Quote from "Be Good to Yourself" 2018 calendar

"Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can choose to grow flowers or you can grow weeds."
Anonymous

I love everything about this quote. First of all, I love the lyrical quality, the flow of the words. And even more, I love the sentiment. It is so true. Your thoughts have a huge effect on your emotions and a big influence on how you live your life. You have a choice in how you exist in this world: bitter, angry, and resentful, or hopeful, mindful, and resilient. What happens to you in life isn't always your decision or in your plan, but how you allow each situation to affect you IS YOUR CHOICE. Bottom line.

This morning was cold. I'm already tired. I struggled to get ready, be on time, get my coat on, pull myself into the van, etc. But I'm not focusing on that. I mention it, but simply by way of explanation. Because I'm happy to be well enough to be out of bed. I'm honored to have a job that fulfills me. I'm grateful to be in a warm, clean environment, at work and at home. I'm comforted to know I have enough money, strength, and health to take care of myself and make my own way. I have the resilience to understand that I will not only make it through this day, but also make the most of this day, and achieve at least some level of success and productivity. I don't know what will happen tomorrow. My mind always tries to take me there, to worry about the future, obsess over the "what if's." But I try to gently redirect it. Not with frustration and scorn and ridicule, but with hope, mindfulness, and at least a little faith and belief in myself.

I will make it a GOOD day.
I hope you do as well. 

librarianintx

Accomplishments from 2017

I didn't travel the world, or have a book published, or anything big like that. I didn't make a lot of money or win the lottery. But I'm happy with what I was able to accomplish this year. Here are a few of what I consider to be the highlights of 2017:

I made my goal of at least 100 transactions every month at work, and two months of the year were very successful, where I exceeded 300 transactions twice! I also attended the first of five transportation conferences, assisted with public awareness events, participated in two webinars, and helped celebrate Read Across America week by visiting a local elementary school with a co-worker who read a Dr Seuss book in Braille to two classes.

I met two authors in 2017: Ellen Hopkins and Lizzie Velasquez. I also attended the Texas Book Festival, although all the walking prevented me from doing as much as I would have liked to do there.

I attended two concerts: Phillip Phillips and Lady Gaga. The first one is significant because it is the first time I went to a concert by myself. The second one is important because it's GAGA! :)

I also saw "Dancing with the Stars" and Kathy Griffin.

When it comes to independence, big and small, I peeled a cucumber and cut an avocado by myself. I also took a ride share a few times. I'm still learning to feel comfortable getting into strangers' vehicles.

I went to Fiesta Texas, the San Antonio Museum of Art, and finally had the opportunity to take a ride through the Texas Hill Country and take pictures in the wildflowers.

In 2017 I learned to like falafel, black olives, and cashews.

In social endeavors, I attended the Austin Blogathon conference, and a political postcard-writing happy hour.

In February of 2017 I started a Valentine card project at work. Me and my co-workers created 60+ Valentine cards that were delivered to kids at a local hospital.

Here's to more accomplishments in 2018!

librarianintx

New Year's Resolutions from 2017

I looked back at my blog, and I didn't see any specific resolutions. But I know I had at least two. I set two goals: reading at least 24 books during the year (the equivalent of two per month), and writing at least 100 blog posts. I exceeded both of those goals. I read 28 books and I posted 117 blog entries! Yay! Meeting goals is satisfying and rewarding. But I want to do even more.

Here is a list of the books I read in 2017:
Glass
Fallout
The Danish Girl
Saving Alex
The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving: A Novel
Burned
Letters to Oma
Fast Girl: A Life Spent Running from Mental Illness
Libertarians on the Prairie
Not Fade Away
Bette and Joan: Feud
Tampa
Dear Nobody: The True Story of Mary Rose
Smoke
Double Exposure
I Love You More
Friendswood (on audio)
The Weight of Zero
Hidden Girl: The True Story of a Modern-Day Child Slave
The Nine of Us
The Road to Character (on audio)
News of the World (on audio)
Strange Fruit
Hand Me Down: A Novel
Getting Life
Weekends at Bellvue (on audio)
My Name is Lucy Barton: A Novel (on audio)
Dwarf: A Memoir 

I liked most of what I read last year. I am still captivated by Ellen Hopkins, and plan to read more of her books in 2018. Glass and Fallout are from her Crank trilogy, and then I read Burned, and the sequel Smoke.

My favorite non-Ellen Hopkins book in 2017 was Hand Me Down: A Novel. I enjoyed Tampa very much, but warning, it is super smutty, and I feel dirty for liking it. :) Fast Girl was also very good. And I better stop there. Because I'm going to start listing every book again as one I liked.

I'm still learning how to listen and comprehend an audio book. I don't read as well by ear as I do by eye. But I'm trying to learn so I can read more on my long commutes and while I'm waiting at the grocery store, doctor appointments, etc. Weekends at Bellvue was my most successful audio book endeavor this past year.

librarianintx