2016 in review

I did this mini-guide of a year-in-review in 2013, forgot to do in 2014, found it again, did in 2015. I like reviewing at the end of a year. LIFE! Let's see what happened in the past year...last year I wrote this: "2015 was a pretty tough year, honestly. Here's hoping 2016 has more and better things in store."

And guess what? It did! 2016 was obviously a shitstorm for a variety of reasons related to the external world but personally for me it was a very great year, a turning point of a year in a way, I think. I had breakthroughs about my voice, who I am as a person, my self-confidence levels, my relationships, my ability to ask for what I need, and what I want out of life. Woah. That is a lot of heavy stuff. But it all came to me this year, and I did a lot of hard work to make it happen, and I am extremely grateful for it all. I feel very actualized and ready to take on the world, and am excited for the next year. So. Let's recap 2016.

1. What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?

Last year I wrote that I got to see my nephew be born. I don't think I did anything as significant or as new as that in 2016, but I did some small fun new things. I went to Ireland and southwest England for the first time. I urban gardened. I freelanced a few pieces (for Vox and Refinery29). I kept up a semi-regular meditation habit. I started a workout challenge group that is still going which means I worked out 4x a week for 45 minutes for the last 15 weeks, which I probably have literally definitely never done before. All nice, small, new things. 

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


According to my fancy goals spreadsheet, I accomplished 40 percent of my goals, I came close or semi-hit the mark on 30 percent, and I didn't do 24 percent. Not bad, not bad. The ones I didn't accomplish? I'm okay with that because I think I didn't really want to do them in the first place and maybe just felt like I ought to. 

Will I make goals for 2017? Is the pope Catholic? I've already made about 15. Here is a sampling: 

Go on 6 hikes locally

Not open computer until an hour after I'm home on weeknights

Read 30 books only by women and POC

Clear my Twitter list of majority white men

Go to South Africa

Do another SXGR trip (Austin?)

6 cabin trips

Take my annual solo beach trip

 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?


A lot of friends and acquaintances gave birth and it's hard to keep track of all the new beautiful squishy babies around. I got to visit Emily's bean baby in Boston earlier this year, which was a delight. My closest experience was one of my employees, Nicole, who is an amazing woman and worker and I am very close to her and accompanying her on the whole maternity leave/HR process/etc thing was eye-opening to me as a manager. Let's make it easier for women to have babies, America.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

LOL our republic? Just kidding. Maybe. 2016: The year I did not go to any funerals, after going to too many in 2015. 

5. What countries did you visit? 

Ireland and England! 

6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?

A cabin in the woods for weekend retreats. 

7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 

Uh I think November 8 2016 is a date that's gonna live in infamy for a lot of us for a long time.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
 

Referring back to my intro paragraph, become truly comfortable in who I am and in my voice and where I am in my life now. It sounds small when I write it out like that, but I think sometimes that's a goal some people spend their whole lives trying to achieve and sometimes never do. So I am proud of myself and happy.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I donated to Hillary's presidential campaign but I didn't do anything beyond that. Never again will I be so politically uninvolved. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? 

Nothing serious, but I got the stomach flu (I NEVER get the stomach flu), and that was an existential nightmare. 

11. What was the best thing you bought? 

Probably plane tickets to see two of my oldest friends get married. Not to each other. One in San Fran, and one in England. Great weddings, the both of them, and they married okay husbands, too.

Also, I didn't buy it, but the money I spent on my Airbnb rental for my little beach solo vacation is always worth it.

12. Where did most of your money go? 

Probably skin care stuff or Sephora. Worth it? YOU TELL ME.

13. What did you get really excited about?

For a long while I was very excited about our first female president, but, you know. I got excited about small, satisfying things again - cooking, reading, building communities, working out, trying out fun new makeup. I started a fun outfit Instagram that I really enjoy, as well as kept up a cookbook club, a single ladies salon, a workout group, and more communities. 

14. What song will always remind you of 2016?

LOL like I listen to music anymore.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:


– happier or sadder? happier
– thinner or fatter? About the same, a few pounds fatter. 
– richer or poorer? A bit richer thanks to some attention to my finances and a stock cashout that came when my company was acquired. 

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
 

Writing and seeing movies.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?


I wrote this last year: Definitely dating. Yes, I wish I'd dated less. I dated a LOT in 2015 - all good guys. I actually don't think I dated one asshole in 2015, so well done me. But I would say most of the dudes were not quite right for me in some way, or I them, which I was aware of at some level, I think, going into each of the relationships. I assume I will go on dates in 2016, but I hope to be able to listen to my gut on them and fully be myself in those relationships.

I achieved this goal in 2016 and dated some but really not too much, and in fact am not at all trying to date right now and it is so wonderful. So I stuck to that one. I can't think of too much else I'd have rather done less of this year, but I will go with a tried and true classic: I wish I'd spent less time fucking around aimlessly on the internet. Still can't beat that habit.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

I'm writing this before Christmas, but I'll get to spend it with my delightful family out in the burbs and my sweet sweet nephews and niece. Really looking forward to it.

19. What was your favorite TV program?

I don't watch much TV because I am literally too lazy to watch/pay attention to TV, but I really liked Fleabag.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

I read 30 books in 2016 which you can see here. I really enjoyed Euophoria, The Girls, and Shonda Rhimes Year of Yes. 

21. What was your favorite music from this year?


LOL like I listen to music anymore.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?

Ummm I'm so bad at seeing movies. I thought Ghostbusters was pretty funny?

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 36, and went out for some beers with buds. I'm immeasurably excited for my plans for my 2017 birthday, but you'll have to stay tuned to hear about those in January.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Last year I wrote: Never being afraid to be myself and say what I truly think and ask for what I need. I still struggle with this. Also figuring out what I want and making it happen. I generally just float along. I deeply want to be more intentional in how my life turns out in 2016.

OMG I did these things and I do these things now! This blog is goddamn magic. In 2017 something that would make my year immeasurably more satisfying is a pile of gold? Will that work? But playing aside, continuing to build communities, live intentionally, meditate more, and be grateful. These were things I started to do in earnest in 2016 and I hope to take them to the next level in 2017.

25. What kept you sane? 

Therapy, working out, meditating, and possibly-too-large doses of Vitamin D.

Comments

[Jeff]

Confession: I have zoomed in and out of your blog for a long time...maybe 2007 or 08. Like many of us at the time, I was consumed by blogs particularly of Washingtonians who did not ALWAYS write about policy (there were plenty back then as you may recall). I was partial to the writings of Spencer Ackerman which ultimately brought me here the first time. Needless to say, I am happy for you for finding your voice. The funny thing is, from an outsider looking in via your blog, I always thought you had a coherent, very down-to-Earth voice. I hope your personal success continues to grow and truly pray that, as a country, we make it through in one piece until our next elected leader.

[Catherine Andrews]

This comment made my year. Thank you for reading for so long and I wish all the best for you too!

[Victoria]

Could you post about what you're planning to do to get more politically involved? I have started writing to representatives, donating (more) money, and attending local political meetings, but I still feel like it's not enough.