Where has the time gone...

How in the world is it December 26th? This year has gone by so fast, I just can't believe it. Usually around this time every year, I ask Trevor these questions:
-What were the best things about this past year?
-What do you want to accomplish next year?
Trevor does not like these questions - I ask them in many different forms all year round - for example, after a party I say "who was your favorite guest", when we have our anniversary, I make him list things he loves about me (this question game has never made the list of things he loves about me).
I always think I know the answer to these questions and Trevor ALWAYS surprises me with his answers. He almost always gives me some sort of answer that makes me want to cry - because I realize that for all the grief I give him about just about everything in our lives....he loves me and our life is just as important to him as it is to me.

I'll have to post his answers to these questions, but for now, I'll give you my answers:

- What were the best things about this past year?
This past year was really about change and challenge for us:

• In January, we made the decision to open a business and spent all year actually opening it.
  
• My brother and his wife had a baby in March.
• Trevor lost his job in April, just two weeks before our trip to China...and we went to lunch to celebrate.
• We spent a week in China, which is something so outside my comfort zone in so many ways. We ran 13.1 miles on the Great Wall of China.
• We opened our store at the end of August and have done so in a very harmonious way. Trevor is a great partner - we think alike, want the same things and complement each others strengths and weaknesses.
  
• I learned to swim in June and completed my first triathlon in August, followed by another one in September.
• We've made the change from a two income household to one income and we haven't lost any of our houses, property or material things. Plus - we still have a strong relationship and supportive family. We are fortunate - many people right now cannot say the same thing.
• We've both lost a few pounds - our eating has been much healthier this year - more consistent.
• All of our pets are healthy, we made it through another year.
• We added sweet Roxie to our brood - this little kitty has no idea how lucky she is.
• I flossed more than 360 days this year. Yay to good oral hygiene!
  

Overall, this has been a great year, I feel like we've had far more good days than bad. We have taken steps towards a better future and really isn't that what every year should be about?

What do I want to accomplish next year - 2009?
I was thinking this morning about New Year's Resolutions and how most people only make them on January 1st. But really, isn't every day an opportunity to make a resolution? You don't have to wait until January 1 to make a change. That is the best thing about life, each day provides the opportunity for change. - the opportunity to say, "this isn't working for me, I want to try something different".

• Continue to improve upon my swimming - get at least two pool workouts a week.
• Work towards a 1/2 Iron man triathlon in August and be ready for it, complete it and be satisfied with my performance.
• Live on a budget. Ugh. I think I say that every year...this year...I really mean it.
  
• Open our second store by the end of summer 2009.
• Fully embrace every change that is made at my job.
  
• I also plan to work on not taking things so personal and letting at least some things roll off my back instead of jamming me up.

So, that's a start I guess. Some years I say I want to be nicer, but that only lasts like one day, so I"m not planning to work on that this year because I really need all my energy for the live on a budget bullet.

Whatever 2009 brings you - you can be sure its what you need...even if it isn't what you want.
Have a good one.