As I cast back through the past year and take stock of where I’ve been and what I’ve done over the past 12 months, I remember a post I wrote a couple of months back. In that post, i created a list of activities and pursuits that I missed and what to remind myself of. I promised to check in again at the end of the year. Here’s the list, and I’ve noted where I’ve focused my energy over the past few months:

• time for creative culinary creativity –> Yes, I co-cooked a holiday dinner for 10! But, would like to explore more new recipes.
• preserving the harvest bounty –> Nope, missed this opportunity this year. Although, we had an extended harvest because of the wonderful fall weather.
• a long walk in the falling leaves –> Yes! Took a number of these walks…heard the crunch of leaves, breathed in the freshness of the season, painted the fall colours into my memory.



• a night out at the movies –> Yes! Put aside time to see a couple of movies with friends…Life of Pi and Argo
• read a book of fiction (too much non-fiction in my life!) –> Yes! Am currently reading Ragnarock by A.S. Byatt
• have dinner at the Irish Heather –> Not yet, but St. Paddy’s Day is coming up…
• build something –> Hmmmm…wonder what I meant by this…Build relationships and friendships? Build a table or chair?
• write an epic poem –> Yes & turned it in to a song!
• pose for a rock star (in my own mind) photo –> No, didn’t have many rock star moments, but there’s always next year.
• devise fun games for my cats to play –> Yes! Hide & seek, chase, fave string.
• write the script for my first musical –> I started to sketch this out.

One quote that has stayed with me this year…Life is not about finding yourself, it’s about making yourself. It’s a good reminder for me to not sit and wait for something to happen that will impact my life or “change” me but to seize each moment and opportunity for living and see what happens. I see my life as a series of intersections or decision points. If I look back and imagine that I turned left instead of right, there’s quite a story there!

Photo by Cherice.