2011/1/365
12/31/11: So yup…my “holy shit” moment has kicked in. The calendar year ends here. I honestly couldn’t even think to this day just 364 days ago when I was eating a Chick-Fil-A sandwich and thought of this idea. I find it somewhat serendipitous that I was at the same place that I began the year today without even thinking of it…the Burlington Mall. However, I walked through the mall today a much changed man from who I was on January 1, 2011. For one, despite my love of their chicken sandwiches, I no longer eat at Chick-Fil-A because of their contributions to anti-same-sex marriage causes. There’s some symbolism with my recognizing such causes as this year wraps up. This year brought me many things…a masters degree, a new job, a new home, and new colleagues and friends. There are so many people who I have crossed paths with this year who have contributed to my being now. My UVM classmates taught me how to power through late night paper writing sessions and supported my food cravings at weird hours in the evening. My colleagues taught me the power of perseverance and determination, just six months into the job. My friends taught me the power of positivity and continuously made me laugh. My family reminded me how to love and support one another through thick and thin. Through all these interactions, I have grown as a scholar, a professional, and above all, an individual. However, this year didn’t come to a happy ending so easily. Somewhere in the past 364 days, I’ve learned the importance of allowing relationships with others to change, grow, or go away, all for the better. I struggled to find answers to questions such as “Why her?” when I saw what my sister had to go through to get rid her breast cancer. Through it all, I’ve found that there’s a reason for everything, and as Katie Perry catchily reminds us, after hurricane, comes a rainbow =). So this year ends truly at a rainbow. One honest confession as I’ve continued adding to this blog. Somewhere this past year, I forgot that this blog was public and it would take moments like someone approaching me in person to comment on something or publicly “liking” a facebook post or retweeting a tweet for me to remember that the Tumblr was public. Quickly into writing this blog, I found that it was more of an outlet for me…and I didn’t think twice much about someone seeing it (hopefully I don’t regret that upon looking back!). It was cathartic to reflect on the day, attach words to a photographic memory, and look back on it once in a while. So, for those of you who followed, liked, commented, or RTed, thanks for doing so. I wish I could say it was for you, but…ok, sure, we can say it was for your enjoyment as well. =) What happens next? I knew that 2011 was going to be a year of transition. Not only transitioning from grad school to being a new professional, but in relationships, personal growth, and the way I saw the world. This growth will continue daily for me, and I look forward to that. However, every day this past yeas was special for one reason or another and there is no way that I could ever duplicate that. With that, this is the end of my Photo 365 project…only to allow for the start of something new. I must say, as someone who reflects daily with pen and journal (or at least try to), this photo project was a bit difficult to keep up with sometimes. There are definitely posts that had to wait until the following day, and my obsessive compulsive disorder couldn’t handle that. I’d like to say that my plans for my next blog will allow me to pursue one of my biggest passions (and hold me accountable to it), while allowing me grace time to not have to post daily. With that little teaser, I hope everyone had a fantastic year. May you ring in 2012 with at least one positive thought of this past year with the goal of achieving more happiness, joy, and love in the year to come. And now, time to count down to 2012…tight and bright style. Here’s a preview of my ensemble! Happy New Year, everyone!

12/31/11: So yup…my “holy shit” moment has kicked in. The calendar year ends here. I honestly couldn’t even think to this day just 364 days ago when I was eating a Chick-Fil-A sandwich and thought of this idea. I find it somewhat serendipitous that I was at the same place that I began the year today without even thinking of it…the Burlington Mall. However, I walked through the mall today a much changed man from who I was on January 1, 2011. For one, despite my love of their chicken sandwiches, I no longer eat at Chick-Fil-A because of their contributions to anti-same-sex marriage causes. There’s some symbolism with my recognizing such causes as this year wraps up. This year brought me many things…a masters degree, a new job, a new home, and new colleagues and friends. There are so many people who I have crossed paths with this year who have contributed to my being now. My UVM classmates taught me how to power through late night paper writing sessions and supported my food cravings at weird hours in the evening. My colleagues taught me the power of perseverance and determination, just six months into the job. My friends taught me the power of positivity and continuously made me laugh. My family reminded me how to love and support one another through thick and thin. Through all these interactions, I have grown as a scholar, a professional, and above all, an individual. However, this year didn’t come to a happy ending so easily. Somewhere in the past 364 days, I’ve learned the importance of allowing relationships with others to change, grow, or go away, all for the better. I struggled to find answers to questions such as “Why her?” when I saw what my sister had to go through to get rid her breast cancer. Through it all, I’ve found that there’s a reason for everything, and as Katie Perry catchily reminds us, after hurricane, comes a rainbow =). So this year ends truly at a rainbow.

One honest confession as I’ve continued adding to this blog. Somewhere this past year, I forgot that this blog was public and it would take moments like someone approaching me in person to comment on something or publicly “liking” a facebook post or retweeting a tweet for me to remember that the Tumblr was public. Quickly into writing this blog, I found that it was more of an outlet for me…and I didn’t think twice much about someone seeing it (hopefully I don’t regret that upon looking back!). It was cathartic to reflect on the day, attach words to a photographic memory, and look back on it once in a while. So, for those of you who followed, liked, commented, or RTed, thanks for doing so. I wish I could say it was for you, but…ok, sure, we can say it was for your enjoyment as well. =) What happens next? I knew that 2011 was going to be a year of transition. Not only transitioning from grad school to being a new professional, but in relationships, personal growth, and the way I saw the world. This growth will continue daily for me, and I look forward to that. However, every day this past yeas was special for one reason or another and there is no way that I could ever duplicate that. With that, this is the end of my Photo 365 project…only to allow for the start of something new. I must say, as someone who reflects daily with pen and journal (or at least try to), this photo project was a bit difficult to keep up with sometimes. There are definitely posts that had to wait until the following day, and my obsessive compulsive disorder couldn’t handle that. I’d like to say that my plans for my next blog will allow me to pursue one of my biggest passions (and hold me accountable to it), while allowing me grace time to not have to post daily. With that little teaser, I hope everyone had a fantastic year. May you ring in 2012 with at least one positive thought of this past year with the goal of achieving more happiness, joy, and love in the year to come.

And now, time to count down to 2012…tight and bright style. Here’s a preview of my ensemble! Happy New Year, everyone!

Posted 5 months ago