It’s time for the 2nd Annual StyckWycket look-back. I’m recapping the year with a series of 27 questions, that really get to the meat of what happened. I also completed this survey at the end of 2009.
I followed along with Linda’s example and used the updated questions format as my example.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
I ran a 5K, which I never thought I’d do.
I visited the Coca-Cola Museum and the Georgia Aquarium.
Had Lasik surgery.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I got through a little more than 50% of my Day Zero Project. The goals that I really felt committed to when I wrote them, I stuck with. The ones that I used as filler fell by the wayside, much as I expected they would.
I really enjoyed having 101 things to do in 1001 days, so I’m definitely going to start a new Day Zero project in the beginning of 2011.
Some of the things I want to do next year include more day-tripping, getting better at and more committed to photographing and documenting my experiences, and doing more creating.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not anyone close to me, no.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not close to me, personally, but someone who’d been in my life on a fairly regular basis when I was a kid died of a brain tumor this year. She had been sick for a long time, and I only heard about her occasionally from my mother, but it was still very sad when she died.
Also, as of writing this, I found out that a beloved member of my office passed away after a short battle with cancer. It was a pretty steep decline. Everyone is pretty bummed. He will be missed.
5. What countries did you visit?
I stayed stateside this year…again. And honestly, for the foreseeable future, unless The Boy and I go to Niagara Falls next year.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A lot more drive to do the things I need to do to get where I want to be in life. I feel like this is a recurring theme.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
My trip to Atlanta in May, finishing my first 5K in June, celebrating my one-year, quit-smoking anniversary on November 8.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
It’s a tie between actually finishing my 5K, and making it an entire year without smoking. Never in my life did I actually conceptualize that both things would be a reality for me.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting my fear and complacence control so much of what I do. Had I been more brave, had I been more determined, a great many things would have been different this year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Mostly my recovery from Lasik surgery. I also had strep for the first time in 10 years in December.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hands-down, Lasik surgery. I would say that I wish I had done it sooner, but the payment was a perfect storm of a decent bonus, and a funding of my FSA at work. I wouldn’t have had this opportunity sooner.
12. Where did most of your money go?
To debt payment. 35% of my paycheck went to paying off my consumer debt, and I’m making $500-a-month headway on my MK debt.
13. What did you get really excited about?
I got really excited about my trip to Atlanta in May. I went with a good work friend, and found out we make good travel companions. I’m hoping I get to do some other small things with her in the future.
14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Any of the songs that The Boy shared with me from CD101 this year. Stuff from Fanfarlo; Peter, Bjorn and John; Phoneix; Silversun Pickups; Hockey; Mumford & Sons; Broken Bells; Passion Pit.
15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? Pretty much on-par with last year.
– thinner or fatter? Thinner, but definitely not strong.
– richer or poorer? I’m pretty cash poor, but my net worth is going up, I got a raise this year, and in addition to paying off debt, I’m socking away tons of money into different investment accounts.
16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish that I had gone with my impulses more. This means more traveling on a whim, done more to advance my career, been more creative.
17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Navel-gazing, as always.
18. How did you spend Christmas?
With The Boy’s family on Christmas Eve, and my family on Christmas day.
19. What was your favorite TV program?
Justified, hands down. I’m really geeked for it to come back.
20. What were your favorite books of the year?
A Cook’s Tour, by Anthony Bourdain; Blink and Outliers, by Malcom Gladwell; and More than a Pink Cadillac by Jim Underwood.
21. What was your favorite music from this year?
Everything on CD101, that I can listen to now through my new phone using TuneIn Radio.
22. What were your favorite films of the year?
I loved Easy A so much I saw it twice, and I really liked The Town.
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I love it: the year I turned the age I was dying to be, and I don’t remember what the hell I did for it…
Wait, no: The Boy took me to see Alice in Wonderland, and I think out to dinner.
I already have plans to take myself to Lola next year, and do something a little more special, just for me.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Both having more discretionary income, and living in the same goddamn zipcode as The Boy. Both of those things would make my year immeasurably more satisfying next year, too.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Jeans and a sweatshirt at home. I did break out a little more at work and started dressing more artsy. I plan on continuing this trend into 2011.
26. What kept you sane?
Being able to take time to read, and having my decompression time at home.
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
For Chrissakes: if it feels like you should be doing it, go do it, and don’t stop until you’ve done it!
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