Books!

By the way, if anyone knows of where I can get a library like this, give me a call...I'm just a Belle looking for her Beast.

So, I set a goal to read at least 50 books in 2011.

Here's my progress:

Currently Reading:
Vanity Fair-William Makepeace Thackery
God of Small Things-Arundhati Roy


Completed Reading:
Waiting for Superman: How We Can Save America's Failing Public Schools
Letters to God-Patrick Doughtie and John Perry
Five Point Someone-Chetan Bhagat
The Great Gatsby-F. Scott Fitzgerald
Little Bee-Chris Cleave
The Hunger Games-Suzanne Collins
Paradise Lost-John Milton
Parent Fuel-Barry St. Clair
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman-Haruki Murakami
The Alchemist-Paulo Coelho
Atonement-Ian McEwan
Catching Fire-Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay-Suzanne Collins
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone-JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets-JK Rowling
The Screwtape Letters-CS Lewis
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban-JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire-JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix-JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince-JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-JK Rowling
The Five Love Languages-Gary Chapman
Room-Emma Donoghue
Rediscover Catholicism-Matthew Kelly
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian-Sherman Alexie
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-Stieg Larsson
The Girl who Played with Fire-Stieg Larsson
Blue Like Jazz-Donald Miller

Biggest Lessons of 2010

I've never been big on writing an end of the year blog post because I don't believe in using new years as landmarks to change your life. I always say "Why wait until January 1 to make your life better? Only yesterday is guaranteed."

Still, given everything that has happened to me in these past 12 months, I can't help but recall some of the things I've learned.

1. I don't care about who gets the credit, but I do care when people take credit for something they didn't do.
I've heard time after time that "you can accomplish anything if you don't care who gets the credit." I believe that there's a lot of truth to that statement, and I try to accept it. When I'm in group situations and trying to solve a problem, I really don't care if I make the breakthrough and don't get recognition for it because as long as the solution is effective, I feel accomplished. BUT I've been in a few situations where I've worked my butt off to do something and someone else has gotten and accepted the credit. It REALLY bugged me. Sure people can tell me to be more gracious and less bothered by this, but I've decided I'm only human and I'm allowed to be peeved by people who get praised for cake that they didn't bake.

2. People who befriend you as a result of tragic situations can turn out to be friends for life.
Sometimes life is rough and throws some nasty things at you.The only thing that gets you through it is the people around you. I've been dealt some tough blows, but in 2010 I learned that despite that, people are still willing to be generous and kind despite all those scars. When people befriend you while you're at rock bottom, they know how to take care of you in bad times. And they're the ones you want by your side when it's time to celebrate the good times.

3. Sometimes taking the longer route isn't a bad idea. And sometimes the longer route is more scenic.
Once you hit a certain age (say 25), your peers start to place expectations on you: You should be married. You should know the direction that your career is going to take. Your bank account should be steady and stable. This year, I've learned that those expectations don't matter, and the notion that people who don't follow them are worthless is a lie. Sure it's important to have goals and to plan accordingly, but you don't have to take the shortest route between point A and point B. In fact, just like when you're taking a road trip, when you take the longer, more scenic route, you learn more and see a lot of beautiful things along the way.

4. People surprise you when allow them to show you who they are.
You don't get a second chance to make a first impression. I've learned that this isn't necessarily true. First impressions are important, but they don't have to be what defines a person. This year, I've learned that people aren't always who I expect them to be. Some have turned out better than I expected, and others have been worse than I originally thought. The point is that when people show you who they are, you should believe them.

5. I'm worth it.
Never again will I allow someone else to tell me that I'm not brilliant, talented, gorgeous or fabulous. Nor will I allow people to tell me that believing that I am all these things makes me unworthy of getting what I want or deserve.

I hope that I can put all these lessons into action in 2011.