Lighthearted Reflections on 2016

New Year's Eve 2016 found me with people I hadn't known the year before, so of course, we didn't have a shared ritual or even a basic knowledge of each other's lives beyond the scope of the past few months. So we created a ritual that I hope to take up again and again. We asked questions and told stories! Here is an abbreviation of what I shared.

Where were you on NYE 2016?
-My living room, Casablanca

Who were you with on NYE 2016?
-Janine, Stacey, Bria

What was the hardest you laughed in 2016?
-Possibly, some conversation with Stacey and Caty Mac on the bus
-Or, possibly Abby falling onto an occupied air mattress while attempting to capsize it

What was the best moment of 2016?
-Crying in front of a Rothko with Kelly in Chicago

What was an embarrassing moment of 2016?
-when the H & H delivery guy called me "Claire" in front of my co-worker after flirting with me for a few minutes

What day in 2016 would you live over and over?
-one of any Sunday that included the following elements: WEMF, House of Pizza, hiking, friends

What was your favorite song of 2016?
-"Sorry" by Bieber (I'm conflicted as to whether or not to apologize for this being true. The irony.)

What was your favorite movie/show of 2016?
-"The West Wing" show
-"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" movie

Most memorable trip of 2016?
-Chicago with Krystle, Rachel, and Kelly
-Fez and Casa with Bethany, Janine, Sarah, and Derek

What was your biggest lesson of 2016?
-I have value as a person without doing anything more.

Who was the most influential person in your year?
-Betty

What was the bravest thing you did in 2016?
-Dating and breaking up

What was the kindest thing you did in 2016?
-... it's good to think on that one, but maybe not publish an answer, you know?

What was the best advice you gave, or the best conversation you had in 2016?
-SO MANY good conversations!
-I advised my seniors not to go straight to college. I'm waiting for parent emails to come in.

A Very Specific Survey (or, General News With a Particular Focus on Sleep)

What food have you been eating the most?

Squash from Joella and Carmen's garden. Sweet, savory, with bread, without bread, in a stew, in a pie. Always delicious.

What is your current relationship to sleep?

Aw, yeah. Every time I get in bed at the end of the day, a feeling of euphoria sneaks over me, and I giggle a lot, and squirm and am so thankful to be going to sleep. With all that joy and love I associate with going to sleep, you'd think I'd be in bed half the day. I'm not in bed half the day. I'm rarely in bed the allotted third of the day. 

In fact, this past week, I needed a holy reminder of the sacred nature of sleep. At an extended prayer meeting on Thursday evening, let the record show I had come a half hour late anyway, I was falling asleep during the group prayer time. Then, Luis sent us off to spend time with the Lord, listening and in quiet. Wow! What an opportunity to reach out to God, to listen. I didn't want to miss it, even though I couldn't seem to think straight. The world's edges were blurring; I was losing perspective and becoming more miserable by the moment. I kept thinking of the many things I'd left undone, the endless "to do" list I sometimes torture myself with. I went outside and put on a song I'd been thinking about, attempting to turn my eyes upon Jesus. Failing.

Out came Michelle and Troy and their baby son. "You're going home?" I asked. 

"Yup. The little man's gotta get to bed," Michelle responded. Then she stopped, "I wanted to sing this during the meeting, but I didn't have the guts in the moment. It's a song I was thinking about, and maybe it's for you..." And she sang a beautiful lullaby of God calling his child to rest in his presence. Too tired, I said, "That's it. I'm going home, too." I went inside and grabbed my coat, explaining my leaving to but one soul, and not attempting to excuse myself, feeling that God himself was calling me to rest. I went home, and to bed. 

What good things happened today?

One roommate announced her engagement. Another roommate announced her brand new nephew's birth. And after Chelsea had lost her phone all day, I found it in my car!

What upsetting thing happened last week?

A good friend lost her job. 

What question has been floating in your head recently?

What does it mean to finish well?