50 Things I'm Proud I Did in 2011

1. Snorkeled in the Bahamas on my birthday

2. --removed--

3. Lived with Nana for one month

4. Completed a 3-month Traumatic Brain Injury (#TBI) rehab program

5. Learned Anusara yoga and kenetic awareness from Ellen Saltonstall

6. Visited my brother, Joey, in Cleveland

7. Celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas with another family

8. Had great sex

9. Practiced letting go

10. Drove a U-Haul truck

11. Went on a 3-day road trip with Mom (in the truck)

12. Co-Founded Partners in Health – Charleston Chapter
13. Took care of myself when Karen (woman I lived with for two years) kicked me out

14. Got to know my Aunt Amy more

15. Was there for two people when they had issues with friends

16. I’m proud of how I handled being diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardic Syndrome; first explained here, then here.

17. Hung out with Holly and Larissa, two amazing friends from college (even if it was just for one night…)

18. Took care of myself in my relationships, even if that meant ending some

19. Moved to Charleston

20. Went boating

21. Re-learned how to read

22. Timed myself and read 40 pages in 50 minutes (last year I could only read about 3 pages in 10 minutes and had trouble focusing after that)

23. Strengthened relationships in awesome ways.

24. Bought lots of lingerie

25. Got my hair blonde, exactly the way I imagined it

26. ‘Greened’ my routine a little more with natural hand and body soaps and lotions

27. Walked two miles with Mom. This is huge as in April I was apartment-ridden; unable to climb stairs or walk much at all and using a cane.It was all heart weakness from the POT syndrome.

28. Went to a few AA meetings and explored my consumption of alcohol

29. I didn’t drink much before, but as a result of the above exploration I became much more conscious of when I do drink (on average once every two months)

30. Played guitar every day for one month

31. Learned some beautiful songs on Guitar, recorded one and sent it to someone (Make You Feel My Love – By Bob Dylan, sung by Adele)

32. Recorded CSN – Helplessly Hoping with a friend.

33. Learned Mahjong and won money my first few games

34. Tried new drinks at Starbucks  

35. Bought and wore a shirt with horizontal stripes and aviator sunglasses

36. Registered for classes and got an apartment to prepare to return to BUSPH in January

37. Developed a good friendship with Mom

38. Let go of my meditation teacher and his classes and really made my practice my own

39. Had many tough but great conversations with people in my life about my brain injury and how it affects me

40. Got myself on a sleep schedule, monophasic for now (I'm now convinced that for any illness, addressing sleep schedules should be the first line of treatment. Well that and basic nutrition...)

41.--removed--

42. Checked out four different yoga/fitness places in Charleston

43. Tried the paleo diet

44. Was interviewed by Hugo Martins on his blog

45. Got a few great massages and really relaxed into enjoying them

46. Went to a new church

47. Watched the class I started BUSPH with graduate and let it go. I let go of myself for not being with them.

48. Switched doctors when I felt I wasn’t being listened to

49. Met some awesome people on a meditation retreat in Puerto Rico

50. Volunteered at a homeless shelter and with People Against Rape

This year was way more amazing and difficult than I ever imagined. I hit a very low point with the POT syndrome and celebrated falling in love. With everything going on, I love my life. 

I love my life and I hope you can say the same.

However you feel, I hope you give this exercise a try. Write down 50 things you are proud you did in the past year. It's difficult in an incredible way, to think of everything you've done and all the ways you've grown over the past 12 months. 

Enjoy!

Oh, here are the past two year's lists:

- 50 Things I'm Proud I Did in 2010

- 50 Things I'm Proud I Did in 2009

Much love,

Jackie Rose