So I’m a fairly introspective person by nature. But at the close of year, I tend to get even more so. Not in a maudlin way – but I like to look back at where I was a year ago, see what has happened, how I’ve changed, what I’ve learned. A lot of times, it’s only by looking at where you’ve been, that you can see where you’re heading.

This was a big year, for a multitude of reasons. This time last year, 2003, I’d just gotten back to the UK – more out of stubbornness than anything else. I wasn’t enjoying myself so much, and it was more a determination to leave on my own terms, of my own volition, than to stay in London, per se. In fact, I wasn’t crazy about my job, my love life was a disaster, I was in a living situation which wasn’t ideal, I had few friends. The novelty of living abroad had worn thin, and I was seriously contemplating getting on a plane and going home.

Then 2004 rolled around, and everything changed. The time I’d spent *enduring* finally paid off in spades. I got a social life. I travelled. I tried new things. I fell in love. There were a few key people who made it worth sticking around until then, and though I’ve never thanked them out loud, they know who they are, and why they are so important to me. In fact, they made all the difference. And they probably don’t even know how profound an impact they had.

In 2004, I took up rock-climbing. I walked on hot coals. I met my future husband. I did glassblowing. I played guitar. I ran a half-marathon. I saw the red sox win a world series. I travelled and planned and dreamt and drank and danced and loved and lost. I started the year snogging a stranger, and ended the year shopping for a wedding dress. In January I went to Spain and kneeled in a drunk’s pee. In February I went to a Valentine’s party and came home with a date. In March I called in sick to work for 3 days to stay at home in bed with a boy, then took off to italy. In April, I asked him to marry me on a whim. In May I moved in with him. In June, we went camping in Scotland. In July, we hung out in pubs drinking with friends. In august, we had visions of family. In September, we ran. In October we were sleepless Sox maniacs. In November we were demoralised democrats. And in december, we waited to wed.

365 days of my year, 180 degrees of my life.

This is not a test.

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