The Year That Was

I have read so many posts and opinions reflecting on how badly 2016 turned out to be.

There are those that mourn the loss of so many celebrities. David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Glen Frey, Abe Vigoda, Maurice White, Dave Mirra, Harper Lee, Umberto Eco, Antonin Scalia, Frank Sinatra Jr, Nancy Reagan, Patty Duke, Doris Roberts, Merle Haggard, Prince, Muhamid Ali, Morley Safer, Gordie Howe, Alvin Toffler, WP Kinsella, Gene Wilder, Arnold Palmer, Leonard Cohen, Shimon Peres, Florence Henderson, Fidel Castro, Robert Vaughn, John Glenn, Alan Thicke, Zsa Zsa, George Michael, Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds and dozens that I didn’t record seems like a long list of people who made impact some time during their life. I was surprised by some of the deaths. I felt pangs of grief for a few. I realize that many will be missed. But should we be measuring the worth of our own year by the number of celebrities (people we didn’t really know) who passed?  Rather than grieve, we should celebrate their impact and emulate the hard work where appropriate.

Many feel betrayed by 2016 because they didn’t like or agree with the results of elections and referendums. Their entire year seems fixated on a specific date and the betrayal is festering into hatred. I prefer to learn from the results. Work to change things that I don’t agree with and take a positive and hopeful tact. A friend in Encinitas California, a staunch Sanders Democrat, said ” I am hopeful that the new administration will be good for America. If I am not hopeful, I become hateful.

My measure of 2016 is far more personal. I spent lots of time outdoors, lots of time with people I love, lots of time doing things that I love. My health is better than it was 12 months ago. My mental health is constantly improving. I am happy to be where I am, with my beloved, doing what I am doing. I reached almost all my goals. I read, ran, wrote, raced, related and rested. I didn’t reach my income goal but we adjusted our expenses and learned that we had a few indulgences that we didn’t need or appreciate.

I am setting lofty goals for 2017 (higher than last year) and they reflect the changing nature of my world and my place in it. I have set my Goodreads.com Reading Challenge at 100 books this coming year. I will run at least 100 km each month. I will write every day; >250 blog posts/year, > 1500 words in my current project/day. I will lose that last 5 lbs and maintain my weight in the first 100 days. My blood pressure will remain healthy and I will drink my 50 ounces of H2O every day. I will increase my veggie/fruit portions and again reduce my intake of animal protein. I will keep my Duolingo streak going, continue to improve my memory with cerego.com and continue to read news and opinions from sites I intuitively disagree with. Learning will continue to be a high priority. I will spend more time with friends and better time with family.

In 2017 I will do 50 ‘somethings for the first time’ and enjoy the challenge.

That’s my brief response to tearing another sheet off the calendar.

B