i have gained a lifetime of experiences from the year 2010... more than, perhaps, a person could expect to be able to handle in a year. but among those that were a challenge, were those that were worth the memory... those that make me smile when i remember... those that make me thank God every day for the people in my life, and the oppourtunities that i am able to experience.
so.... my favourite memory from….
January: my life changing trip to seattle. it brought so many things to light - to the forefront... and changed everything about my life as i knew it. though it spun my life out of control, it was the thing i needed to push me to start taking responsibility for my own life... it was the benchmark for 2010. what a way to start.
February: the olympics. the winning. the patriotism. the displays of pride and love. the sports - ohhhhh the sports.
March: my lovely friend mary got engaged... and i had the luck of being able to celebrate with her and her lovely (now) husband ruben. perfect.
April: panama with the family – in and amidst the turmoil going on in my life, it was a much needed week away from real life, and a much needed week to reconnect with my family. Also being able to explore the wonderful panama – with everything that it could show to me at a time when I needed to be reminded of everything I had, instead of dwelling on everything that was crumbling down around me.
May: I spent may living on couches, while looking for an apt. some of the best moments of May were attributed to my finally allowing myself to be vulnerable, ask for help, and share some (though very few) emotions.
June: the G20 in toronto. though it did cause some nervousness among many, i loved being part of history... part of chaos. when everything was going awry in my life, it was nice to look to the world to see how much things go up and down on a regular basis.
July: july was full of blissful 'like'. i spent this month enjoying moments with someone who i cared deeply for - and despite the pain that followed, it was worth every moment. every dinner. every walk. every conversation. every laugh. every movie, tv show and shared silent moment. and for the first time in a long time, i was truly happy. it was 2 months of pure bliss.
August: August was a tough month for me – one of the hardest I’ve had in a long long time (with tons of sorrow to follow through the next few months)… but a cornroast and family weekend was exactly what I needed at the end of August. Time to get away, time to reflect. Time to be sad. Time to be removed from everything that I was heartbroken about.
September: September was a tough month this year, because of health concerns, matters of the heart, and my little sister heading out to school out east – but I was still blessed in being able to spend a weekend walking 60km to help raise money and awareness for women’s cancers. I spent the weekend with amazing women and men, and one of my best friends in the entire world.
October: homecoming weekend - it was the first weekend since i had graduated that i returned for homecoming. I was able to spend time with some of the people who meant the most to me over my university career... and enjoy being a kid again - despite everything else that was going on in my life. a chance to get away, and forget about it all, if only for 2 days.
November: a tie - between my trip to Cali, and my participation in the fitness challenge at work. i not only spent an amazing 4 days with someone who means so much to me in california, and got to get away from all that was hurting... but i got to focus some attention on my health - in a way that i could control. despite my back injury that resulted from the fitness challenge, it brought me closer to a few people from work, and gave me some power back... after i felt so much was lost in and amongst my health issues.
December: besides the obvious – Christmas with the family – I love spending every holiday season with my friends from university. Our yearly holiday gathering is always my highlight… and a perfect summation and reminder that I am the luckiest person in the world, as I have the best friends that anyone could ever have. I’m not sure why they put up with me, but I can only hope I can continue to trick them into it!