This post was, in part, inspired by galen's college-entry post which can be found here. It's as simple or complex as you would like it to be - what was the best thing to happen to you in 2014, or what was the best thing you did in 2014? The year is pretty much over, but if something were to happen over the next week feel free to edit your post.
For me, it's a toss-up which will be outlined through 1a and 1b.
1a. Getting a job. Having the security in knowing there is a job waiting after college is a great feeling, but, if it was for a company I wasn't very interested in things would be different. I was fortunate enough to land a great opportunity with a growing and well-known company that many of you will likely have heard of. It's a company that I want to work for, and that makes it much easier. That, and it fell in one of the few regions of the country I would actually like to live in. Financial security in the future is nice too.
1b. Therapy was nice and helped with a lot with some issues and I'm not quite as crazy as I have been this year (still a little crazy). Either way, it turned out to be a great and much overdo decision and I actually stopped going a little over a month ago now.
Congrats kata! I'm happy to hear that too, nobody should have to deal with cancer and I hope you stay free of it.
Birth of my daughter, hands down. The whole course of the pregnancy was marred with scares, and complications, and all kinds of shit that makes a man like me sleepless and fearful. Labor didn't even come naturally, my wife had to be induced because of some complications. But when that baby came out, started crying, and checked out as alive, happy, and healthy... greatest feeling ever. And I'm the guy who would have told you 5 years ago, "I'm never having kids fuck that!" Cheers to 2015 to everyone here!
I'm only 15 now, but already I find myself less annoyed by/more amused* by kids than I was just a few years ago. Damn biology! Seriously though, congrats on the birth. And good luck to you! *This is not the right wordAnd I'm the guy who would have told you 5 years ago, "I'm never having kids fuck that!"
I'm 16, and until this year I was dead-set on never having babies. Now I melt in to "aww" saying goo when I see one.
Thanks and good luck to you. Someday you'll be the guy/girl who is unbelievably happy to have a healthy and happy baby. :)
She's beautiful! Congrats pal, I know what it's like to have a wife have a rough pregnancy. My daughter presented with a "choroid plexus cyst" on her brain and some abnormality in her liver, both are soft signs for Down's syndrome. We had to wait several months to see an ultrasound to determine if they corrected. They did, she was born healthy and wonderful, but those three months were awful. It completely sucked the joy out of it. I wonder, do we have too many data points and too many liability concerns for docs?
In a very general sense, the best thing that happened to me was taking the 'crippling' part out of 'crippling depression.' I'm still pretty convinced I won't live to see my 40's, but it no longer stops me from doing things. I can point to my grades from fall semester (All 4.0 except for one 3.5). I can point to my new passion for certain kinds of physical activity (Kayaking, the occasional run that feels good instead of terrible). I could talk about my independent study starting in 2 weeks that could potentially get me published on the same paper as a PhD with decades of field work, or the job I may get after I graduate in May that would secure my professional future in no uncertain terms. I don't know if things actually do get better, but they can definitely look that way.
I hope things continue to be good. You sound like an amazing person.
finally honest with myself and others. appointment 3/5 with a psychologist to get a referral for HRT is next week.
As a senior in college, getting a girlfriend for the first time was a pretty awesome thing for me, I have learned an incredible amount about myself already and it has only been a little over 2 months. It has also given me so much more confidence. So far my senior year has been easily the best of it all. I also received a 4.0 this term for the first time in college which I was extremely satisfied with! And that song is fantastic.
Sounds like a good year. I hope things continue to go well for you.
Hey, congratulations! Sounds like a great opportunity.1a. Getting a job. Having the security in knowing there is a job waiting after college is a great feeling, but, if it was for a company I wasn't very interested in things would be different. I was fortunate enough to land a great opportunity with a growing and well-known company that many of you will likely have heard of. It's a company that I want to work for, and that makes it much easier. That, and it fell in one of the few regions of the country I would actually like to live in. Financial security in the future is nice too.
Thanks! It is, almost as good as getting into a good college.
I had a really difficult summer. I had to travel weekly to Virginia, a place where I didn't know anyone or have any friends, for work, for about 6-8 weeks at the height of my summertime. I stayed in hotels and all my meals were paid for and I had a rental car. Sounds nice, but it forced me to confront "loneliness" and "self-reliance." I drafted a piece about eating alone in restaurants that I haven't finished but think could be interesting, at least for me as a reflection on what I learned. Earlier, before the traveling, I dated 2 guys (consecutively) that were really, really bad choices, although it wasn't apparent at first. I think it takes a month or two to really start to learn who a person is. To be perfectly honest I stayed with the first one longer than I should have out of carnal pleasure. The second one I started kicking to the curb early on but he really didn't want to be kicked. Going to Virgina not only helped me cut these guys off efficiently but forced me not to date anyone, which I think was a really good move for me. I mean, I "hadn't dated anyone" - been in a relationship - in years by that point, but hooking up, flirting, and going out with people casually still allows a certain distraction and preoccupation with that sort of activity. Really not dating or seeing anyone at all was good. I think one of the hardest things (going to Virginia) turned out to be one of the best things, because it challenged me and caused me to grow, even though I did spend time in white hotel beds crying to myself alone a couple of nights. I also ended up with a new job out of it, but I'm pretty sure I hate the new job and it regularly causes me undue amounts of stress 1-2 weeks out of every 4 (which I am having some difficulty coping with well) - but hey - maybe the new job will be the 2015 challenge that turned into a good thing, right? Per aspera, ad astra, myfriends.
Normally, in almost any other year it would be a difficult question to answer what the best thing that happened was. This year though, it's easy.
Aww, he is adorable. I'm sorry this comment is so inane but he is probably the cutest baby I've ever seen.
Wow, thanks. He's a real pleasure too, such a sweet kid.
Yeah, I was bummed to not be there, but Christmas was in NC this year and I couldn't be away from the kids. How did it go? Did you have a good time? Was it casual, formal, DJ, band....? How was it? My best to you both. I'm sure I'll see ya soon.
Starting college has been nice. It is great to finally be studying something I really enjoy, and all of the new people I have met have been great. I enjoyed high school, but people aren't joking when they say college is so much better.
Best thing: I fell for a girl and got my heart broken. She is now dating my best friend. This horribleness was actually the best thing that could happen to me. I started on self-improvement journey because I was jealous. Joined the gym to get the girl. But man, the endorphin I got from lifting made me forget about all the shitty things. The iron has humbled me and I continue to learn from Brodin. Wheymen.
1. I began working as a private tutor and have been extremely successful with my students and their parents. I'm going to school to be a teacher, and this is a good stepping stone, resume builder, and key source of income for me. It's also reaffirmed for my that educating others is what I want to do 2. I've gotten the opportunity starting in late 2014 to work with my favorite professor, whom I idolize, to design curriculum and conduct primary research for decent pay. I'm so excited at the opportunity and the hard work that paid off. 3. The third best thing is tied to the worst part of 2014. The intense and often problematic drug that I'm taking to fight my arthritis is getting along well with my body. I feel great and have experienced no side effects. Given the difficulty of dealing with my diagnosis (going from healthy, young life-long athlete to someone who has to monitor everything he does/eats, live with constant restraints, and adapt to the new reality that is chronic illness), I'm grateful for this part going smoothly.
I got to go to a camp I attend as a counselor marking my 10th year. It was the time of my life and I hope to go back next year. I've also been accepted to all of the colleges I've heard back from. I'm now 3/8. That means that I get to choose. And I'm getting money from at least one, so that is really nice. Something like half off. For a private $60,000 school, that is really nice.
Starting my MSc degree. I really liked my previous university and I still miss it but the whole experience is exciting and new for me. It has been much easier for me to make friends than when I was a first-year undergraduate. It really made clear to me that I feel much more comfortable socialising and meeting people than I did three years ago. Really looking forward to next term in 2015, hopefully being a bit more of a social butterfly as I miss that. Going to student societies, etc.
I took some cool trips this year I traveled to CA for the first time and had a blast. That was the furthest I travelled from home (I was born and raised in New England). I also went up to the state of ME for the first time. I'm a part time student in Boston this spring so I plan on finding work / making money, checking out Iceland, reading more, getting a music / art project off the ground, and graduating in May. My end game is to land a gig in the Bay Area and move out to East Bay / Oakland. Putting a lot on my plate tbh Best 2014 Music Video: Spooky Black - "Without U"
Best 2014 Show: Yung Lean @ The Independent in SF
The best thing this year has been realizing that I don't have to be super social. I have always been someone who either talks really fast and really much and feels really self conscious about it or someone who is quiet and sits and reads a book and this year I've realized that it's fine to do that. That I'm fine with having one really close friend and that that doesn't mean I'm a failure.