This time last year…

This time last year I was dreading turning 36.. but determined I was gonna make it my year anyway! Usually around my birthday I reflect on the past year… sort of like some people do with New Year’s Resolutions… and come up with goals for myself.

Sometimes it feels good, and other times it feels like I’m being too hard on myself. So this year in preparation of my birthday, I’m shaking things up with a list of 37 things… both good & bad… in no particular order.. or intended for judgement or sympathy..

This time last year:

1. I had never run my own business
2. I had health insurance
3. I lost friendships, but gained or strengthened better ones
4. I was in love with a man I thought adored me… turned out not quite enough
5. I didn’t have an iPad
6. I’d never been to Aspen
7. I didn’t know much about wine other than I liked it.. let alone ever help run a wine bar (even temporarily!)
8. I still had cable TV & Sirius radio
9. I finally started reading books frequently again
10. I weighed a lot less & was in my “skinny jeans” (you know the jeans you feel fabulous in– not those horrific fashion nightmare skinny jeans)
11. I practiced yoga regularly
12. My hair was a different color (when isn’t it?)
13. I had a nice car (before it was totaled) instead of ghetto one that stalls for no reason
14. I hadn’t been live on air during a TV newscast since college
15. I blogged regularly
16. I still went shoe shopping
17. I spent more time socializing and less time at home
18. I started comparing more situations in life to Seinfeld episodes (I’m George BTW!)
19. I realized my students really learned skills in my classes that helped them in their first jobs & they appreciated it
20. I was reminded how much the words “thank you” can mean to someone
21. I watched romantic comedies like they were going out of style
22. I thought I was going to finally write a book (starting my company trumped that!)
23. I starting to accept it’s OK to ask for help when you really need it
24. I got one of the best birthday presents ever… crabcakes shipped from MD
25. I bought my first (& probably last) pair of designer sunglasses
26. I still remembered what it was like to sleep like a normal person (I think!)
27. I was still addicted to checking my blog stats
28. I walked 3-5 miles several days a week
29. I wasn’t addicted to the Words with Friends or *gasp* Smurfs apps
30. I swore yet again I’d stop drunk texting (oops, did I do that?)
31. I had no idea how to use a bartender corkscrew to open a bottle of wine
32. I started donating my time to helping more charities since my checkbook can’t help
33. I finally had to start buying my own Starbucks (had a good 1 1/2-2 year run on gift cards)
34. I had no idea what the heck a Personal Kanban was or why I needed one
35. I realized club bed is the best club of all!
36. I thought turning 36 was getting old
37. I was determined to make 2011 my biatch! (Still got a few months to go!)