Domestic Geek

Sorry this is way late this week. Between the snow storms, the holidays and the dog, I don't know what day of the week it is anymore. I decided that this week it's time for a little reflection on the year I had in 2006. Definitely not one of my better years by a long shot. Hopefully I'll remember that tough life lessons I had this year and won't repeat them. I also learned some good things, too.

Thirteen Lessons I Learned This Year

1. Don't Work with "Friends" — Don't accept a job with people you know previously, especially if the "boss" is someone you considered a friend.
2. The Graphic Design Industry Sucks— There is an oversupply of designers and therefore the pay has fallen off dramatically. There is also an overabundance of bad designers willing to work for those low wages.
3. Don't Be Honest With Your Employer — Don't turn down a raise because you hate your job and are up front that you are looking to work elsewhere. This will bite you in the butt.
4. Soda is Bad — I gave up drinking Coke/Pepsi this year. The detrimental effect is has on a person astounds me. I don't get heartburn hardly at all anymore.
5. Being a Freelancer Sucks — It was something I always thought I could fall back on and I was wrong. I don't have the temperament to deal with stupid clients.
6. Envy gets You Nowhere— I've spent a good portion of this year focusing on what others have and becoming bitter in the process.
7. I Don't Need So Much Stuff — I've been slowly purging myself of "stuff" and I'm finding I really haven't missed anything I've tossed. There is still much to get through, but one box at a time.
8. I've Been Living in the Past — Being unemployed for so long did give me time to really delve into my own thoughts. A lot of the revelations I have had have really surprised me. I was still berating myself and taking action based on things that happened over 20 years ago. I have really been stunted in my emotional growth. Now that I've learned what I was doing, 2007 will be the year I change that.
9. Doing Something for Charity Feels Good — I really enjoyed doing the Blogathon this year and was overwhelmed by the feeling I got from it. I will definitely be looking for ways to be more charitable in the near future.
10. I Can Really Count on Marcus — It's amazing that he has stuck with me through this really low point in my life. I know he truly loves me and I am thankful.
11. You Can Have Really Good Online Friends — This is the first time I've reached out to the people on the Internet and I've found some really wonderful, caring people out there.
12. Dreams Aren't Enough — I have lots of good intentions and wishful thinking is a bad habit. I have been always thinking I'll do this someday or I wish I could do that. Good things can't happen to you if you don't help. The only thing that gets results is action.
13. I'm a Good and Worthy Person — As strange as that sounds, I had a hard time believing it. I've always been the first to bash myself. "I'm not attractive" or "I'm such a loser" or "I'm not (whatever) enough." The truth is I'm not perfect, but I'm talented and I have a lot to offer. It's a lesson I'm striving to reinforce a lot in the coming year.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!