Year in Review

With less than 6 hours before the end of 2013, I have once again decided to reflect on the year and see what I have to look forward to.  I feel like, rather than committing one year to a Pursuit of Happiness, I've unofficially decided to make this my life-long goal.  I remember watching some of the film The Perks of Being a Wallflower and it reminded me of how most of your life is seen by others and how people remember you.  You cannot just sit back and write, and wait for something to happen (which, ironically, is what I'm doing right now) and think that eventually happiness will come.  I've realized that happiness is subjective - your choices are your choices and nobody is to blame on how things turn out because of them.

But you cannot just blame yourself all the time, either.

A lot of great things occurred this year, based on my own personal effort, and I feel that even though I'm still in the same financial crunch... I'm taking more responsibility for the things that matter.

ART - If there's anything to highlight the year, it's this.  It all started with that self-portrait piece I'd done on a whim, and it became greeting cards, prints, a showing at the Galleria in Evanston, some sales at ACEN, as well as my first real art show through RAW: Chicago.  My work has gotten recognized by friends, and they're pushing me to do more commissions.  I'm doing cover artwork for a friend who's publishing a book.  My friend and I submitted an animated short pitch for Nickelodeon and got positive critiques from the program advisers.  I've made a point to do special event illustrations for my friends and cousins to highlight my style for weddings, etc.  All I need is an Etsy page!

LIT - I haven't done much writing this year, which is okay, but reading-wise, I'm so proud.  I've managed to read and watch Game of Thrones all the way through Book II, and it's given another real feeling of accomplishment and admiration for good writing.  George RR Martin has a way with characters that I just cannot begin to perceive, and while I'm not sure if I'm ready to take on the next book (at least before I watch the 3rd season) I'm so willing to write a wonderful story like he has.

RUNNING - Ever since that big Tough Mudder run in May, my body has not been the same.  It's ached and cracked and felt unusually stiff.  I've ignored it and kept running 5Ks, gone to countless specialists to get their advice, as well as asked running friends about it.  The result has always been the same: stop running. My left shin bone might be on the verge of splitting in half and I might not know it.  I've tried doing alternative cardio but felt the shakiness of withdrawal from those long distances.  I cannot understand how others can do marathons more than once if they deal with this kind of pain.  Thank goodness, I can still function throughout the day, but I cannot be reckless about my body healing if I want to run for a living.  I need to get off of the running shoes for a least the first month.

WORK - I'm happily employed full time once again, with insurance and benefits.  MATCH Education has been a blessing in disguise, where I feel like my day hours are used to provide more meaningful work rather than just myself.  The tough part is deciding whether or not I want to be a teacher.  The funny thing is that Second City still hasn't left the picture - like I'm hanging on to the very last thread before I have to let it go.  Do I want to?  I'm not sure... it's given me a lot of great memories and people to talk to... but unless it's something I want to pursue professionally, I know I'll have to give it up.  It's not about convenience, it's about passion.

In any case, I'm thankful for having a very supportive family that deals with my craziness every day.  I'm thankful that my parents are both employed and slowly picking themselves up from financial funk.  I'm happy that my sisters have found their soulmates and are building themselves professionally with what they went to school for.  I'm happy that in spite of my social awkwardness, they always try and find a way to connect with me and seek out the best of me so I can become a part of the family, rather than just part of the family.

May this next year give me more professional aspirations as I pursue graduate programs the right way and keep working hard to be an artist and healthy individual.