Stolen from ML/MM - End of the year reflections

[jennybee1018]

Hi ladies! Happy Monday, thought this might be fun to complete :-) (You can copy and paste your answers if you all ready answered it!)

Best thing that happened to me this year:

Worst thing that happened to me this year:

Goal I achieved:

Regret(s):

On a 1-10 (1 = unspeakably awful, 10 = better than my dreams) this year was a:

One memory I will never forget:

Next year I hope to:

[jennybee1018]

Best thing that happened to me this year: I was lucky enough to travel to some amazing places (Maldives, London, and our upcoming Christmas cruise from Cologne to Basel next week!)  Also, the majority of my family (sister, BIL and mom) all came to visit Doha this year for the first time!

Worst thing that happened to me this year: I spent 6 months apart from DH while he taught in the US.

Goal I achieved: Attended a Zumba training to enhance my current teaching skills. Also, am working on getting healthier - in addition to teaching Zumba, am trying to run, strength train and practice yoga to challenge myself.

Regret(s): That we only stayed in the Maldives for 3 days.....I needed more time! Also, that our trip to Turkey didn't work out

On a 1-10 (1 = unspeakably awful, 10 = better than my dreams) this year was a: 7 - Not a bad year, but I'll be happier when DH isn't gone for 6 months of it!

One memory I will never forget: Seeing the Steelers play in London (even if we lost) and snorkeling at the coral reefs in the Indian Ocean.

Next year I hope to: These seem contradictory but I hope to continue to save money, but still travel and see some new places! :-)

[crimsonandclover]

Best thing that happened to me this year: DD2 was born safely. Second place - we got a house we can afford and that's in a great little town very close to where we wanted to be. Also, I turned in my dissertation. It has been a big year

Worst thing that happened to me this year: I'm pretty sure I went through a post-partum anxiety phase in late May/early June. Also, I'm feeling very frustrated right now because the future in terms of my career is so uncertain.

Goal I achieved: Finished my dissertation in four years even though the first year I worked several jobs and in the remaining 3 years I had two kids and also worked PT jobs (much fewer hours than before, but still).

Regret(s): None for this year.

On a 1-10 (1 = unspeakably awful, 10 = better than my dreams) this year was a: 7. Bringing a new baby into the family is wonderful, and so is buying a house and finishing a dissertation, but they are all also extremely stressful events and this year just seemed like it was one major stressor after another, even though in the end they're all positive stressors.

One memory I will never forget: DD2 being born.

Next year I hope to: Get a steady job so we have financial security.

[Deleted]

Best thing that happened to me this year: career-wise, meeting most of this year's stage goals and family-wise, celebrating our anniversaries with two great trips (one's coming up).

Worst thing that happened to me this year: the nightmarish apartment hunt and move. Definitely. A close second is all the trouble my ILs put us through. 

Goal I achieved: making a great recording. 

Regret(s): not having met all of this year's goal. There always have to be a couple that escape from my grasp, ugh.

On a 1-10 (1 = unspeakably awful, 10 = better than my dreams) this year was a: 7. It could have been an 8 if H and I hadn't spent more time apart than we were prepared to and if the blasted ILs hadn't caused us so much grief. 

One memory I will never forget: Our second wedding anniversary and our 17th day we met/love at first sight anniversary. 

Next year I hope to: I just hope that we continue to be healthy and able to focus on making our dreams come true. 

[dulcemariamar]

Dec 9, 2013 7:00:07 GMT -5 jennybee1018 said:

Hi ladies! Happy Monday, thought this might be fun to complete :-) (You can copy and paste your answers if you all ready answered it!)

Best thing that happened to me this year: I agree with Crimson. I had a lot of good things happen to me but they were huge stressors so I am glad that they happened but it was rough when I was going through them. I guess the best thing is that DH got a new job and we got to move into a bigger flat. I also loved visiting my family with my LO.

Worst thing that happened to me this year: The NB phase sucked. Living with my In-laws sucked. Moving with a NB was bad too. And my LO being sick the first weeks weeks of 2012 and my slow recovery after giving birth.

Goal I achieved: I am trying to be more outgoing. I am working out and I volunteer.

Regret(s): not losing baby weight.

On a 1-10 (1 = unspeakably awful, 10 = better than my dreams) this year was a: 5

One memory I will never forget: my trip to visit my parents

Next year I hope to: travel more. We didnt really go anywhere this year except to visit family. 

[irish]

Dec 9, 2013 7:00:07 GMT -5 jennybee1018 said:

Hi ladies! Happy Monday, thought this might be fun to complete :-) (You can copy and paste your answers if you all ready answered it!)

Best thing that happened to me this year:
there have been a few. Moving into our new house. Giving birth to dd2.

Worst thing that happened to me this year:

The stress of doing up the house and moving whilst pregnant.
Goal I achieved:
breast feeding dd2 - an achievement after my failure with dd1. Potty training dd1 before dd2 arrived (for the most part!)
Regret(s):
None that come to mind...
On a 1-10 (1 = unspeakably awful, 10 = better than my dreams) this year was a:
8 maybe. After the craptastic end to 2012 (mc) this was a pretty good year. Career wise it could have been better - I more or less remained static on that front.
One memory I will never forget:

[/b]
the spectacular way that my waters broke... I created quite a mess around the hospital...
Next year I hope to:
learn to adapt to having 2 kids and a full time, stressful job. Getting the balance right between being me/wife/mother/housekeeper. Or at least work on that and figure it out without causing everyone else at home too much distress or stress[/quote]

[Deleted]

Best thing that happened to me this year:

DS2 arrived in January. And I got a book deal!

Worst thing that happened to me this year: err... nothing? Been a great year and any rough patches were usually just simple things like DH away for work.

Goal I achieved: got back to Crossfit, wrote a book, painted my nails a few times.

Regret(s): wish I had been better with my nutrition the last three months. When things get busy I tend to stress eat.

On a 1-10 (1 = unspeakably awful, 10 = better than my dreams) this year was a: 9

One memory I will never forget: DS1 arriving.

Next year I hope to: do more travel that is relaxing (ie. not long haul) and make my business (writing & blogging) more profitable. And maybe 2014 is the year I get my first pull-up?

[crimsonandclover]

Dec 10, 2013 8:03:43 GMT -5 @bandwife said:

Regret(s): wish I had been better with my nutrition the last three months. When things get busy I tend to stress eat.

I'm totally with you. I stuffed myself after DD2 was born and gained most of the pregnancy weight back that I had lost. In July I got my act together and lost 7kg, but then we moved and I started stress-eating again. I'm not getting back on the scale until I've gotten things back under control, but I'm pretty sure I've gained back about 2-3kg of what I lost. Sigh. Sometimes I wonder why I can't be one of those people who just doesn't eat when they're stressed.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2013 8:37:14 GMT -5 crimsonandclover said:

Dec 10, 2013 8:03:43 GMT -5 @bandwife said:

Regret(s): wish I had been better with my nutrition the last three months. When things get busy I tend to stress eat.

I'm totally with you. I stuffed myself after DD2 was born and gained most of the pregnancy weight back that I had lost. In July I got my act together and lost 7kg, but then we moved and I started stress-eating again. I'm not getting back on the scale until I've gotten things back under control, but I'm pretty sure I've gained back about 2-3kg of what I lost. Sigh. Sometimes I wonder why I can't be one of those people who just doesn't eat when they're stressed.

The only time I have had no appetite is when I have been under serious emotional duress - relationship break up or devastating news. So... I guess getting a bit chubby from DH and I having a lot of big but awesome work projects on our plate isn't too bad?
Trying to find the positives!! And not let myself eat chocolate for breakfast.

[potatopie]

Best thing that happened to me this year: DS was born

Worst thing that happened to me this year: The first trimester was terrible. DH was in Canada, so I was alone and sooooo sick.

Goal I achieved: Finished my second Masters. I really only started it to get a part time work permit when we first moved. But I wanted to finish it, and it will definitely help me career wise in the future.

Regret(s): We spent about 4 months looking for a house before we decided to stay in our rental. I kind of enjoyed it, but DH lost a lot of productivity (then the baby came and that didn't help him either!). Wish he had accomplished more this year.

On a 1-10 (1 = unspeakably awful, 10 = better than my dreams) this year was a: 9. I really had a great year. Things went according to plan, a lot of good stuff happened, and nothing was too difficult.

One memory I will never forget: My parents and sister came out to SA for a visit. And also my parents' faces when they first met DS last month.

Next year I hope to: My hopes are mostly for DH. I hope he can make the career advancement he's hoping for so we can start making plans to return to the US. Probably just a sabbatical in 2015, but it's a good start.

[mrsukyankee]

Best thing that happened to me this year: leaving my job

Worst thing that happened to me this year: felt like I had to leave my job

Goal I achieved: started my own business

Regret(s): none

On a 1-10 (1 = unspeakably awful, 10 = better than my dreams) this year was a: 5

One memory I will never forget: Opening up the letter from Oxford and seeing that I got in.

Next year I hope to: either find an awesome job, have my business become successful or get into a PhD programme.

[paradebegone]

Like Crimson, it really feels like the best things were also the worse with all the STRESS it entailed!

Best thing that happened to me this year: DD1 was born. Second thing was moving to Munich.

Worst thing that happened to me this year: DD1 being born too soon and having to leave her in the hospital. Leaving her every night was a nightmare.

Goal I achieved: I was around 20 weeks pregnant when we moved to Munich and I was determined to meet people ASAP, so I could have some kind of "support" group once the baby arrived. I think I did really well doing that, despite being really shy normally. I've made some really great friends here.

Regret(s): Learning more German!

On a 1-10 (1 = unspeakably awful, 10 = better than my dreams) this year was a: 7---- We've had the opportunity to live abroad and welcomed DD1 into our lives. I feel incredibly lucky and blessed in many ways. But these things have been really stressful.... I feel like my relationship with DH has been tested and I'm hoping we're better off and closer because of it.

One memory I will never forget: I've got TWO....
1. Being told my water was leaking and I'd be having this baby at 33 weeks.
2. Flying with DD to the Philippines and surprising my parents and grandmother. The look on my 93 yo grandmother's face.

Next year I hope to: Travel around Europe as much as possible. In the new year, we will only have 5 months left in Munich. I hope we can make the most of it!

Read more: pandce.proboards.com/thread/263524/stolen-ml-end-year-reflections#ixzz2n62kxYOw