Something I've always done New Year's Eve is to remember and summarize all the things I've done in the past year. Facebook kind of stole my thunder this year with it's auto-generated images thing. Except how it is very limited and has turned out some boring summaries. Anyway... I hope everyone takes this opportunity at the end of the year to reflect on the past year and make plans for living a better year.
I had felt like this year was pretty quiet, but looking back I see that I did do a bunch of new things this year, and I accomplished quite a few things that I had been wanting to do for a while.
- Bought some stock so that I could have some experience with how it all works.
- The number one thing I learned is that the Market is fickle.
- Only earned 10.7%, but it's a lot better than the .1% it would have gotten just sitting in the bank.
- Went on a short hike on Antelope Island.
- Ran full-sprint into a wall.
- Sister had her baby boy-- Now I have both a niece and a nephew!
- My old roommate moved back in.
- Went to a board game convention.
- Played a bunch of games this year for the first time including Caverna, Caylus, Dominion, and Smallworld. (Not all at the convention.)
- Later on, I bought Smallworld for myself.
- A wise person had given me advice to meet women by going where we were guarantied to have similar interests. Unfortunately, all the women at the convention were with their husbands/boyfriends.
- In fairness to the ladies, they would have found that most men there were also in committed relationships.
- Went on some fun dates this year anyway.
- Turned 31. Luckily, they aren't kicking me out of the Young Single Adult Ward just yet.
- But I have been feeling too old and lonely at FHE and Institute, so I quit going to those.
- But not before I graduated institute for the 3rd time.
- Saw a Total Lunar Eclipse.
- Took a couple week-long training courses at work.
- Had some good success on my new project at work.
- Went to Palmyra for the third time in my life, but I got to spend the more time than ever before.
- Went to the Palmyra Temple for the first time.
- Went to Niagara Falls for the second time in my life. We didn't go to the Canadian side this time, but I did get to go on the Maid of the Mist and also go on the walkway directly under the American Falls.
- Went to Kirtland for the second time in my life. Again, got to spend a lot more time! And a lot has changed out there!
- With my YSA Ward, I saw the Manti Pageant for the first time.
- Vacationed in Idaho with my family.
- Backpacked into the Uintas with some old coworkers.
- For the first time, I got hailed on while camping.
- Rode my bike as far north on the D&RG trail as I could. Turns out it just goes to Ogden and stops.
- Saw in theaters, Robocop, Non-Stop, Muppets Most Wanted, Divergent, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Guardians of the Galaxy, Meet the Mormons, and Interstellar.
- Finally bought myself a Blu-Ray player.
- This year in books, I read The Giver, Conqueror's Pride, Conqueror's Heritage, Conqueror's Legacy, Divergent, and The Book of Mormon.
- With the YSA Ward, I helped babysit a ton of kids.
- I decided it was time for my Senior Who character to regenerate. I put more time and money into this costume than all previous combined. I'll be keeping this costume for a few years.
- Taught myself how to knit by asking my sister, and I made an 11-foot scarf.
- Taught myself how to sew by asking my Mom, and I made myself a coat.
- She also translated for me, since sewing patterns use their own bizarre language.
- Had fun going through Nightmare on 13th.
- Went to the theater and saw Little Shop of Horrors for the first time.
- Saw a Partial Solar Eclipse.
- Bought Pokémon Alpha Sapphire.
- Still haven't finished any more video games, so now I've only finished 3 of 7 handheld games I own.
- Kept up my good gym and temple habits from last year.
- Got back in my gospel study habit.
Although there are some things I feel like should have happened differently, I am grateful for the things that I did do. I am also grateful for my friends for reminding me that I am not alone and that there are people who care about me. I feel like 2015 is going to be a bright year, where everything happens. I hope to make my gospel study goals more consistent. I would like to get back in the habit of journal writing. I hope to make new friends this year, and I'll try not to get discouraged when I can't be friends with everyone. And, Spoiler Alert, I will also be making some very large purchases this year.
