NYE

[missmaven]

 

2019 Year In Review:
This was a hard year. It started out with me losing the job I'd had for over a decade. After six months of spotty contract work and struggling to continue to put myself out there I found what seemed like the perfect fit, only to be laid off after 4 months. I currently have a contract job that goes until the end of January.
During the second half of the year, we dealt with the failing health and death of Friday, our family dog. Household life was hard as we struggled to deal with that while I focused on City Planning Lead, Praxx got BLC in shape for Myself, and Mer finished up her accelerated nursing school program.

With all the stress I put a lot of personal things on hold. I stopped working out, getting regular massages, having regular RADARs, going to the ENM Support group, etc.
The holidays have been a time to rest and recuperate from all the stress. It's been helpful and I'm looking forward to getting back into all the things I put on hold.

Going into 2019 with being newly unemployed I didn't know what to think, and looking back I can say that I survived and that in and of itself is an accomplishment. I didn't tank my savings, friend network, mental headspace, etc. I reached out and asked for help when I needed it and have a wonderful support network.

If there's one thing I can take away from this past year it's that I was able to develop the ability of being comfortable with uncertainty. (Which for me is saying A LOT.)


Going forward:
I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to get back to planning an intentional life. Having regular RADARs, both personal and household. Planning out home improvements and organization projects. I'm looking forward to picking up my old hobbies and some new ones as well, specifically tabletop gaming, miniature painting, and rope work.

* Reading (instead of listening to) books. I'd like to get better at reading books and not just relying on audiobooks and podcasts as I've noticed there is a different feel and retention. That means carving out time I can dedicate to just sitting and reading, which is going to be a challenge for me. I listen to most of my audiobooks while driving, cleaning, cooking, or arting.  I'd also like to see about finding other people to discuss the books with our do some kind of book club so that I can explore the concepts more fully. First on the list is Rewriting the rules by Meg-John Barker and I've already dog-eared four passages in the first 50 pages. 

* Reaching out to people. I've come a long way from the closed and standoff-ish person I was after I went through my divorce. At this point, I'd like to work on reaching out and communicating with people more regularly, more freely, and specifically with more women within my friends group.

* Expressing gratitude. I realized this year that's it's hard to put myself out there and express positive things. I know why this is, but it's time to get to changing those well worn mental paths. I would love any resources people have on developing or flexing this kind of mental muscle. 

* I'd like to travel more. Even if it's just a weekend trip to Austin, I'd like to find time to visit other places and take vacations that aren't Burns this year. The contract work offers an ideal, all be it unpaid, flexibility for that and I'd like to take advantage of it.

* One of the more nerve-wracking goals I'd like to make progress on is adding to and gathering up my various writings and essays I've done throughout the years. Praxx has often offered encouragement by saying how well-read and emotionally intelligent I am. I'd like to organize those thoughts a bit more in a concise way that I can reference when needed. A tentative goal is to track down or write one meaningful one a month.

 

Planning for the Future:
A couple years ago I was able to become debt free aside from my mortgage and car loan. I'm proud that I didn't dip into either my saving, retirement fund or go into debt again in the past year of sketchy employment. However, this year I'd like to get to a place where I can start putting money away again.

I'd also like to draw up various legal documents that are important when you're living a non-standard life such as a will, POA, mortgage contract, and the like.