2010 is over, and oh what a year it has been...

"And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last..."

As I find myself posting the same Facebook status as I have every year as long as I have had a Facebook, I wonder if this year was really that terrible after all.  While faced with many challenges including, but not limited to, not being "so sure" about my job, then learning to love it; growing into a routine with this furry creature I call, "Dave" who refuses to cuddle with me, but I know still loves me; and falling in and out of love I find myself thinking that this year has been a year of self-discovery, and for that, I am not too sure I can call this year "bad" by any context of the imagination.

Every year we make resolutions.  I rarely follow mine for longer than two days.  This is not to say that I have committment issues, it has more to do with the fact that I set my standards to high.  Saying things like "save more money" or "work out" are things that come with conditions.  I can save money on the condition that my ill-fated dog doesn't get sick again.  I can work out on the condition that I ever really wanted to in the first place. This year, I challenge myself and you to make a resolution that doesn't have contigencies. 

2010 was a year where I found out what I am truly capable of and how self-aware I actually am. I feel confident that the 365 long days of 2010 have done their job of preparing me for all of the excitement and curveballs that 2011 might bring. I will share what I learned with you if you so happen to care to read this, which, if you have gotten this far, why not keep going (it's not going to get any worse).  Ahem, in 2010 I have learned:

• When needed, I am more stubborn than I ever thought possible
• I'm more self-aware than I realized
• I have more resiliency than most people I know
• Never to settle
• Sometimes you have to do things that are hard, but "yes we can"! (I learned that from Obama- first and only good lesson from him)
• I am quite funny (witty, actually)
• How to be a good dog-mom
• What I want in a future mate, and what I don't want
• I still don't like sushi, but there's always 2011!
• I have GREAT friends- new and old
• I have a fantastic family who loves me no matter what
• Sometimes I'm an emotional basketcase, and I'm okay with that
• I'm still unable to make decisions- important or unimportant (I don't think 2011 will change that).
• I haven't lost ALL of my creativity
• My butt isn't going to get any smaller.
• I'm stronger than yesterday (Britney reference, in case you didn't catch that).
• You can't make others happy until you, yourself are happy.
• I cannot handle as much alcohol as I could in college- lesson learned.
• It's okay to think of yourself first sometimes.

Wow!  I did a GREAT job in 2010.  See if you can beat that! You're right, it isn't a competition (well, it is a little), but if it was, I would totally win!