2017 The Year That Was

Some of the best things happened to me in 2017 despite the lack of positive political climate- I graduated college with a B average and a 3.45 in my Major, I enjoyed living by myself most of the time throughout the year and have kept the possibility of manic episodes and anxiety attacks largely at bay, I have not only won 5 gold medals but also the hearts of countless coaches and athletes as a newly minted individual sports champion who used to do team sports primarily and also found time to do a few fun runs including 2 in 2 days, I have read over 100 books for the 3rd straight year in a row, I have continued to make financial gains by limiting my coffee out and meal out intake as well as keep my checking account debt-free since March despite moving at that time, I have continued to make waves as not only a LGBT advocate and a disability rights advocate to the point of being nominated for an award for my efforts but also a continuing up-and-coming environmental rights advocate and an advocate for the homeless and poor. Not only these things but also in the face of all these things happening I have lost 40 pounds despite having restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, Albertsons', DK donuts, and Fanci Freeze all within a very brief walking distance away. I have resigned from being a REC Center regular on my own terms and have continued to get more time doing classes at Fort Boise and items with Boise Parks And Recreation as well as a pass for Sage Yoga and the YMCA which has been positive overall. I have continued to be the best cradle Presbyterian I can be but also have had time with my friends of all sorts of political bents and have had hard conversations with many people. I have also enjoyed having great friends as neighbors and that has continued to make me happy and passionate about being where I am in addition to the purple, green, and blue walls and the ability to make this place my own. Yes Trump is making the world a bit of a wasteland and the other world leaders are not helping and yes some of the people who are in my life have left and there has been some intense conversations with how things should be however I can bask in the glory that I don't drive a car but have driven a boat three different places, am just as enthralled by Star Wars, Wonder Woman, or Jumanji as I am Wonderstruck, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Patch Adams, Finding Forrester, or Free Willy. I have been making myself keep honoring my fallen heroes by doing what would make them happy such as through helping others and been spiritually disciplined in honor of my Grandma who died on the same day I graduated three years to the day, by continuing to get things crossed off of my To-Do-Before-I-Die-List and only have several things to do in honor of Sam Harmer as well as doing all the things I set out to do in Summer and in my college career, and Bob Hamilton I have honored by finishing my degree at Boise State and continuing to speak out for all the things that mattered to him- fervency, activism, faith, sports, and fellowship. I have also gotten to take in a couple of minor-league baseball games, a couple of women's soccer games (one professional and one college), a gymnastics meet, a volleyball game, a softball game, bits and pieces of a few club frisbee games, and have also done sports well: yoga, my first distance swimming races in years, snowshoeing, a variety of Y classes, several races, and dancing as well as bootcamp and my fall P.E. class and Core De Force. I might be emphasizing what I've done too much but I have seen happiness in others in my family by what they have accomplished in the year, by my friends for their hopefulness, and have continued to see a much brighter future in my friends lives' as well. To wrap it up I have a couple of things: 1) I'm a freak and there is nothing wrong with that- my unique approach is one of my best qualities as well as my heart and 2) my medical maintenance with yoga, exercise bike/eliptical, massage, chiropractor, accupuncture, and dancing has been a great thing as well. May 2018 bring many adventures and much joy and I am lucky that I made it through 2017 unscathed.