2012 rang in with a
celebration with friends at a gorgeous
house in the Baltimore area and at a dance near my house in Bethesda. After a
successful motto of
“Be Brave” in 2011, I chose “Self-Control” for 2012. And
since this is a time for reflection, I’ll be honest and say that goal did not go
over too well. At all. So with that confession, here is a recap of my year in
all its gluttonous glory.
Self-control and grad school are difficult to do at the same
time. I took
7 classes at museums around the city and got all As and A-s.
I also slept a lot, didn’t work out
enough, and didn’t eat super healthy. Case in point: at one of my new travel destinations
of the year,
New Orleans, I hit up Café Du Monde for beignets twice in one day.
Other new travel destinations included
Ocean City, MD, and Rockaway, New York,
and Lake Anna, Virginia.
I’ve experienced more weather phenomena on the East Coast in
the last 4 years than the rest of my life combined, and 2012 added a durecho
and Hurricane Sandy. We never lost power and harbored friends in need. I spent
a day in Rockaway helping homeowners whose homes flooded. No one on that island
escaped damage.
Speaking of epic, a certain facebook post of mine on June
16, 2012 caused quite the ward drama. It read, “Epic [ep-ik] adj. heroic;
majestic; impressively great.” A simple definition, right? But it would seem
this post tipped off my involvement in a perfectly executed sneak attack in the
night where some friends and I heart-attacked the guys’ cars at an elder’s
quorum campout.
History was made that night.
Looking back if I had to choose an
ex post facto theme to this year, it would be “Give.” I found joy
in giving this year—giving to myself and to others. I gave food and talent when
the beautiful new LDS chapel on 16
th Street was dedicated. I gave to
a secret santa program for ward members who meet in that new chapel. I found
joy in serving hurricane victims. Christmas gifts were fun to give to the
family this year, though I will admit I dropped the ball on birthdays. I
definitely enjoyed gifting myself some beautiful Kate Spade upgrades (I’m
obsessed), a Mason Pearson hairbrush, and some
whimsical art prints. In March I
was called as 1
st Counselor (education counselor) in the Relief
Society of nearly 200 women in my ward. Giving time and love towards this
responsibility has been a challenge and a joy.
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2013 will also be accompanied by a theme that I am really
excited about. It was a concept introduced to me through
a series of miracles
that 2012 brought to pass and I know it will bless many aspects of my life. It
is
“Loving for the Sake of Love.” So in 2013 I hope to honor the virtue of Love
by just LOVING. Everyone. I want to live a fuller, richer life by increasing my
love for everyone around me. I don’t want anything in return; I just want to
love.
The
Book of Mormon teaches that charity is the pure love of
Christ. Charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed
up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and
rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all
things, endureth all things…If ye have not charity ye are nothing, for charity
never faileth…Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be
filled with this love” (Moroni 7).
This is my prayer for 2013!
