Looking back to the end of last year and beginning of this year, I didn't have much in the way of resolutions. I did, however, express one: Try to have an adventure at least once a month. An adventure, defined loosely, was doing something I had never done before - something hard. At least, hard for me.
How did I do?
I almost blew it right away. In January, on the last day of the month, I went running on the mall, right from work. Pretty weak, I'd say, but it counts. I did this a couple more times this year, but after my dog was cleared for exercise, I mostly have gone running with him.
February was Rocky liberation, and we celebrated with a hike in Greenbelt National Park. My first time to the park, and Rocky's first hike. It was splendid, and long enough to be really physically challenging for us both.
March was different. I did something social, and hard. I went to a "meetup group" - an event set up with an open invitation on the internet. This was very hard for me, but actually I ended up doing a few of these this year. In March, I attended the Quantified Self group - the same group I gave my talk to in November. I also attended a Data Science DC group, where there was the author of Cool Infographics, something which I am very interested in.
In April, I did a "Meetup Group" hike, to see the cherry blossoms. It ended up with just a couple of us, but it was fun before work. I also did the Detox Diet, (which I wrote about in May). Not something I intend to repeat, but an interesting adventure, never-the-less.
May began the 5K circuit, starting with the Takoma Park 5K. It wasn't my first time, but it was the first race in two years, the first of the season, and I'm counting it as my adventure.
June, I went to the Congo with my family. Adventure enough for anyone. Not your normal vacation destination. It was particularly good for me to be on a vacation where I could influence nothing, I was just along for the ride.
July was the Annapolis Women's 5K. My first race with a friend. Lots of fun. I also did two other Meetup hikes, places I had never been before. I was not overwhelmed with the company, but it was good to get out and be at least a little bit social.
August was The Attack of the Killer Tree, and my first ride in an ambulance, my first metal stitches. Not an adventure I want to repeat, but it kept me from the Flee the British 5K I had been planning to run, so I have to count the ambulance ride as the adventure.
September I joined a new gym, and ventured out in public in workout clothes. Before then, I had only worn those clothes to my other, private gym, and only for the 6 am workout. Now, I'm strutting around running errands in my workout clothes downtown.
October was three adventures: two 5ks and sailing on the Pride, as well as ER trip #2 from slicing off a piece of my thumb with a mandoline.
November was the last 5K race of the year, and my QS talk which was posted on the internets.
December - what have I got to show for the month? I'm doing new stuff at the gym - including bench pressing with the big weights! - and the rowing machine, and pull-ups. I think that will have to count. I don't want to count ER trip #3, the cardiac false alarm. I'm sorry I brought it up. Let's go back to the subject of planned adventures.
What will I plan for next year? I'm going to take a vacation to San Francisco for one, in June. I think I need more travel, will have to figure it out. But I think I achieved my goal, overall, of pushing myself to new horizons this year. It is certainly NOT time to rest on my laurels, but instead move forward.
Excelsior!
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