I always like to celebrate and learn from the year that’s just passed. As in 2011 and 2012, a list of some things I’ve done helps me see as hard evidence the progress I am making. In dreaming about the coming year, I realized I couldn’t really determine exactly what 2013 had brought me. A year seems to me a random designation of days. So I looked back through all my posts to see what exactly I’ve discovered in 2013. Here we go!
Stats: The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 19,000 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 7 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
In 2013, there were 151 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 576 posts.
- The highlights of my year were the collaborative 5-post series that Amy and I did this fall and our summer trip to Alaska. I received the Sunshine Award at a time in the fall when my heart really needed the validation.
- I began the year with a focus on kindness. That link lists all the various challenges I participated in (26 acts of kindness, the 100 acts of kindness project, etc). All of these were instrumental in helping me teach my daughter the value of giving.
- There was way more of a focus on painting, something I’d not done much of before. As part of that, I sort of took over our home office and transformed it into my own art haven. I enjoyed several art classes. My favorites were Junelle Jacobson’s Wild Art Summer, Christy Tomlinson’s Behind the Art, and Life Book. I did every single weekly assignment in Life Book, something I’m very proud of. I started the Behind the Art series of posts here as well.
- In the process, I made a lot of art to brighten up and personalize our home. This canvas is one of my favorites.
I also am loving seeing our wedding song lyrics above our bed.
- Speaking of e-courses, I participated in every monthly One Little Word blog hop and made some lovely connections that way. “Stillness” was a bit of a stretch for me, but I’m glad I chose to focus on slowing down and will continue to work on it. As an extension of this work, I wrote about relaxing my perfectionism and letting go of expectations.
- I had two guest posts this year. On Kind Over Matter, I wrote “Allowing Yourself to Shine” about taming those negative judgements we make of ourselves and how we talk to ourselves. On Story of Mum, my post, “The Shame of Enough,” was about feeling that our family is complete with one child, just the three of us. Also, “Swimming Toward Independence,” was published on the Momoir Project blog in July.
- Since I love reading and have been keeping a list of everything I’ve read, I started writing monthly “book love” reading reports. Here are September, October, and November. I also love the painting I made of My Ideal Bookshelf after reading that book.
- I added a lot of happy color to our home.
- My husband and I went to New Orleans for a weekend to catch up with each other. I tell a little about how that trip helped our relationship here. We started going on dates this year too. The post I wrote for our 12th anniversary was a popular one.
- Interestingly, my most popular post was about fashion with 1,118 views. Who knew??? Many people have clicked on my Stitch Fix affiliate link and it surprises me every time. Thanks for the free clothes! Another popular post was 38 lessons in 38 years.
- I made more blog books and am finishing up book 2 of year 2 now.
As I embark on year 4 here at Poetic Aperture, I would like to thank you again for being part of this community. I treasure you and your comments.
Hi Naomi,
I walked away from this post and just now finally came back to finish reading it! lol… I am not done reading yet as there were a few links that I clicked on inside your post. I am impressed by your consistency. That is a wonderful trait. There were quite a few things that you listed here that you COMPLETED. I love that. I am working on that. It always scares me to sign up for stuff because I don’t trust myself to complete on it, but if I looked back I would probably find that I complete more things than I realize. Thanks for being such an inspiration to me this year and I look forward to more of the same in 2014!
Wow, it’s amazing how many things a person does in a year (maybe without realizing it)! Just reading your awesome blog(s), makes me think I better sit down and do a 2013 flashback soon. Love your colorful pics and fun writing style.
Cindy Mihalko recently posted…Chalkboard signs are IN!
Naomi, what a wonderful and full year you have had. Your post has inspired me to review what has happened last year myself, I know I’ve been busy! And I’m sure I will be surprised once I write it down. Thanks
Sue recently posted…Comment on The Art of Living by Jennifer RIchardson
I know you’ll be pleased when you see in one place how much you’ve accomplished. Just your paintings alone are amazing!
What a wonderful and inspiring look back at your year. I’m truly impressed with your having done all the lifebook lessons. I got myself lost about half-way thru (which is reminding me that I’ve been wanting to download them). Great to meet you…and looking forward to sharing your new year with you!
Thanks, Marcie. Are you taking LB this year too? I just couldn’t. Putting the actual book together if taking forever. 🙂
I’ve never really done the year end accounting until this year. It really opened my eyes to what I actually accomplished. Reading your list has inspired me towards more. Guest posts, anyone?
Susan recently posted…Switching Things Up
I just loved reading this post – and it inspired me to do a few things – at the top of the list is keeping a list of all the books I read. I have been very haphazard about it. I am doing a challenge on Goodreads, so I hope that inspired me to keep up with it. I love that you painted your bookshelf – it got me to thinking about what mine would look like!!!!! I’m inspired to write about my year in review now!!!! But – I’m really inspired to keep up with what I’m doing in 2014 so I can do a recap that hopefully is as interesting as your post
Vickie, I used Goodreads a few years ago to help me come up with my list of everything I’ve ever read – helpful since they recommend books based on what you’ve read. I’m so glad you found my post interesting. I really felt unsure about what the year meant to me until I went back through my blog posts. I’m off to find you on Goodreads now…
What a lovely recap of 2013. I enjoyed seeing how much art is such a big part of your life and home. I love that you and your husband began going on dates again. That is something that needs to be made into a priority for us also as a couple. Thanks for all the inspiration. Now I want to go and explore many of your other posts and links. Happy New Year to you and your family. xo
Suzanne recently posted…Time in nature to fill my soul!
It’s amazing what touching base can do for a couple. Yesterday we each took the Love Languages quiz and I’m so glad we did so we can better give each other what we need. Happy New Year to you too, friend. I’m so glad we’ve met.
Your life is such an art…..wonderful, real and true.
I’m glad I get to share the road with you.
Joy and grace to you as your journey on,
Jennifer
Jennifer Richardson recently posted…making fresh tracks…
You are the person who commented the most last year and I must tell me how grateful I am for your words and motivation. I’m glad too. 🙂