#2016 meme

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

Joined a book club!

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

I didn’t, and won’t.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

nope

4. Did anyone close to you die?

no

5. What countries did you visit?

Italy for the first time, and The Netherlands for the second time.  (Rome & Amsterdam)

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

More time & energy to put towards making a difference

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

The weekend we went to Rome - it was our third anniversary, and we absolutely adored it.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Got Noticed at work and transferred into a struggling department to help guide it towards success.  I was so proud to be asked.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I don’t think I was a very good friend this year.  I’m still struggling to unpack some of my shit, and it led me to think I was a waste of time for the people who probably would have liked to see more of me.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No more than the usual little things like head colds.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

We moved into a new apartment and it had an extra room, so I finally got to buy myself a desk and turn it into the creative space of my dreams.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Skipping - no one is sticking out in my mind

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

It seems like 2016 was the year that everyone in the world turned out to be petty, jealous, selfish, egotistical, loud and judgemental.  It was so hard to remember the good people in the world who live by a code of humility and cooperation.

14. Where did most of your money go?

I spent a bit on my various travels, and quite a bit more on furnishing a whole kitchen & study for the apartment.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

My brother coming to Germany to visit, and getting to travel to Munich and Amsterdam with him.  It was such a gift to have my family finally come see me.

16. What song will always remind you of 2016?

I... didn’t listen to music??? I mean, not new music.

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

a) happier or sadder? happier

b) thinner or fatter?  neither

c) richer or poorer?  richer, god bless my new department and bonuses

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

caring for others

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

crying

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Christmas Eve with my partner’s family, Christmas day Skyping with my family and just chillin alone with Netflix.

21. What was your favorite month of 2016?

September - I loved Rome so very much

22. Did you fall in love in 2016?

Every time I wake her up and she smiles at me

23. How many one-night stands?

...

24. What was your favorite TV program?

Sense8 (oh my goooooooood), and Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I don’t hate.

26. What was the best book you read?

I finally got around to reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke and I was just like... why did I wait so long???? SO GOOD.  Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz.  Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear. (!!!!)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Sorry, not this year

28. What did you want and get?

In 2016, I could get myself anything (within reason) that I wanted, and I bought lots of books and geeky tshirts and things, but I can’t remember going out and getting myself something specific that I really wanted.

29. What did you want and not get?

Total financial freedom from debt-- coming in just a few more months!

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

Zootopia, Ghostbusters reboot, Deadpool, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Hail Caesar! were all amazing.  I have just realized how many 2016 movies I haven’t watched yet.

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

I went to the U.S. to visit my family, and we had a lovely time.  My 32nd is coming up in just a couple of weeks, and I took a day off work, but haven’t really made any plans yet.

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

Feeling more engaged and less helpless regarding all the bad things happening out there

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?

Didn’t have one.  God, I need a personal fashion concept.

34. What kept you sane?

Probably getting moved into my new department at work.  We work together so much better than my old team.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

blegh.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

I just... can’t even begin.

37. Who did you miss?

My mom. I’m so excited to go see her in February.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

A couple of the people in my new department. :3

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.

If I want to have more time and energy for the things I care about, I have to stop wasting it on people and things that I don’t.

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