.