Questions of 2008 and 2009

I personally can't believe that it is already 2009. I remember when I thought that it was a million years ago, and that if I lived until that year I would be incredibly old. I don't fell that 23 is too old, but we will just have to wait and see about how I feel abou the age of 24. Though, 2009 was started out appropriately: I traveled home on the first for my brothers wedding. I think that is a good omen for lots of fabulous travel in the year to come :)

I love blogs, and when I read other peoples' blogs I have found that I not only learn more about people, but I also end up learning more about myself. Because I can think about how I would handle different situations that life has put them in and what not. I think that is probably why I love blogs so much, it is the chance to learn about the authors and the human condition as a whole. Here are some questions that were posed in a blog that I was reading... I figured that I would answer them so that you could learn more about me. :)

1. How is where you are in life today different from where you were last December?
December 2007 was definitely different than December 2008. For one thing I was living in the United States, I had my second round with mono and was not working at the time, I was preparing for student teaching, and it was my first Christmas with my boyfriend's family. Scott and I had a lot of Christmas celebrations last year.

2. How are you different today, internally, than you were a year ago?
This year I am more brave, moving half way around the world by yourself has a way of doing that to you. I am also less worried about what the future would hold for me. I have learned in 2008 that life is too short for worrying especially since it rarely changes anything. While its good to make plans and have a general idea f what you want to do it is crucial that I actually live my life and let what will happen happen.

3. Of all you've experienced in the past year, what are you the most proud of?
Graduating from college, it was a long five years but I did it and I did very well for myself. I am also proud of myself for moving to Korea and embracing all of the experiences that I wouldn't have had I stayed at home.

4. What did you shy away from in 2008 that you wish you'd gone for?
I shied away from creating more opportunities for myself so that I could develop
professionally.

5. What did you learn about yourself this year?
That I am capable of being brave and being alone. I have learned to appreciate time spent by myself. Whether it is going to dinner or a movie bye myself. The quiet time is really nice and it has helped me focus myself.

6. Who impacted your life the most this past year?
My life is continually impacted by everyone who is a part of my life. Though, this year my life was definitiely impacted the most by Scott and my Korea family. They have helped me to grow personally in ways I wouldn't have imagined. They have loved me and have taught me so much this past year.

7. What are the most important lessons you learned in 2008 that you want to be conscious of in 2009?
That worrying doesn't make anything better, if anything it makes things worse because I get incredibly crabby. Things have a way of working out I just need to trust in God and not doubt the decisions that I have been making in my life.

8. What are you being called to next in your personal growth?
In my perosnal growth I am being called to be more aware of others around me and to help them the best that I can. My social conscience needs to be more fully explored and I need to start speaking out for others who don't have voices or who have been silenced.

9. If you could create three things in your life the coming year, what would they be?
Im not really sure what is meant by "create". What comes to mind is to get myself caught up on all of my scrapbooks, to find and develop an artistic hobby more fully, and to be content with what I have become in my life.

10. What parts of yourself will you need to call upon to create those three things with wild success in 2009?
I will need to use my creativity, my confidence, and my love of art and learning to be successful with these three new things.