I loved being alive this year. Again and again, I loved being alive. It was the best of my life so far, and I hope each year follows this pattern. Before I make my new resolutions and say goodbye to this old friend, I’m tallying up how I went in December. 

the blog is almost entirely sorted, the most important things have been backed up.

started on the self-gratitude journal, but not every day yet. 

started using twitter as a force for good, but have not yet made a habit of doing so--i.e., not every day or even close.

read a few books and really enjoyed most of them!

didn’t play D&D, but did sit in on a game (it was fun to watch) and started bouncing some ideas around re: hosting a Dread game soon.

health is still in progress but I did got to appointments and such, so that’s good.

didn’t write more Sunshine Times yet.

sent Christmas cards! It’s so nice and I enjoy doing it such a lot.

didn’t write a new poem--but unexpectedly did jot down some thoughts for stories.

kept my apartment somewhat tidy? 

saw most of my friends--or talked--this past month.

20,000 words in NaNoWriMo: 3,465 words. I did a lot of writing other times during the year though, so it’s cool. Bookmarks for both my kindergarten classes: Nope. June was busy. Cook 2 new recipes: Yes! Pesto chicken roll ups, and pecan meltaway cookies Do a watercolor colored pencil drawing: I received one ... but I guess that doesn’t count. Donate to 2 charities: Yes! Draw 15 artworks: I had five that I liked. Eat 10 new foods: Yes! So many good foods. Black bean instant noodles, mango sticky rice, pesto chicken roll ups, and a bunch of others that I can’t remember now. It was a good year for food. Finally graduate: Yes! May 15 :) Now onto the CPA exam. Only three more parts to go. Finish the Franmouche arc: Yes! Sorry to those who had to read it. That ending was sad. Go to 4 new restaurants: Yes! Do I remember all the names? No. There was a Thai food place with amazing food, a French restaurant that was too expensive, Jireh cafe, and a crepe place at the mall. Go to Library Con (bonus points for winning the cosplay awards): Yes with bonus points! I fixed up my Mettaton Neo costume and wore it. This marks two years in a row that I’ve won the cosplay contest (granted it’s small, but hey, I’m here to represent my work!) Learn 3 new skills: Yes! Filing out the restricted income spreadsheet (that was an accounting adventure); rolling paint on a wall (still messy, but painted); and cutting out a sword handle out of wood (okay, really the skill is cutting the center out of a wooden item, but that was the practical application). Learn 4 new piano songs: Unfortunately not! I really didn’t touch the piano much this year. I really miss playing, so next year I’ll try to practice more and polish a few songs. Level 35 in Pokemon Go: Yes!!! Level 36 actually :) Make a new Halloween costume: Yes! I only took pictures a few days ago (special thanks to @nah-young for some amazing pictures), but I did finish my Francis costume. Reach my earnings goal: Yes! Reach weight loss goal: Well, I got closer to my target number. It’s a work in progress Read 15 books: Lol, I read like three books and watched hours of accounting lecture videos. Run 150 miles this year: No. Decided running isn’t my thing. Run a 5K: Also no. See 3 new movies: Yes! Incredibles 2, Black Panther, and Wonder Woman. Support at least 3 artists (i.e. commissions, patreon, etc.): Yes! Take a self defense class: No. Write 10 other short stories: Kind of. I wrote a lot of parts for some Francisnine stories which are about the length of short stories. So ... yes! Write 10 stories in the Franmouche AU: Yes! 16 actually.

Study Finnish at least once per week: Nope. My courses ate up all my free time so this is getting rolled over into next year (again) after I finish my program.

Get above 80% in all courses: Yes!

Read at least 25 books: Yes!

Study prose of at least 2 books: Nope.

At least 25 life drawing/tracing studies: I did one.

Go to the gym 2-3 times per week: This was going great until I started getting panic attacks in May and stopped going to the gym entirely.

Floss twice per week: It was hit or miss but I didn’t form a habit so I’m counting this as a loss.

Catch up on WTNV episodes: Yes!

Cut video game backlog in half: Yes! Then I bought more games

Tales of Berseria

Tales of Symphonia

Mirrors Edge

Before the Echo

Orwell

Continue minimizing possessions: Yes! I’m still not entirely done but I don’t think I ever will be.

Max TFSA and RRSP and create 3rd investing account: Yes!

Travel somewhere with at least 1 overnight stay: Nope.

Control snacking and reduce desserts: Absolutely not.

Total Score: 6/13

Not great, but I suffered this year. My health took a nosedive and never recovered, and I had to put my dog down in October. One more month and he would have been old enough to vote.

On a brighter note, here are some other things I did this year!

Finished 12 comics

4 custom pinback button orders

Got food poisoning, yay! (Why is it always at 4am?)

Finished 6/10 of the courses for the Human Resources certificate

Fried my computer’s GPU and PSU playing The Witness even though my specs were supposedly high enough

Started having panic attacks, vertigo, and two weeks of BPPV

Donated blood

Finally saw the Wicked musical

Saw Prozzak and Aqua in concert (Aqua was my favorite band when I was 4 years old so this was a literal dream come true)