11 in 11

Eleven things I learned in 2011 that I definitely didn't blog about. (In no particular order.)

• I learned that people struggle at blogging once they begin worrying about the people reading what they write.  When I began this blog in June of 2009 I was working three hourly jobs and was learning a ton of random information from the wide variety of people I was interacting with. However, when I began at my current role (salary, 401k, health benefits - what, what!)  I started realizing just how small social media can make the world and I started getting apprehensive about what I was putting online. I realize that in the age of constant media-overload personal censorship can be a good thing, but at the end of the day, all of the most interesting people I pay attention to are the ones who aren't afraid of putting themselves out there. So, I'm going to start blogging again and I'm not going to freak out if I spell something wrong or if I accidentally swear or throw in a sexual innuendo here and there. This is my own little blog and I'm still fairly certain my mom and Kelly Beaver are the only two who ever check it. [Rant, over. List, you may continue...]
• I learned how to let go of an eight year relationship.
• I learned what it feels like to be part of a neighborhood again. After my limbo-years where I was going from East Lansing to Grand Haven to Ada/Cascade it is amazing to feel at home in the East Hills neighborhood here in Grand Rapids. I'm a sucker for small town vibes and East Hills is the perfect combo of all things I love. The Pickwick + Richard App's Gallery + Green Well + Brewery Vivant + Antique shopping = happiness.
• I have learned that it is possible to develop incredibly close friendships within a short period of time if there is an equal exchange of honesty and vulnerability.
• I relearned what it looks like + feels like + sounds like to fall in love with someone new.
• I learned that I'm excellent at saying goodbye, but I'm ready to stop having to.
• I learned how to garden! Kind of! And by what I mean by that is: I grew some herbs, some peppers and some tomatoes. I don't necessarily know how these things happened, but I totally loved it.
• I learned what it's like to have someone rely on me. I have been mentoring an 8-year-old girl through the United Way's Schools of Hope program for the last year. My mentee expects me to be at her school, ready to read, every Tuesday at 11:00am. Meetings are re-arranged. Flights are planned accordingly. The queen of 3 minutes behind, is on time, on Tuesdays. [If you live in Grand Rapids, you should consider becoming a mentor...]
• With the help of my dad, I learned how to shoot a hand gun.
• I learned came to terms with the fact that my drink of choice is a dirty martini (regardless of how much I'm sure my mom wishes it were a glass of cab). It's really quite amazing considering one of my New Years Resolutions in 2008 was to make a list of all the foods I hated and be able to tolerate them by 2009. Green olives were on the top on that list.
• I learned (with help) that sometimes the best place you can be, is where you are.