Dear 2013

Dear 2013,

First off, let me apologize for the anticlimactic way we met.  I'm sure you deserve better than a groggy Tylenol PM-induced zombie sleep hug.  I'll make it up to you, I swear!

I've decided to make this the year of openness.  To be open with my feelings, open to new experiences (not the blank check of yes that I wrote a couple years ago, mind you), and open to new people.  I've learned a lot in 2012, one of the big things being that when you hide negative feelings they don't disappear, they grow, they warp.  Something that could have been solved in a matter of hours suddenly becomes a festering disaster.  So I'm learning to express my not-so-wonderful feelings in a healthy adult way.  Beyond that, though, I want to be open with my good feelings.  To tell that guy at work that I have been in love with him since the company softball tournament, to tell my friends that I appreciate the kind things they do, to let myself show excitement over silly things. 

2012 and I created some incredible memories, I went to Florida for the first time (and second!), I got to watch Justin Verlander AND Rick Porcello pitch live, I moved into a wonderful neighborhood with two wonderful people, and I took a new job.  I got to see Snow Patrol, Keane, Death Cab for Cutie, Ingrid Michaelson, and Lady Antebellum, and I grew closer to some amazing people.  2012 was the grace year, and I see that I still have a lot of work to do in that area, but I'm happy I made the resolution.  It changed my way of thinking about people and situations.  So 2013, though my resolution for you may seem boring (or even self-indulgent) I am confident that we'll do fine together.

All my love,
Stephanie

P.S. This was a highlight of 2012, your move 2013. :)

Shake it off

Dear 2012,

I am very excited to greet you tonight, you have no idea.  Today I found myself thinking today about the things I would like to change over the next 365 days that we will spend together.  Yes, I have those pesky pounds I'd like to say goodbye to.  I would like to continue my goal of being more well-read, and I hope to kiss a large chunk of this student loan debt goodbye before the end of next year.  But more than that, I want to welcome you and those I encounter with you, with more grace.  The past several years I have been offered more grace than I could have ever earned (thus, making it grace, right?).  Grace so ridiculous that I can't wait to share it.    

2011 was exactly what I needed in a year.  It was comfortable, fairly easy, and at times a bit boring.  But I'm not disappointed in the time we spent together, not at all.  2010, if you recall, was a huge year that brought a hurricane of change into my life.  2011 was a perfect buffer.  Over the last twelve months I have reassembled myself, established some tangible goals, and created a crude road map to get me started. 

2012, I am ready for you.  Let's play.

All my love,
Stephanie 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbN0nX61rIs

Auld Lang Syne

Dear 2011,

Sorry for the late correspondence, I am usually better about writing my letters in a timely fashion.  Here we are, our first day together.  I apologize for welcoming you with little more than Nyquil and pie.  2010's parting shot to me was a bit of a head-cold.  Its okay though, I'll survive.  Listen 2011, your predecessor brought about a lot of growth and change.  I am not going to sit here and ask you to give me break, but I would like to request that you give me a bit of breather before you follow in his footsteps. 

Last year at this time I made the resolution to take advantage of new opportunities.  This is something that brought me to Chicago for four months.  2011, you may not know this, but that was a decision that never brought me peace.  So this year, dear 2011, I would like to make the resolution to use good sense in my choices.  I had the option to say no to that move, to say no to the apartment lease, to say no to the job offer, but my fear of being in a rut, my fear of being mundane, got the best of me.  I didn't want to be the person who never left home.  At the risk of getting all Shaun Brumder on you, it took that move to make me realize how much magic we have here in Grand Rapids. 

So 2011, as I leave the first quarter of my life behind, I would like to ask that you be another year that brings more growth and change, but less heartbreak and less anxiety.  This is day one, you and I have a clean slate.  I apologize for some of the baggage I will be bringing with me from 2010, but I promise I will purge it soon enough.

Let's get this show on the road!

Love always,
Stephanie

Kiss me at midnight, dance until the morning light...

Dear 2010,

In just a little over a week you will be here. You will be the third decade that I have welcomed. I plan to ring you in with all the bells and whistles that you deserve. I'm beginning to think that my recent years have treated me according to the circumstances in which I greeted them. I spent 08/09 with my pregnant sister, pregnant sister-in-law, and their pregnant friends. The celebration was low key and, incidentally, so was this past year.

2010, you don't just mark a new year, but a new decade. I like to think you are ushering in a new era just for me. Last year at this time, I told 2009 that I didn't have high expectations for him, but let's face it, I hid my concern behind faux encouragement. Really I just didn't want to put too much faith in a year that could ultimately disappoint me. But I digress. I have high hopes for you 2010. I plan to make you MY year. I will be calling the shots, dear year, but don't worry, if you cooperate with me, you will enjoy our time together too. 365 days isn't all that much, so lets fill them with fabulous opportunities, new friends, and incredible experiences.

However, there are several events from 2009 I wouldn't mind reliving...



Our kayaking adventure was my favorite favorite favorite moment of 2009. I don't believe that I ever told the GAGWAGgers, but I hadn't been that happy in a long time. I want this to happen over and over again in 2010. It was the best thing I did all year.




ArtPrize invigorated my city. MY city. I was never prouder to be a Grand Rapids born kid than this past fall. So many fabulous contributions and so much great publicity. Loved it.




We decided to follow these boys all over West Michigan over the past year. We just like to get in on the ground floor, or we like cute boys who play instruments, or we appreciate good local music. Whatever it is, it was worth the death-drives up and down 131.

2009 Witnessed the birth of my beautiful nieces, the final demise of DUFFy, my evil mini-van, and excessive time at the bank, excessive booze, and a little bit of heartbreak.

2010, don't let me down. You know my goals. I'm counting on you to help me out here. Lets do this.

All my love,
Stephanie Gamble

Sitting in the slow-mo, listening to the daylight...

In two weeks we will begin a new year.

The last two years I have written letters to the incoming years, outlining my expectations and my previous disappointments. I'm not sure what became of my letter to 2009, for those of you interested, 2008's is still on my Facebook.

This may be the last new year that I ring in as a Michigan resident. Weird.


2010 kicks off a new decade. While I have my typical resolutions in mind, you know the ones, eat healthier, exercise more, save money, do something good for my community, etc. I have several others as well.

1. Avoid the veggie burrito at Q'doba



Thanks to this little beauty, and another cave-in to my insatiable desire for tasty Mexican cuisine, I spent four to five days in the fetal position, guzzling Gatorade and Pepto Bismol. Too much? Sorry.

2. Remember that Pineapple jello shots are yellow, and therefore not patriotic.



Yes, quite the faux pas at Matt Kahl's Fourth of July celebration. Even though the party guests didn't mind, I was uncomfortably aware that red white and blue became magenta, yellow, and blue.

3. Create opportunities, rather than avoid them.



I limit myself. I can't blame my lack of experience in almost every area of my life on anyone or anything but myself. So yes, I plan to sack up and take advantage of 2010. Who knows, maybe I will start a revolution.

4. Never ever be the girl who others look at and think "Oooh, she should NOT be wearing that".



I'm learning. While in high school and during my first two years at WMU, I was a train wreck. I went from oversized tee shirts and ill fitting jeans, to cheap unflattering attempts at being trendy. I think I have found a pretty good place now, clothing wise. However, I'm getting a bit too comfortable with trends like leggings, dresses, and costume jewelry. If I go overboard, please let me know.

5. Stop over-thinking.



Mary Wanch smeared dog poop all over my big wheel shortly after this picture was taken. She was weird. Over thinking was not my biggest issue in 1991. Things are simpler when you don't let them get to you.

So yes, here comes 2010, its chug-a-luggin' along.

A year of change? Inevitably.

Good things? I'll do my best.