What I Learned this Year

Well, the day has finally come. I'll all packed and my room is emptied out and cleaned. I'm flying home to Tennessee tomorrow and then I'll be moving to Arlington, Virginia when I get back. This year has been a HUGE year of growth for me. And if you read my posts from earlier this year, I think you can kind of tell that I'm different from when I wrote them. There were a lot of unexpected changes. I learned about some new things that I needed to work on which were different than what I expected to be doing this year. I'm glad the Lord has guided me to figuring out what I need to do to change and has sent people my way to help me make those changes. This year was not an easy year for me. (It was certainly not the hardest by any means!!! No more depression makes life so much easier!). I was completely out of my comfort zone pretty much all year and that has helped foster the growth I've experienced. And now that I'm finally comfortable here I'm leaving (but I'm not moving too far away!). On to new jobs, new friends, a new house. I have a good feeling 2012 is going to be a memorable and wonderful year for me. (I plan on making it that way!) Here are some things I learned this year in D.C. in 2011:


-Sometimes you just have to fake it til you make it. (And also that most cliche's are true!)
-I can be friends with a lot of different types of people. People who aren't the same age, not the same personality, people who view life differently than me. It's nice to know I can make friends with just about anyone (if they're nice).
-I don't like dogs as much as I thought I did.
-That I truly am beautiful. Not only inside but also on the outside.
-That I have a lot more to work on than I thought! But also that I am doing better than I thought I was.
-I am okay by myself. I can handle being alone now.
-I really hate passive aggressiveness. Okay, I already knew that but now I REALLY know that I hate it and it doesn't solve anything. It just makes people (well, me) angry. Honesty and open communication in a tactful and nice way is the best way to interact with people.
-Who Ben Bernanke is. And that he has really yappy dogs.
-That being a mother is going to be A LOT harder than I thought. But I am also even more excited to have my own children.
-A lot about how to take care of babies (specifically twins) and how to best entertain toddlers.
-People notice my efforts and abilities more than I realize.
-It's important to look your best but even more important to treat others with kindness.
-How to ride the metro and navigate around a big city.
-Where all the good places to eat in D.C. are. And that Good Stuff Eatery should really be called The Best Stuff Eatery. I know where the best pancakes are (Market Lunch) and the best kabobs are (Crystal City... which is where I'm moving to!!!)
-That people are mean for a reason. If you get to know why someone is the way they are by looking at their past experiences, you can't help but feel compassion for them instead of anger.
-That complete and true forgiveness is possible even if things are not fair or just (in this lifetime).
-If you try your absolute best and put your trust in the Lord, you will be okay.
-A lot more things that are pretty personal and probably not best to be shared on the internet, and some things that are just boring for you to read. :)


Goodbye Capitol Hill and thanks for an amazing year! I'll be back to visit!

(Where I lived this year)

(My street sign)