2015: The Year That Was

Even though the season of yearly reviews has come and gone, and I am more than three weeks late in posting this, I still want to write about how 2015 was for me, particularly because it was a very special year.

“Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Never before in my life has this statement held as true as it does for the year 2015. I began the year with very specific goals and plans about what I wanted to do - many of them I didn’t end up successfully executing. However, the process enabled me to achieve things I didn’t even have on my list - things I wouldn’t have imagined possible at the beginning of the year. The year 2015, without doubt, was one of the BEST years of my life.

What I Had Planned: To lose 13 pounds through regular exercise that was also fun.

What I Actually Did: Trained for and ran my first half-marathon. It was fun at times, but very difficult at others. Even though I lost only about 6 pounds this year, I am fitter and healthier than ever before.

What I Learned: That sometimes, the thing that is holding you back, is all in your head.

What I Had Planned: To start making a living from my passion (which I initially thought was writing)

What I Actually Did: Realized that I was actually passionate about helping people become happier (and writing was just a means to do that), came across the field of positive psychology, learned about the MAPP program a week before its application deadline, applied and got through, and began one of the most meaningful (and fun!) periods of my life. Didn’t make any money - ended up paying more for education, but boy, is it worth it!

What I Learned: To trust the process - one of the key themes in the MAPP program.

What I Had Planned: To write and post regularly on this blog.

What I Actually Did: Ahem. This has been my most embarrassing failure in 2015. After repeated promises of writing and posting regularly, I consistently failed to meet my targets. However, I did an enormous amount of academic writing this year - which has been helpful. But, that does not take away from the fact that I didn’t write as much as I would have liked to - and I hope to do better on this front in 2016.

What I Learned: That it takes immense discipline to write on a regular basis, and that I have a long way to go in this regard.