To be perfectly frank, 2011 has not been good to me. Long-distance stress, an unsuccessful year on the job market, difficult situations at work, and severe research project burnout all took their turns keeping me awake at night. And, judging from chats I’ve had with various people, I’m not the only one 2011 treated with less than complete generosity.
But last week during a bitchfest, Liz put her foot down and ordered us to all say something nice about 2011. So instead of listing all of the ways this year has wronged me, here are the things I’ve been proud of or grateful for in 2011.
- I finished a paper I’m really proud of and it was accepted for publication in a great journal.
- We found the perfect apartment in Toronto and I no longer live in a basement.
- I have a great relationship with my dissertation advisor — which is not always true for grad students and newly-minted PhDs. I can trust him to both encourage me and tell me the truth during this insane, awful job market.
- Econo Man and I booked tickets to Mexico for a February getaway.
- Sis and Captain Awesome tied the knot.
- Two more dear friends got married.
- One of my best friends had an absolutely adorable baby boy (whom she selfishly refuses to let me steal and raise for her).
- I started experimenting with cocktails, thus giving my inner chemist a venue in which she can mix things in exact ratios, and also introducing me to Hendrick’s gin and the Whiskey Smash.
- I spent all of 2011 happily married to a wonderful, supportive man.
Now it’s your turn! Anyone want to celebrate the end of 2011 by sharing the nice things that happened?
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I wrote 3 full length short stories, and one of them was published. We started saving money. We got a trainer for our dog so I’m no longer afraid to have people over to the house. I started cooking more vegeterian meals. I started paying attention to current music and going to concerts again. I decided to pursue a new career, as long as it may take. We got a real Christmas tree that smells delicious.
Aw, yay!
This is a really good list.
Our 2011 involved a brand new baby (hard to top), Josh finishing his master’s, our first legit design clients that weren’t our friends, and meeting a ton of awesome new friends. :)
This list is great!
In 2011, I traveled to Europe for the first time, picked up the habit of staying in touch with friends via letters again, developed a great working relationship with one of my professors, grew in my marriage, and deepened lots of friendships in our new city.