2012

this will be a quick post seeing as it's late and it's been a long first day of twenty-dozen.
i'll recap last year's resolutions, recap my break and do a much overdue update on my life later.
until then, here are the things i want to work on this new (possibly last?) year:

take risks

seize opportunities

be happy

smile through the tears and the hard times

{post-edit: i'm also going to stop being the "best friend"}

2011 resolutions

well, here they are, my resolutions for 2011:

(btw, someone last night asked, 'who really remembers their resolutions?' when i said i had, he was surprised. made me feel good that i not only remembered mine, but actually attempted accomplishing them)

limit my soda intake

stop swearing

be more friendly and more open to new relationships

cook more often (and make it healthier)

pay back loans

work out two to three times per week

so, more goals centered on me, bettering myself physically (but not neglecting the spiritual/emotional side) but i think they are all feasible.

i hope 2011 will be as good a year as i think it will be.

i'd like more adventures, more spontaneity, more opportunities for change, fun, growth.

Happy 2011!

 

pictures from loveyourquotes

2010: a year in review

I was complaining to a friend that 2010 had been a bad year for me, but she said that every bad year gets a good year immediately after. Our stories were similar: a bad second half of one year, a terrible full year, and then (for her) a great year. i'm hoping mine follows the same pattern: bad second half of 09, terrible 2010, and hopefully a fantastic 2011. but as i was looking back at my 2009/2010 resolutions post (found here),  i realized that i got everything that i asked for from 2010. i ASKED for trials to help me grow, i ASKED for friends to help me through it. and though i don't wish my trials on anyone, i'm grateful that i got to experience it, and better yet, to grow from them. it's still a struggle every day to wake up and be happy about another day alone, but i'm working on it. 2010 brought a lot of changes for me:

lost a good friend to change and growth (but found others to fill the void)

continued working with (and learning from) 7th, 8th and 10th graders

visited utah (and friends) in april for the first time in 8 months

really started enjoying being part of the Westlake 2nd ward.

attended more FHE's than i would have otherwise (and met great people on top of it)

explored california and appreciated what i have

started a new, almost full-time job with great coworkers, where i was able to share a bit about my beliefs

found a great friend and confidante in vanessa (who then proceeded to leave me for brazil. whatever)

found that the people i wasn't sure about, actually are pretty fun and awesome friends

became closer with my family

learned some of the struggles of being an actual adult, with real responsibilities

visited utah (again) and enjoyed the fun of summer here

made the executive decision that i was going to move back to utah

planned for, and bought a car three days before i was to move

moved to utah (probably the biggest decision of the year)

started working not one, but three jobs

reacquainted myself with provo life (and all that it entails)

moved on (kind of. still working on that one)

and as for my resolutions:

Learn to be more patient: with myself, my friends, my family and God.

more patient (i mean, i'm back in utah, aren't i?) but still have this to work on.

Finish reading the Book of Mormon (I have 6 books left!)\

definitely finished by February 2010.

Start and finish the Book of Mormon, again.

and immediately started it again. finished it November 15, 2010 and started again. :)

Become more domestic: cooking, cleaning, etc.

well, i worked on it. but i still want to learn more recipes and cook more (if i have time) with my new crock pot, i just very well might do that.

Learn something new.

gosh, i learn something new every day! but i did go back to moorpark and took two dance classes there, ballroom and jazz. and studying for the lsat taught me reasoning skills.

Read more books (old, new, school, anything)

i started making a list of the books i read this past year, but it's gone missing. but i did read a good amount of books the first half of the year. after that, i got busy with work and LSAT studying that i wasn't able to read as often. i'm re-reading mockingjay now though, and just finished Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Tuesdays with Morrie.

Be nicer, more giving.

I hope i've been nicer and more giving this year. I guess the people that i've interacted with will be able to tell me if i've accomplished this.

Become more selfless.

i still think i'm a bit selfish at times (who isn't?) but i feel like i tried a lot harder to not talk all about me, but to really focus on others.

Figure out what I want to do with my life.

i referenced this one in a previous post. i still don't have it all figured out, but i'm on a good path. i feel like i'm in a place where so many doors are open to me, i just have to choose which one i want to take.

Become more involved in my community, and my ward.

community, not so much. but i definitely got involved in the ward while living in california (and that made all the difference) and tried to do the same here when i moved back. next semester, for sure, every activity. no excuses.
Complain less.

i did really well when i was in california. now that i'm in utah, i'm reverting back to my old ways. gotta check myself on that one and not be so much of a debbie downer.
Make less excuses and just DO.

just say yes? ha, i don't know if i can go that far, but i worked really hard on not making excuses (and i even notice when i AM making excuses)
Study for the LSAT at LEAST 5 hours a week. (Take in JUNE)

i did SO well from January through March, i stayed on campus and studied twice a week. and then the sun and warmth came and i went to the pool and studied instead. i DID take it in June, and i did take it again in october. but i decided it's not for me. but at least i can say i DID IT, right?

overall, i'd say i did really well with my resolutions. i'm excited for next year and all the opportunities for growth. i'll post my 2011 resolutions later tonight or tomorrow. i've still got to organize them. i've got a good feeling about 2011 and my 23rd year :)

2010 Resolutions

Maybe this new year will bring new and better changes.

Maybe I'll be more motivated to accomplish what I've set for myself.

Guess we'll find out in another year.

But for now, here are my resolutions:

Learn to be more patient: with myself, my friends, my family and God.

Finish reading the Book of Mormon (I have 6 books left!)

Start and finish the Book of Mormon, again.

Become more domesticated: cooking, cleaning, etc.

Learn something new.

Read more books (old, new, school, anything)

Be nicer, more giving.

Become more selfless.

Figure out what I want to do with my life.

Become more involved in my community, and my ward.
Complain less.
Make less excuses and just DO.
Study for the LSAT at LEAST 5 hours a week. (Take in JUNE)

2010, although I don't like how you look or sound when I say you, I welcome you with open arms, hoping for good times, new friends, new adventures, trials to help me grow, and people that will help me get through the year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New Years' Resolutions

So, I'm not really a fan of New Years'. There's nothing for me to do as a 20 year old in LA, and most of my friends don't really do anything either, leaving nothing for me except to spend it at home with my family. And I don't even get the Rose Bowl game to get me excited. The last few years that USC has gone to the Rose Bowl on New Years' Day, I've been at the game. This year, it's not happening and I'm pretty wicked bummed. Not gonna lie.
But, I'm really gonna try to make 2008 one of the best years yet. I mean, already I know it'll be good because all my guys come home from their mission and that makes me SO HAPPY.
I also really want to follow through with my resolutions:

1. Bring my GPA up winter semester and keep it up for fall semester (even though I tried to do that this semester by working extremely hard in my classes, I still wasn't able to succeed, but I think I have a good work ethic going now that I'll be able to do this)
2. Stop overanalyzing everything (again, working on this one currently, but it's super hard)
3. Get better at forgiving AND forgetting. (I think I've gotten fairly good at forgiving, but the whole FORGETTING aspect, again, is difficult)
4. Be a better friend
5. Maintain my weight by exercising and eating healthier
6. snowboard at LEAST 20 days this season (I'm shooting for more...)
   

I'm sure there will be more, but as of now, this is my list. I'll add more as I think of them. I'll also update on my progress...