Every year, I start off the New Years Eve blog the same. I always explain that since 2006 I write a new blog recapping the year. Usually before I start writing the new blog, I read the past New Years Eve blogs. It gets me in the mood to write and gives me ideas on how I'm going to structure the new one. It gives me an opportunity to look for changes through the years and reflect how this one is different.
A year ago today, it started off at Joe and Randi's New Years party at their apartment. Kevin and Jeff were back in town for the holiday. All my best friends, except RJ were all under one roof celebrating the new year. I was happy and felt strangely at peace. I then drank the most I have ever drank in my life. I had gulped down Jell-O shots made in a 20 mL syringe like it was no one's business. The rest of the night quickly became a blur of random drunken conversations. I vaguely remember a conversation about politics and healthcare reform while I stumbled about the room. I consumed large amounts of bean dip and before I knew it, I was passed out on a chair. I don't remember much else except for throwing up a lot. I now get sick to my stomach when I even look at Jell-O
January of 2011 started off sad. Kyle's father passed away that month. I felt guilty for having not been there for Kyle up to the days his father wasn't doing so well. I only knew the man by association but he was a good man whom I had always admired. I attended the funeral with much sadness in my heart. Earlier that same month, my friend Jeff's father passed away as well. I never knew him but it hurt me to know how much Jeff was hurting. Later that month, My aunt had a series of debilitating strokes that rocked my Mom's side of the family. School was a struggle with so much going on at once. January was also an intense month of burn-out at work as well.
February was no better. My aunt eventually passed away after a long stay in an ICU. I was unable to attend the funeral. I started to get serious about my education and decided to switch to day shift, hoping it would enhance my quality of life and school performance. I didn't start on day shift for a couple of months after. I dabbled in other fields of work. I thought maybe law enforcement is a way I would want to go, figuring I might be too ignorant for medicine. I eventually shied away from that aspect realizing it was a just a fast way out for my current burn-out.
March wasn't stellar either. I had to stop going to work realizing a fault at the government level screwed over my EMT certification. Long story. I spent all of March not at work. Instead I was doing CME's every day. On the bright side, it gave me some time to adjust to the day schedule. I was supposed to start day shift in March. Now that I had no where to go, I had time to adjust from night shift schedule to a regular person's schedule. I feared for my job. I thought for sure, I would be fired. Eventually, things worked out after 2 weeks of waiting for my papers and tests to go through. I also dabbled in thinking I should go to paramedic school, which I eventually turned away from realizing I would not be happy going this route either. I eventually went back to work by the end of the month doing morning shifts.
April was largely uneventful but good. My dad had a couple of ER visits which was starting to get scary. Working days was a good change. My mood stabilized and I was happier. I was still burned out at work, and needed a vacation badly. I was starting to pull myself together.
May was an eventful month. I had a resolution to be more of an outdoors type person to help keep me in shape. I bought a mountain bike and that rocked. Though I didn't get to ride it as often as I had hoped. I was trying to find more ways to get out and about. The weather constantly put wrenches in my plan. Memorial Weekend came and went, which was fun but it ended up being really cold and snowy.
June also turned out well. Brennon got me back into fishing after a failed trip to Utah Lake. I got heavily invested in it. I stopped picking up extra shifts by this point, which did a lot of good towards maintaining my sanity. Summer started and I felt happy again. I was happy to see the sun and bask in it. I was happy to be outdoors and have a normal sleep schedule.
July was relatively uneventful, but fun. It was full or more fishing trips and enjoying the outdoors with all of my friends. I was happy travelling to new lakes and parts of Utah I had never known about. I felt great but still burned out at work.
In August, I went fishing some more, and hung out with Kevin, while he was in town. His presence was oddly inspiring for me to finish school. I went back to school with a new found love for learning and getting school work done.
September was very much the same. Squeezing in fishing and for the first time, REALLY cracking down in school. I formed study habits and an ethic worthy of school.
October was a busy month. My dad's health had dropped in quality. I had a lot of yard work to do while balancing out school and work. Mid-Terms came and went with success. I was starting to really get a hold of getting better at school.
November was mostly busy with school and working. Fishing became a nice way of releasing stress but my trips had declined due to the weather. Thanksgiving was good. After the holiday things would dip down into a stressful time.
December was a crazy stressful and busy month. I had to prepare for finals while having to take care of projects for work. My dad ended up being admitted to the hospital for renal failure during finals week, which sent my stress levels through the roof. Then I worked nearly 2 weeks straight so I could have money for the holidays. The last week of December was nice with all my friends in town visiting for the holidays. It has felt like old times again.
Despite it's rough beginnings, 2011 was a time for confidence building. Switching to day shift has been one of the best things I have ever done for myself. I credit that for many of the positive changes that have occurred this year. It may seem like it was an uneventful year, but that is a good thing. It wasn't this awful stress ridden year that I hated. I look back on this year in fondness for the change, adventure and the best success I've ever had in school. It brought me closer to my family and friends and everyone who I love. The trials weren't devastating (though very unpleasant) but helpful in some ways. It has been an inspiring year that has shown me what I want in life and who I want to be apart of it. I feel like a better and stronger person this year. I only hope that I can carry out this generally positive attitude to this new year.
2012 is supposed to be when the world ends. I don't believe in that crap. I think 2012 will be the beginning of a path in my life that leads to good times, new hopes and new adventures. It certainly won't be without it's hard times, but I feel like whatever comes at me, won't feel so hard anymore.
Now, on to Joe and Randi's annual New Year's Party that I will blog about one year from now.
Happy New Years!
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