So everybody’s doing their lists. Top ten blog posts, top ten worst moments, top feminist moment, etc.
I’m so not a list person–I lose my lists, forget I made them, do shorthand and forget what my shorthand means, make so many of them I forget which comes first or what is for what…you get the point.
So instead, I wanna hear from you. What was the most important ‘thing’ that happened to you, that you witnessed, that you wished you were a part of etc, this year?
The only rules of this post is that you can’t name obvious things like “obama winning presidency” or “Michigan getting screwed by media during financial crisis”–of course those things were phenomenally important and are at the top/near the top of the list of most left thinking people (hee!) so let’s skip those and move on! 
Try to keep news related stuff to non-mainstreamy stuff!
On the more personal front: Did you experience a ‘come to jesus’ moment? Did you quit the job you always wanted to quit? Did you go back to school? Did you make it through a depression alive and well? Was there something you struggled with that was important to you?
I’ll say, for me, this year was one of learning about myself in a way I’ve never ever had the space to learn. I think 75% of that ‘space’ came from finally being diagnosed after a lifetime of struggling with depression, ADD and hypothyroidism. Sleeping is not the center of my world anymore (although admittedly, I still struggle a bit after one too many days of gray rainy winter or seasonal time changes) and the couch has transitioned from my life to a friend I call occasionally when it’s been a long day.
I tried to post what this year has been for me here.
You, of course, are not required to write a post (unless you want to!)! But either way, I’d love to hear from you! (Would this be an official delurk post? Or a reflection post? Hmmm…)
- Share
December 31st, 2008 at 8:42 am #
Honestly, no sucking up here – there are witnesses who are mutual friends of yours and mine who know this to be true: my revelations about white privilege, becoming an ally and the incredible passion, depth, intelligence, activism and strength in bloggers of color but WOC in particular stands out as a singular milestone in 2008. My life, outlook, perspectives, choices are forever changed – lapses? no doubt. But no going back.
Thanks for asking and providing space to say that. And for being an incredible resource just by being in this space.
December 31st, 2008 at 8:54 am #
Hey there, I’ve been reading your blog for most of this year (at this page, Elle’s site, and at brownfemipower.com) and today I’m delurking to respond! I really feel like this has been a huge year of change for me. I graduated college with a B.A. (English w/ Honors + Women’s Studies double-major), which was probably my most significant achievement. After almost seven months of being either jobless or working temporary positions with no benefits, I now have a full-time job and a part-time freelance writing job that I’m very excited to be doing. For now, I feel like I’m walking the career path that will hopefully lead to other professional writing opportunities.
There were other things, too, though, most of which I would say are good. I’m really happy that I quit smoking cigarettes, which has been tough to do with an eight-year habit. I’ve had more time to do personal reading rather than college-required reading, so I’ve been exposed to so many more authors: Gloria Anzaldua, bell hooks, Audre Lorde, plus magazines like $pread and make/shift (both of which I subscribe to now). I went to the West Coast for the first time and met some really cool writers like Dorothy Allison and Eileen Myles during a conference. I spent time with my friends. I did not play nearly enough Scrabble, although I am sorely missing the Scrabulous application on Facebook.
I hope that you and all of your readers are healthy, safe and happy during this transition from 2008 to 2009!
December 31st, 2008 at 9:00 am #
A few things stand out for me:
1. I found community that embraces and challenges me in ways that I need to grow.
2. I found new ways to heal myself (i.e. tea tree oil) v. prescription medication (partly due to not having health insurance).
3. I turned 30 and love it! When I think of getting older in my 30s and 40s I can’t stop smiling.
4. I began to de-clutter my life and in turn have been able to donate clothing to communities that need it more than I do.(new w/ tags & clothing I would not be embarrassed to donate to my homegirls, cause for some reason folks think that poor people want and will wear clothes with holes or that are discolored, etc.)
5. I stood up to my parents racism.
6. I fired my shrink.
December 31st, 2008 at 9:05 am #
First I want to thank you for your beautiful writing and for being a fabulous resource! You have changed my perspective on so many important issues – thank you!
Right now I am working on my list for the New Year – I’m still trying to get all my thoughts in order.
But, this year has been life changing for me. My partner and I have simplified our lives, sold our car and are biking everywhere. Not only is our health better, but we are happier. So I feel like I am doing a tiny part to be a little greener, even though my efforts might be futile.
Thanks for being you and enlightening my life.
Big hugs…
December 31st, 2008 at 10:09 am #
This was a hard but really good year, opposed to last which was hard and just sucked.
I feel like I’ve come out the other side of a serious anxiety disorder, mostly by quitting a job that was making me miserable. Looking back, I realize my boss was border-line emotionally abusive, and I wonder how much she contributed to my mental health issues.
Once I quit, I had intentions to mostly stay home and work part time because I thought that would make me happy. That wasn’t the wisest idea because I was just hiding from the world and not admitting that to myself, but I learned a lot about who I am. Actually, I do like having a job where I do good work and earn my own money. I just need to find a place that fulfills and inspires me instead of martyring myself to an organization that doesn’t value me.
I also learned that a job can just be a job and not a solemn commitment. As much as I’m loving my new position at the moment, if it doesn’t work out, I can choose to find a different one, and doing so isn’t any reflection on my basic fitness as a human being.
I’m feeling really optimistic about 2009, and this time it isn’t just manic side-effects of Lexapro withdrawal.
December 31st, 2008 at 11:44 am #
I had a really good year. A lot of it was hard, a lot of things wrenched me in ways that I’ve never been wrenched before, but I learned above all other things to trust myself and to be happy with myself in ways that I don’t think I ever have been before.
I am not letting fear hold me back anymore.
That’s what 2008 brought me.
December 31st, 2008 at 12:10 pm #
I broke out of a years-long depression this year. A lot of time has passed and I got better at creating the spaces that I need and finding community.
And I learned how to knit
December 31st, 2008 at 2:08 pm #
I learned that I am able to admirably keep my cool in difficult circumstances PLUS lose it spectacularly under difficult circumstances. Both on the same night.
December 31st, 2008 at 6:43 pm #
The most important things are:
1) That I have learned to love myself more and more each day through out this year. The healing that I have experienced this year has been amazing. Knowing that my eating disorder is no more because of true self love! With this I made new friends, connected and reunited with old ones, opened my heart more and let more humour/joy/laughter in my life.
2) Embracing my Ojibway heritage more than ever. Living strong in who I am as a Native woman.
3) Honoring my gifts as a healer more.
4) Driving all by myself to Seattle and back!
What I struggled with that was important to me and had an ah-ha moment:
1) That the outer world may not acknowledge me for my gifts, talents, education, being a strong Native woman, healer, feminist, environmentalist, seer, ect – but I can acknowledge myself. In doing so I have become stronger and I will survive all of the changes that will take place in my lifetime!
—–
LOL @ the obvious ““Michigan getting screwed by media during financial crisis.” It has been a doozie living in MI these past two years since my return from the mountains.
Anyway, HAPPY NEW YEAR BFP!
January 1st, 2009 at 5:39 am #
Taking a course in Mikel Therapy and discovering: the major source of my daily dose of exhausting morning anxiety – knowing I have do go somewhere or do something I really do not want to do; discovering I really do like my own company; I still have a long way to go.
January 1st, 2009 at 8:36 pm #
After being repeatedly alienated by what most Americans call “feminism,” I developed a more brilliant love for (and fascination by) the women in my life this year that only continues to grow.
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:10 pm #
I left the mormon church and came clean about my beliefs to my family (and everybody else, for that matter). I found a really great therapist and have been overcoming a lot of issues.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:46 am #
survived!
January 6th, 2009 at 10:23 pm #
You know how your skull is made up of different little plates that are supposed to be fused together?
I watched a guy change the shape of his skull by moving them. No, he wasn’t just flexing the little muscles around his head. He was making those plates move and his head made slight changes in shape. It was the weirdest thing I’ve seen in years and I still don’t know what to make of it.