THINGS I KNOW: the last 2011 edition

(This post is part of the Things I Know linkup @ The Good, The Bad and The Unnecessary. Check it out!)

Two days before the new year starts. Somehow this is deemed significant. I don’t know. It’s just a number, isn’t it? We’ve been celebrating the winter solstice – which it is really – during the past month with parties, feasts, offerings and whatnot. Apparently we need another celebration, this time to ward off the evil spirits with loud bangs and pretty fire lights*. Okay. This is also the time for end-of-year lists.

Our kitchen clock. It has birds on it. Yes.

THINGS I KNOW about my 2011

1 – 2011 was a year of growth and demise. While my kiddies continued to grow into themselves and the people they will be, become more visible each and every day, it was also the year that someone I know lost two people who were near and dear to him. These deaths were up close and personal, somehow. They brought it to my attention that life is not ever lasting, and they turned 2011 into a significant year when it comes to life, universe and everything.

2 – 2011 was a year of ongoing self-discovery. This year I read through The Artist’s Way for example, subscribed to a number of newsletters about subjects that interest me, and failed to do meditation and yoga on a regular basis. Hey, at least I thought about it! In essence of course every year is a year of ongoing self-discovery but this year particularly so because I am now also a mother of two budding little people and I feel I need to know myself even better than before. And perhaps even do something with that knowledge.

3 – 2011 kept me with my feet on European soil. No travels to other continents this year, just Europe. I flew to England at one point (Gateshead) and to Greece (Thessaloniki) and we drove to Germany (like we do every year for the games fair) and France (for vacation) but other than that it was an unusually homely year. That’s okay. The long-distance travelling will recommence soon enough.

4 – 2011 was a significant year in terms of friendships. Not so much because I made new ones or lost some, but because my own perception of them changed. That was challenging for me, and something that will probably continue in the new year – and quite possibly also after that, for the rest of my life. One person (friend?) put it like this: I see friendships too easily. Maybe that is true. Maybe that is not such a bad thing. I do know about 2011 that some bonds have grown stronger yet, even if they are halfway across the world.

5 – 2011 had me writing almost every day. This blog started in April this year. December is the busiest month so far when it comes to stats counts. (The Things I Know linky may have something to do with that.) All I know is that I enjoy writing on this little blog. Before this I had a blog over here. I intend to integrate those entries on this one sometime soon. I also want to rearrange the categories, and work on the design of the blog a little more. I like how this is not a specific blog, like a mommy blog or a musicology blog, but a bit of everything. That generalist view, that’s me.

Thank you all for being a part of my world in 2011, whether I know you (well) or not. Whether it was a good year for you or not, it is always good to remember: Just because something is not nice, doesn’t mean it’s not a miracle. See you next year!

♥

*Just a little note: Contrary to a lot of other countries, like the US, in the Netherlands people light fireworks themselves during New Year’s. That means that around midnight the streets are a pandemonium as people blow hundreds and thousands of euros into the skies. We live on the 6^th floor (7^th if you’re American) so we have a good view of the Amsterdam skies and do not need to buy our own fireworks. It is a good arrangement.

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