Jan
2013
2012….Better Late Thank Never!
Are you in the mood for another survey? I am! I know we’re already two weeks into 2013, but I always need a little time in January to put closure on the past year and think through everything that happened. This survey is all about 2012. Many bloggers did it the first couple days of Jan, but I wasn’t ready to fill it out until now. I love filling out these surveys!
But first, an update– Holy cow, the Dog Toy event was so terrific last week! 70 people came! The bar I picked was way too small-ish so it was packed. We collected a whopping 172 dog toys (!!) and $180! Jared and I went to the pet store earlier this week and bought 40 toys with the money…..the drive is up to almost 300 toys now! It’s so amazing and a lot of exciting things are in the works for it. Yay!
On a side note, Charlie has not been happy that there are all these fun toys that he’s not allowed to play with sitting in our living room. Poor guy. I bought him 5 new toys just to make him feel better because he spent a good part of the weekend crying at the box. I have to donate them to the shelters by the end of next week so I can stop torturing him!
And awful thing of the week— a man died at my gym while I was there Wednesday night. He had a stroke in the pool. They pulled him out, gave him cpr for 10 minutes until the paramedics came. The paramedics gave him cpr for another 40 minutes….until they called it and put some blankets over him. It was just horrible. I was at a kickboxing class, but the pool is in the center of the gym and there’s windows everywhere so we felt like we were right there with them. I felt horribly guilty staying in the class and working out, but there was no use in standing around watching and I didn’t want to go home. I spent the class silently praying, silently crying a little, and just unfocused (even though it was a great class and I still felt like I got a good workout). I just feel so bad thinking how he probably left for a regular workout at the gym….and had no idea it was his last few hours of life. Still really sad about. Life is short people. You never know what the day has in store for you.
Okay, now on to the survey!
1. What was your greatest personal accomplishment in 2012? I feel like I’ve grown sooo much as a person in 2012. I’d say starting my blog, starting the dog toy collection, and getting engaged were highlights (though I’m not sure getting engaged is considered an accomplishment, but process of working in a relationship to get to that point is…)
2. What’s the best thing you did for your health? Joined a new gym! In the beginning of last year I was really hating my old gym and not wanting to spend time there. Even though Jared and I weren’t living together, I joined his gym (in his/our building) and finally got access to a swimming pool, sauna, etc– it’s been sooo nice! Rooftop yoga was also an awesome part of 2012…I hope I go many times in 2013 (as soon as it warms up a bit).
this isn’t my gym, but rooftop yoga was a really nice part of 2012
3. List a few things that you experienced for the first time at some point over the last twelve months. Blogging. A blog conference. Arizona. Apple picking/fall foliage.
4. What was the coolest place you visited? Arizona—the tall cactuses were really neat to see in person! And strangely enough, I’ll say Folsom….we had fun near the lake and it was this area of California that I’d never been to before! We took other great trips- FL, DC, NJ, Boston, Sonoma/Napa, Tahoe, etc but those are all places I’d been before.
5. What is the best meal you ate this year? Ooooh tough question! I have no clue. I’d say my birthday cake. It was awesome.
6. Tell us about a new friend you made. Well, all of you blogging friends, of course! It’s been so amazing getting know all of you. I’ve also started going to my book club more regularly and became closer with a lot of the girls—one of my goals last year was to make more girlfriends—and that really helped me succeed!
7. Share something you learned in 2012. I learned to open up a little more—I am often kinda shy and private, but I’ve gotten much more open through sharing stuff on the blog, just through getting closer to Jared, etc. I’ve also learned that things don’t always go quite as you’ve expected….but they still do work out for the best.
8. Share an odd and unexpected thing that you experienced this year. I really thought Charlie was going to like being a therapy dog and was all excited about starting the program….but then we went through the training and he had his “test” at the nursing home….he hated it! He hid under the table. At first I was disappointed, but then I realized I didn’t really enjoy it either and that it wasn’t what I was expecting at all.
Did you think I’d do an entire post and not throw in a photo of Charlie?! No way
9. How do you think 2013 will differ from 2012? I think 2013 will be so different! I think getting married will change life (so excited). I have some new side projects in the works that I am so excited about and if they continue to grow, I think that’ll change my daily life tremendously. Jared and I are considering moving out of SF in 2013 (just to the ‘burbs), so that will change my day-to-day. I hope that the blog will grow and change too…I’m trying to figure out how to focus it better- sometimes I feel like I’m all over the place in what I write about, but I hope to get that sorted out a bit more. 2012 was full of uncertainty in so many ways and I spent much of the year working them out and thinking through things….and I think 2013 will take what I’ve learned and run with it!
So here’s to 2013!! Life is so unexpected, I think about how I had no idea what I was in store for last time this year….but I promise to stay positive, move forward, and be myself….and hopefully that’s enough to make this year move in the right direction! I always worry about the health and well-being of my friends and family– the happier and healthier they are, the better I am…and so I hope this year brings mostly good things for all of them too. And if I learned anything after my gym experience tonight, it’s that life is really short so we’d better all make the very most out of 2013.
– What’s something you accomplished and are proud of in 2012?
– What’s a goal you have for this year?
– Have you ever had someone die or get really injured while you were at the gym or a sporting event?
– Help– My photo uploads are acting weird…are the photos in this post big or small on your screen?
32 Comments on 2012….Better Late Thank Never!
1Pingbacks & Trackbacks on 2012….Better Late Thank Never!
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[...] I look forward to it all week). I subbed at Sunday School (the kids are so cute). I saw that guy die at my gym right before my eyes. And then, of course, Jared’s grandma died and we flew back to Florida [...]
Reply
Cinnamon
January 16, 2013 at 9:02 pm (124 days ago)Never had anyone die at the gym, but I have at work. So sad!!
Your photos are large but they still fit in the post and look good. I know wordpress can be glitchy sometimes.
btw…I nominated you for the Liebster award. Not sure if you like to do those, but its another survey! haha. LOL
Rebecca
January 17, 2013 at 7:00 am (123 days ago)ooh someone died at your work? that’s awful too! I love Leibsters!! I’ll do it early next week!
jessielovestorun
January 17, 2013 at 12:26 am (123 days ago)Loved reading about your life in 2012. Charlie is such a little cutie pie. I just wanna cuddle w/ that ball of fluffiness.
Rebecca
January 17, 2013 at 7:00 am (123 days ago)he’s a total cuddle guy!
Runner Girl Eats
January 17, 2013 at 2:54 am (123 days ago)Your gym story is so sad! Thank God I’ve never experienced that. Life is too short indeed.
Rebecca
January 17, 2013 at 7:00 am (123 days ago)Yeah it was so sad
Sara @my less serious life
January 17, 2013 at 3:20 am (123 days ago)birthday cake isn’t a meal! hahaha but i certainly should be!
Rebecca
January 17, 2013 at 7:01 am (123 days ago)haha!! yes, but I would gladly eat it for breakfast lunch or dinner any day!
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance
January 17, 2013 at 5:19 am (123 days ago)wow–you had quite a year. And the year ahead is full of all sorts of fantastic things! yay!
p.s. the pictures look fine from this end!
Rebecca
January 17, 2013 at 7:01 am (123 days ago)thanks for the photo help!
Laurie @ Love, Laugh, Laurie
January 17, 2013 at 6:06 am (123 days ago)That breaks my heart! I’m never worried about me, but things like that always make me think of James or my dad — praying for that man’s family! On a brighter note, it’s ok that Charlie isn’t a therapy dogs to others because I’m sure he is one to you! And congrats on the toy drive, so awesome!!
Rebecca
January 17, 2013 at 7:02 am (123 days ago)I know, it got me thinking about my dad too. And totally true about Charlie and the therapy dog thing!
Change of Pace
January 17, 2013 at 6:37 am (123 days ago)Oh my goodness- the story about the man at the gym is heartbreaking. (And how awful for you and your class to witness it all.) I was a lifeguard for six years in university and that was my biggest fear. How terrible for his family.
Congrats on the successful dog toy run! Poor Charlie- all those toys must be killing him!
Sounds like you had a great 2012! Wishing you the same excitement and success in 2013.
My goals for this year are just to enjoy it, go on adventure, and take any roadblocks in stride.
Rebecca
January 17, 2013 at 7:02 am (123 days ago)Thank you!! And your goals sound perfect for this year
Her Happy Balance
January 17, 2013 at 7:04 am (123 days ago)I’ve seen some people get seriously hurt at the gym before and it’s scary! That is really a shame what happened to that gentleman. On a brighter note, Charlie is absolutely precious! Oh and the photos are big
Alex @ therunwithin
January 17, 2013 at 8:13 am (123 days ago)that is so scary! I don’t know what i would do if someone died in the pool as i was there. I am so happy your toy drive is successful, those doggies are gonna be in heaven.
Nicole @ Fruit 'N' Fitness
January 17, 2013 at 8:20 am (123 days ago)Charlie is adorable! He looks like he would make such a good therapy dog, too bad he didn’t like it.
aftertheivyleague
January 17, 2013 at 8:45 am (123 days ago)Oh my God! I can’t believe that happened at the gym! I would’ve freaked out and probably been silently crying/praying too. That poor man. Life really is short, good reminder.
Alysha (@shesontherun)
January 17, 2013 at 10:51 am (123 days ago)That story about that man is just awful. My coworker saw a 28-year-old die on the sidewalk the other day. It does make you realize how precious life is.
Rebecca
January 18, 2013 at 11:14 am (122 days ago)oh my gosh, that’s awful too! really does make you appreciate life and being alive a bit more
Jen@HealthyFoodandFamily
January 17, 2013 at 11:22 am (123 days ago)Never had someone die in front of me, but my Dad died in a car accident running errands and on his way to meet me and my kids at the library. It was a normal day, he left things out at home to finish in the afternoon, and never came home. Life is SO very short!!!
Rebecca
January 18, 2013 at 11:14 am (122 days ago)Jen that is such a sad story– I feel like I want to give you a hug!!
Jen@HealthyFoodandFamily
January 22, 2013 at 9:08 am (118 days ago)It’s so hard to believe it’s been almost 3 years, it’s just surreal. Hugs are always welcome
helennaturally
January 17, 2013 at 11:55 am (123 days ago)Oh no, that is so sad! Life is so precious, this makes you realize what is really important in life
Rebecca
January 18, 2013 at 11:14 am (122 days ago)so true
Stacie @ Snaps and Bits
January 17, 2013 at 1:32 pm (123 days ago)So sorry about what happened at the gym, yikes! I wanted my dog to be a therapy dog too. But I didn’t even get so far as the training. Even though I spent a lot of time socializing him, he’s way too shy – I already know he’d be terrible at it. Oh well…
Rebecca
January 18, 2013 at 11:15 am (122 days ago)yeah my dog was really gregarious as a puppy….and now he’s much more shy. Sometimes I wonder what bad experience made him more hestiant at loving everyone
Luv What You Do
January 17, 2013 at 7:06 pm (123 days ago)I hate my gym and I’m so happy that you found a better place. That inspires me. And rooftop yoga…awesome!
Rebecca
January 18, 2013 at 11:15 am (122 days ago)yes find a new one! makes such a difference!
Brittany
January 17, 2013 at 8:36 pm (123 days ago)Ohh my gosh I would be horrified if I saw someone die like that!! So sad. Fortunately that hasn’t happened to me. You did the right thing though, not much else you could have done. On a lighter note, AWESOME about those dog toys!!
Rebecca
January 18, 2013 at 11:15 am (122 days ago)thanks, Brittany!
Apples and Arteries
January 20, 2013 at 5:13 am (120 days ago)That’s so sad about the man at the gym.
Congratulations on the successful toy drive!