This is what I accomplished in the past 12 months

As I reflected on what I would write for my birthday, I pondered how I would actually celebrate being alive on this planet for one more year. So I looked at my Google Calendar and examined what I did accomplish in the past 12 months. I may or may not have missed some stuff here, and I am not really all that interested in creating an exhaustive list. I’m more keen on just remembering what I did if I can.

• I came back to teaching undergraduates at UBC. This was particularly important to me, as I love teaching, and undergraduate instruction is perhaps one of the key points where I feel I can effect change. I am truly blessed with having great colleagues in the department, and fantastic students
• I created, and successfully delivered 2 new courses I had never taught before, Global Environmental Politics and The Comparative Politics of Public Policy. It was challenging to think in a global perspective all the time. More importantly, I had never taught 2 undergraduate courses on the same term. It was a lot of work but I am thrilled with the outcome.
• I successfully combine right now a balanced mixture of consulting, teaching and research, as well as student mentoring. This was a goal I wanted to accomplish and I’m thrilled to have reached it.
• I have participated in amazing social media consulting projects, given numerous talks, although I haven’t given as many academic talks as I wanted. This still has me a bit frustrated but I’m working on fixing the situation.
• I travelled in British Columbia much more than I had ever before. Visited Victoria, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach. I also spent a glorious month with my Mom, and took a real holiday for the first time in 15 years.
• My social media involvement continued, I ran numerous contests and giveaways, including some fabulous prizes for Live At Squamish. I feel I supported the arts and non-profit communities with my blog and social media platforms in many ways.
• I successfully came back to a rigorous exercise regimen, lost 25 pounds and 3 waist sizes.
• I covered part of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, and gave wide exposure to the GLBT-focused Pride House, something I am particularly proud of.
• I became more involved with the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival, Vancouver Queer Film Festival and the Vancouver International Fringe Festival, something I had wanted to do for a very long time.
• I co-organized the second Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2010 with my good friend Isabella Mori, and I survived the extreme pressure I faced while organizing it. I’m actually proud of this.
• I learned a new type of dance and managed to NOT take over the lesson
• I expanded my network of friends with many of the mainstream media folks (particularly TV anchors). This was particularly interesting for me as I never thought of myself as a media outlet. And they are lovely folks.
• I finished a couple of academic publications, wrote a couple of grants and I’m on the way to get two of my research projects funded. Good times.
• I Blogathoned for the third year in a row and raised the most money I had ever raised, over $1,500.

Most importantly, in this past year, I managed to feel again complete – I am doing sports competitively again, I’m dancing again (doing art), I’m working hard in my academic and consulting fields and I think I’ve done a substantial amount of volunteer work.

So that’s what I accomplished in the past 12 months, off the top of my head. And I’m proud of it all. More importantly, I’m very grateful for everyone who has walked the walk along with me.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Related posts:

1. What the past year has taught me
2. Mission accomplished at #smcv10 Social Media Camp Victoria 2010
3. At the 6 months mark, I feel integrated again
4. What the heck happened this past Canadian Federal Election?
5. Ghosts from the past