2009

[dampscribbler]

I've seen a lot of online kvetching from a lot of people about 2009. It was, without a doubt, a tumultuous year. If I had to give it a name, I'd call it The Year of Rebuilding. My one resolution for 2009 was not to start anything new until I had cleaned up the messes of the previous couple of years. I learned that I had to give up a lot of dearly clung-to beliefs, habits, and desires in order to rebuild. Not everything got cleaned up, but it all was resolved in one way or another, and by August it was time to move forward, and I started going to school to work toward a new career, and I started a therapy that I had been seeking for years. As in nearly two decades. And it's powerful stuff that works. Finally, something that works.

2009 has given me much to build on, it's definitely one of the Top Five in terms of "Years in Which My Life Changed Dramatically."

No matter how much it sucked for you, I'll bet you can find three good things to say about things that happened to you in 2009. :)

Comments

[juliakarr.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you had a good reason to toast the old out & the new in. I'm glad so many things were resolved for you and that you're moving forward! Yay!

Three good things that happened to me in 2009...
1. My at-death's-door dog rallied and is still hanging in there (bless her heart!)
2. The company I work for decided not to close our plant - that means 500+ people (including me) still have jobs.
2. I got a two-book deal (need I say more?) :^)

[jillbertini.livejournal.com]

Aside from one craptastic thing I had to deal with in 2009, it was a really fantastic year for me.

Way to go on getting focused on the things that will make a huge difference and pay off big in the coming years. It feels good to clear the decks, doesn't it? Also, I'm impressed you could put new things on hold. I find that difficult.

My top 3 things:
1 - trip to Italy and NY in February
2 - hiking around Mt. Blanc
3 - ending the year on a high note at work

Happy new year!

[chillyrodent.livejournal.com]

Can you talk about your form of therapy? I'm a newbie here; maybe it's something everyone else knows, or maybe it's something you don't discuss here.

I got laid off this year, which I see mostly as a good thing. My employer treated me very well, so I have no malice whatsoever. Plus, it's all in a research technician's life.

We started making changes to leave the area I've lived in for 30 years to try some nomadic living. If you happen to ever read our blog about it, you'll read almost nothing but kvetching. And a little kvelling. Those are my contributions. Annie's are more sensible.

I had two separate eye surgeries that have increased the ease and quality of my life. I am very fortunate to have health insurance (maybe that should be #4).

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Julia! You sure do have some great things to celebrate, as well!

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

I really don't remember how I came to the decision that not taking on anything new was the right thing to do, and of course I did take on new things, but until I started school in August they were pretty much all things that were designed to help with the clean-up. :) I am also impressed with how I decided it was time to start school even though I didn't have "everything perfect," which might have been a hindrance to progress. Somehow that didn't get in the way.

Congrats on your big year! Lots of travel! And ending/starting on a high note at work is always nice. :)

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning for a while now to say a few things about therapy in some locked posts, but I just never seem to get to LJ anymore so I haven't done it. I'll work on getting to that soon.

I hope you find a satisfying work/professional situation this year. I'm glad you're not feeling hurt about your layoff, that can be a very painful thing. I've had a few myself in the past, and they can be traumatizing.

Best wishes for a fantastic 2010!

[jillbertini.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's true :D.

[kellyrfineman.livejournal.com]

2009 was a trying sort of year for my family and me, but there were good parts - as in my husband, father and I did not die, despite severe health challenges and trips to hospitals. That's three off the top of my head! :)

Happy new year to you!!

[chillyrodent.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm not sure what a satisfying situation would look like, but right now I feel like there would be no enzymes or pipettes involved.

You're right. A layoff done badly is very damaging - I've experienced that kind, too. This time I knew the job was temporary (a year), but the PI managed to stretch it out to three. It was a good gig for me, and helped me realize that I'm much happier professionally when I'm part-timing it. It's not just a quantitative, but a qualitative difference.

Happy New Year!