One of my all-time-favorite birthday cards was from Peanuts:
Linus: Don’t think of it as just another birthday! Think of it as another year spent mastering the intricacies of a rewarding and demanding life!
Snoopy: Well, that sounds better than “There goes another year down the tubes!”
Hmm…. Not a bad concept to ponder at the turn of the year.
Robert Hruzek’s writing challenge this month is What I Learned From 2008. I was supposed to pick one post per month and give a brief description of it, but instead I decided to look at both of my blogs to see which pictures and posts resonated the most. The picture above was at the top of the list…it shows my husband and me with my daughter and son-in-law at their wedding last May. It warms my heart every time I look at it.
My favorite posts were
From Transforming Stress:
Life As a Shared Adventure
Honoring Our Comfort Zones
Can You Take Yourself This Lightly?
Bringing Out the Best in Ourselves
Following the Path, One Step at a Time
Don’t Forget to Laugh!
From Cheerful Monk:
I Saved a Human Today
What’s Your Favorite Photo?
Living Deeply By Writing
The Joy of Being a Blockhead
This Mystery Called Life
Slipping Into Sacred Space
The posts are about living deeply and writing about it… and about loving, laughing and sharing.
I also love this picture, taken last April, because it combines the themes:
Summary
This past year had its challenges and achievements, but in the end that’s not what was important. If I had to summarize 2008 in one word, that word would be rich.
So was it just another year down the tubes? Oh, no. I think not.
What About You?
What was your 2008 like? If you had to describe it in a word or two, which word(s) would you use?
I think I would have to say that 2008 represents hope. We ended a year of tremendous uncertainties with a historical election, a transition to readiness without precedent, and the hope that the new guy can deliver on his promises. It’s important for America. It’s important for the world.
Hope.
Mike Goads last blog post..I’ve been working on another blog!
FAST
My word for 2008: improving. Not there yet, but improving.
Evans last blog post..Plans for the Year
Yeah, I’ll take Linus’ reply over Snoopie’s any day! Besides, why should the ‘tubes’ have all the fun? 😀
Thanks for the nod, Jean!
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..First Musings of 2009
I look forward to checking out your favorite posts. I haven’t been following your blog for very long, so it’ll be a great way for me to catch up.
We started out 2008 broke and finished with something left over. There were two reasons: first, gas and oil prices dropped; second, part of mom’s inheritance helped send our daughter to summer camp.
Mike,
One thing is certain: Obama has a chance of being one of our greatest presidents… he has enough challenges to deal with. We’re all hoping for the best.
bikehikebabe,
I agree with that!
Evan.
That’s a great way of looking at it. I’ve decided I’ll never be there, and that’s okay. Are growing plants and trees ever “there”?
Robert,
Thanks for coming by and for the WILF series.
Square Peg Guy.
It sounds as if you’re doing a great job. Thanks for the kind words, and good luck in 2009.
2008 for me is personal growth.
I was taking a lot of time to improve my personal life. Reading and blogging, taking a course and get aware of many things, learning to bike and swim, dance and public speaking. Last year was really really a fun year. And this year I really want to make it fruitful, generating something of value…
Wish you the best for the upcoming years Jean!
Robert
Robert A. Henrus last blog post..Journaling To Done (Getting things done with Journaling)
Robert,
That’s a great summary of 2008, and I like your emphasis on generating something of value in the coming year. It’s great hearing from you again. 🙂
Peace and joy till the 26th of November and frustration and anger after that.
rummusers last blog post..Page Rank 3
rummuser,
It sounds as if life is really testing you right now. Good luck! Let us know how it goes and what helps.
What happens after Nov. 26?
bikehikebabe, terrorists attack Mumbai (Bombay) on November 26, 2008. Please visit http://rummuser.com/?p=515 and a couple of other related posts on the same subject posted subsequently. The saga is continuing and from a tragic situation it is being made into a farce and a comedy by Pakistan.
Some of my posts were not appearing or not accepting comments during the time that I had posted these and reading those will give you an idea of what has happened since then.
rummusers last blog post..Evolution Of Music.