The Things You Taught Me in 2010
Turns out, I’ve learned a lot this year. My forty-first year hasn’t been my easiest or my happiest, but it has been enriched by forcing myself to change. To stop gossipping. To quit running bad experiences through my head like a warped iTunes mix. To cease with seeing the negative first in every situation. To try to ask more questions instead of talking, talking, talking.
I’m far from perfect, but I am grateful for the role you played in improving me and my life this year. Whether you visit this blog sporadically or crack me up multiple times per day with your commentary, you have helped me more than you may ever know. Sure, you made me laugh almost constantly.
Even more meaningful?
You sometimes made me cry when I needed to let something go, and you gave me the courage to release it. You kept me from taking myself too seriously. You shared pieces of yourselves that spoke to me and deepened my life. You made me a slightly less imperfect person. You helped me reconnect with a passion that I’ve been told I should pursue for most of my life. You taught me what’s important, and who matters. You illumined the exponential return that making investments in good people – people to be emulated and admired – can bring to living.
Thank you. For all of it. I hope 2011 gives you everything you’ve given me and more.
Something tells me there is more to come…..:)
Life is a continuous exercise in improvement, isn’t it?
It’s been a lot of fun following your blog exploits and knowing you thru Rotary as well. I have enjoyed the sharing of personal stories; some funny, some poignant.
I have also enjoyed the opportunity to exchange thoughts, puns, zingers and more importantly share some personal thoughts that help remind me to be a better person.
It’s been fun to meet new people, folks that I probably never would have met as our busy lives move on in their many separate paths. We now each have a little bit that we can share and it is very clear that people reveal their personalities and their nature thru their comments. The blog party was a great idea and I hope that is something you consider doing again, maybe a summer event.
Most importantly, keep on writing….whatever form it takes, you are good at it and you make us all laugh, think and sometimes cry.
Happy New Year to you and all the fellow Andra-Dites.
Ah, a summer blog party, where you get to visit our house when it is hotter than hell inside.
That is food for thought, Lou. I will certainly consider it.
Thank you for all of your encouragement this year. Happy 2011 to you and TK.
First of all, about the picture, nice balls!! You knew I had to do it…
Now, on a more serious note, you have provide all of us at least as much as you have received. For instance, without your blog Lou would never ave gotten to meet me. How sad a thought is that? And none of us would ever have known that you are indeed a closet exhibitionist. (wait, is that possible? A beguiling oxymoron?)
Anyway, you have truly blessed us all. Thank you for sharing and for just being you.
Ah yes, Michael, it has been a pleasure to exchange fun thoughts this year and it was great to meet you in person at the Andra-Dite party. Now, if we can just get you away from that soccer silliness…..:)
Give up soccer? Never! I would rather give up… Having to hear about American football. Seriously.
Ah, yes. An inspired idea, Carnell…for 2010, we move from Puns in the comments section, to Oxymorons! Lou can start callling us all Andra-Morons…
Would that then mean “other idiots” according to Andra?
I can barely keep up with the punning, but I’m interested to see where you people will take oxymorons……..Other Idiots – that’s funny.
Yes, they look like soccer balls, don’t they, Carnell? I have to come down in your corner. I love soccer. So much more finesse and fitness required.
And, I’m glad you and Lou finally got to meet.
Wow, I could have written that first paragraph! I am a constant work in progress. lol Hope you have a wonderful 2011! I’m thankful for our new friendship.
I guess part of life is being a work in progress where we never really arrive. But, the journey is fun, envigorating and sometimes painful. I hope you have a lovely 2011 also!!
I too have been very blessed to be a part of Andra and MTM’s inner circle through the blog, the comments and the occasional meet up where I can meet all of the wonderful people that are able to make it. 2010 and the social media events both online and offline have helped me to get more comfortable with meeting new people in person and increasing the depth and breadth of my horizons. Your blog Andra and the many comments that come along with it have added qaulity and quantity of life for me and for that I am deeply thankful. I look forward to knowing you and MTM and each of you folks that comment even better in 2011. I wish each of you a very safe and blessed new year to come.
I’m so glad you decided to come out and join us at Zia that day. It has been fun getting to know you and Katy this year, and I look forward to many more. Happy 2011!!
Your Blog is indeed a daily gift to all who read it. I read it every day. Thanks so much, Andra. Hope your 2011 is the best year ever.
I don’t know how it managed to post part of itself last night, but I think I got it fixed.
Thank you for reading every day, Liz. I hope 2011 holds amazing things for you, too. xo
We could never be morons, perhaps clearly misunderstood, passively aggressive, computer jocks that are terribly pleased with our word witticisms.
I could not have said that better Lou.
I agree. No morons here.
This is a test to see if my gravatar picture actually changed. The other image is an old image and I think it makes me look like a psycho or something worse. LOL… Hopefully this newer image is not as disturbing…
I guess it takes time for the gravatar image to actually change on here. Hmmmm
Ok, there is the change. Goodie… Andra, feel free to delete this drivel if you want. Heh
You still look like a demented psychopath to me. Just wearing a sweater now.
I like this picture, James. Don’t listen to Carnell.
Listen to me. Really. He is a psycho stalker. You can tell by the way he always wants to hug people.
He was very disappointed that you didn’t come out for hugging.
James, you can ignore Michal, he is still suffering from sleep deprivation from watching too much soccer when he should have bee watching the cheerleaders.
Watching the cheerleaders might raise the bar even higher on photos, though, Lou. None of us look perfect like the cheerleaders.
Cheerleaders in bondage tights and polka dot golashes. Now there’s a thought!
Isn’t that too much clothing for cheerleaders?
OK, I will bow to your better .judgment. I am always happy for cheerleaders to have less clothing.
BTW, does that mean our next Twitter lunch meetup is going to be at Hooters?
No. I won’t be going to Hooters. I – dare I say it – cilantro Hooters.
I wake up every morning and can’t wait to see what your daily post will be. I agree with Lou – keep on writing! I’m waiting on your first novel. Happy New Year to you!
Debbie, Happy Birthday!!!! I hope you have a perfect day.
Thanks for reading my blog and for all of your encouraging words. Who knows what will come?
Happy 2011.
Thank you for all that you’ve taught, elicited and solicited (no Carnell, not like that.)
You’ve brought about tears, laughter, musing and plain ole interest.
Writing is what you are supposed to do! I’m cheering you on and will be a promoter of your work any day.
And on the business side too!
Can’t wait to see what the ACM* gets up to in 2011.
Thank you for all of your cheering – both public and private. I hope you and Bill have your best year yet in 2011 – professionally and personally. I enjoyed talking with you yesterday.
Well I have to be an easy target, else you all would never hit anything!
Ha ha.
I am being maligned again!
You’re such an easy target!
I think you should be flattered with this one, Carnell. It was a very clever shot on Cheryl’s part.
Loved your blogs, Andra! You’re delightfully entertaining. Hey, and I met Lou here. Great FB acquaintance!
Look forward to you new theme for 2011. Are you having a new theme? This one was a good one
Happy New Year! A & M
Kimberly Trader Vozel
Lou is a great acquaintance, period. I don’t know where he finds all the energy he has.
I have a new theme. It debuts tomorrow.
Happy New Year to you and your family, too. I’m so glad to have reconnected with you. Every time I drive by that fountain, I think of you.
xo
Kimberly, what a nice thing to say. I enjoy your comments on FB, especially when you’re talking about your Colts. have a great new Years.
And if we help each other grow
While the light of day
Smiles down our way
Then we can’t go wrong
Townes Van Zandt – No Place To Fall
You know how much I love that song.
If I had no place to fall
And I needed you,
Could I count on you?
I know each and every person on this blog comment stream could and would help each other out.
This community is like that, isn’t it? Thank you for sharing those words, Bill and Cheryl.
Very well said, Bill, we just do our little thing each day to encourage one another.
Andra – as stated before, your blog is inspiring. wish I had more time to reply each time I wanted to this year.
Your assertion to change — “To stop gossipping. To quit running bad experiences through my head like a warped iTunes mix. To cease with seeing the negative first in every situation. To try to ask more questions instead of talking, talking, talking.” hit me between the eyes.
That last one – the listening one – is my overall resolution for 2011… why is it so hard to listen sometimes? Is it generational? I have such a hard time saving up all the passion I have for a subject in order to let the speaker finish their thoughts – and when I am able to save it up, the outflow when it’s my turn can be an avalanche. A work in progress I am.
The others in your list are very applicable as well with the exception on focusing on the negative in situations initially. I am on the eternal optimist side. We can agree to seek middle-ground – as it is ‘the best for all concerned’…
Happy New Year & Rock on, Chad
I’ve never noticed you to be a bad listener, Chad. Maybe it is because I always yak your ear off when we get together. Seriously, I am still so bad at this one. I don’t know whether it is generational or what.
I’m glad you visit here. I hope you and your family have a sensational 2011.
Gotta agree with you there, Chad is one of the good guys! And another person, like Lou, who I can’t figure out where he gets his energy.
I know! I wonder that about Chad regularly, too. Maybe it is Rotary.
The energy definitely comes from Rotary and being around people who want to do good. I am always humbled by the unbelievable projects and sacrifices made by Rotarians, here in S. Carolina and around the world.
When you get a chance to be around these people, you just get so energized and it carries you thru the day and beyond.
Being around the Ambassadorial Scholars and sponsoring them each year is so much fun and they really are fabulous kids and our future is in such good hands with these young people.
Our Zone is sending out another group of 19 scholars this fall and they will be going out for a year to universities all around the world. They will be students and Ambassadors for Rotary and work with local Rotary Clubs on volunteer service projects, etc.
Our Zone does an Orientation each year to help the students get ready and I’ll be doing an hour presentation this year on all their pre-departure documents and requirements. It’s a 2 day orientation and when I leave there each year, I am so energized about Rotary and our youth that it just carries me forward. Whew, now I’m exhausted from my 3 finger typing…is there any way to have a voice activated comment section next year.
One of my wishes for 2011 is to meet those of you commenting here that I’ve not met yet, and get to know those of you I have had the pleasure of meeting better both online and in person. Hope that made sense. Happy 2011 everyone!
Well, Lou has already requested a summer blog party…….so, maybe it will happen sooner than you think.
Andra, I’m so glad you found me and brought me into your lovely world. With you as a partner, I’m finally going to “do the thing” I’ve been talking about for years, as well.
And also, thanks to you, I will soon begin blogging every day. Well, 5 days a week. Close enough.
xoxo
I can’t believe we didn’t know each other before. But, I’m thankful for you every day.
I can’t wait to read what the new year brings. Here’s to 2011 as “the” year for both of us. Xo
Five days a week is a great challenge and I am looking forward to reading each day. I love your current profile pic on FB of the model reading Vogue with you on the cover, that is so cool.
Happy New Year’s Eve, everyone!
Happy New Years to you as well, Michael, I hadn’t even noticed that you sneaked this one in.
Happy New Year to you all!
Still awake, Carnell? I’m managing to stay up with a little bubbly and watching football between Facebook posts and greetings.
Of course still awake! Well actually because my daughter is babysitting and I have to stay up to taxi her home. I happily have the TV off. Happy New Year my friend.
And a very Happy New Year to you.