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Hello 2011!

12/31/2010

9 Comments

 
Picture
Around the campfire at Jtree
Every year I write and reflect. It's one of the few habits I have that I'm proud of.
 I can go back to my first blog and read my resolutions from 2002, and I can go back on paper and find them from years earlier. 


I'm a firm believer that reflection is the only way to make progress. Unless you take the time to see where you've been, how can you know where you are going, much less control or change it? 

Picture
After Devils Tower
Sometimes I look back and am surprised by everything that's happened. This year I'm not. 2010 felt overly full and busy. At times it was good, at others it was bad. I can't say that this year was a total success or failure, but I did learn a whole lot about myself. 

So how did I do this year...

2010 Resolutions:
I, Aleya Littleton, do hearby resolve to:
      1. Continue to "Get better" - Did a good job with this one.
      2. Publish in the NSTA magazine. - No, but I'm in the ASP journal, which I think counts. Mostly cause I got a bonus. :)
      3. Blog consistently to work on my writing skills. - Did pretty well with this one.
      4. Climb a mountain.  - No, but I'm signed up for Gannet Peak in 2011.
      5. Travel outside the country. - Nope, didn't happen.
      6. Conquer my fear of falling. - Not entirely, but I've made significant progress.
      7. Lead lots of sport, and one pitch of trad :) - Lead some sport, and STARTED LEADING TRAD!! (Big deal)
      8. Continue to be good with my money. - Doing alright. Could be better.
      9. Take up running, cause it's good for me. - I'd say this is at 50%
      10. Support HERA, Compassion, and Big City Mountaineers. - Done
      11. Volunteer with Honor Flight. - Did not do this :(
      12. Bring my mom on a "vacation" to DC. - This didn't happen either.
      13. Speak positive words. Less complaining, more encouraging. - Total and complete failure.
      14. Actually start grad school. - No, but for a good reason.
      15. Learn to play harmonica. - How about Ukulele?
      16. Cook, lots, in the kitchen, with an apron. :) - Or quit cooking all together...


I could have done better. My list for this year was pretty un-inspiring. What happened in reality was much much better:
- I saw a night launch of the space shuttle.
- I was at Kennedy Space Center, working my outreach magic for the launch of my very own (well, not mine per-say) spacacraft. 
- I was a "VIP" at another shuttle launch.
- I won $10,000.
- I gave away nearly all of it.
- I got to be interviewed lots because of it, finally giving me a platform to talk about the things that are most important to me.
- I taught a workshop at the mecca of science teaching: the education center at KSC. (Not gonna lie, I cried a little.)
- I saw my first book published.
- I gave a workshop for that book with my conspirator of 2 years. 
- I climbed in: WV, MD, PA, NY, CO, CA, WY and NH.
- I met at least a hundred of the coolest people on earth (climbers and geeks alike), along with some of my virtual heroes. 
- I became an unofficial authority on something.
- I started to lead traditional climbing routes. 
- I climbed Devils Tower.
- I registered for a Summit for Someone climb.

On the positive side this year has been epic beyond belief. But it hasn't all been good. The unbelievable "up" of this spring was countered by the deep "down" of this fall - personal stuff aside, I almost lost myself completely. In the process I learned some valuable lessons: 

Know yourself. Pay attention to what makes you tick, and when something is off balance, take steps to fix it. 
People are so much more important than things or activities. When you love someone, make them a priority. Things come and go, it's the people that make our lives rich.
Don't always follow your gut. Sometimes your brain knows what's right, even though your heart is confused.
What you do is often limited by what you believe. What do you believe about yourself and your world? How is that holding you back?
Nature craves balance. What goes up, comes down. Good times fade to bad, which in turn fade to good again. Accepting that balance is one way to find peace. Wage war on your circumstances, but be aware of the bigger picture.
Picture
With our first book

With 2010 being such a blazing success/failure, I think I'd like my overall goal for 2011 to be balance. Balance in work and play and in my personal life and it's direction. And lets make the 2011 list a bit more exciting too... :)

To that end:

I, Aleya Littleton, do hearby resolve to:
  1. Sew a dress.
  2. Climb a mountain.
  3. Visit another country.
  4. Write another book.
  5. Run a total of 365 miles in 2011.
  6. Break the 5.11 barrier.
  7. Play the ukulele alllll year. Not just quit if I'm frustrated or discouraged.
  8. Take some kind of guiding course.
  9. Find another way to give, now that my $10k is gone.
  10. Take time for self care each day.
  11. Learn how to practice yoga.
  12. Buy a par of sexy shoes.
  13. Learn how to use a pro video editing software. 
  14. Start The Seven Day Adventure (Oh wouldn't you like to know??)
  15. Go to an OR show.
  16. Fix things I have broken.
  17. Eat healthier. 
  18. Volunteer with Honor Flight.


I think that's enough...

Picture
I love traveling...The Flatirons
If past years are any indication, I probably won't look at this list again until next December. I should set a calendar reminder in June or something...

Even if I don't, I still have the lessons from this year. I feel like 2011 will be a year of renewal and balance and change. Good or bad, I welcome the challenge. 

9 Comments
Dave link
12/31/2010 12:04:13 am

For #3 I vote Canada. Eh.

Awesome post Aleya, thanks for sharing. I think in some ways you and I are on similar journeys. Or at least at similar points in our journeys. Meeting and climbing with you was definitely a highlight of 2010 for me (one of the very few highlights).

Here's to rocking 2011!

Reply
Josh Turner link
12/31/2010 12:16:10 am

Wasssuupppp homey. My unofficial top 4 list for the coming year in no particular order:
1. Crush the shit out of everything.
2. Spend more time taking naps with my dog.
3. Go on some sort of trip once a month, with one being outside of the U.S.
4. Make a difference.

Reply
Elizabeth link
12/31/2010 01:24:23 am

Aleya!!!

Thank you for your post and for being so open. You inspire me, and I can relate to a lot of what you say here. I'm so excited to meet you someday, I think we will have a lot to talk about.

Congrats on a successful year, and here's to 2011.

Reply
Janelle Wilson link
12/31/2010 05:52:15 am

Great list Aleya, and very inspiring! However, I disagree with you on your #13 results for this year. I always find your such a great encouragement! Keep up the great work. I am so glad our paths crossed more than once this year.

Reply
josh link
1/2/2011 11:15:30 am

#19: Visit Colorado again


Maybe? :)

Congratulations on achieving many great (and all of the not-so-great) things in 2010. I have no doubt that 2011 will hold great things for you.

Reply
Aleya link
12/31/2011 06:31:24 am

How about move there? ;)

Reply
Bill Bohn
1/4/2011 01:04:16 am

Aleya:
I see that you will be climbing in the Summit for Someone program this year - awesome. This will be my third climb with SFS and in April I will attempt Mt. Whitney via the Mountaineers Route. I climb and hike alot in the Gunks as I live on Long Island. Love your posts on your blog and your website - Best of Luck on your climb with SFS!
Bill

Reply
Joel Lesh
1/4/2011 10:21:02 am

Hey long time no see.
I was home in PA and saw this video post of you for the whats your everest award, congrats on that. Then I saw you were in the DC area, well I just moved to Alexandria. We should get together some day catch up on old times.
Hopefully ill hear from you.

Reply
Katy
1/6/2011 03:57:16 am

Aleya,

You are such a beautiful person. I love the detail of your thoughts and how incredibly open and honest you are. You inspire me! Hope you are doing well! Happy New Year!

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