2010 - Looking Back, Looking Forward

2010 was a hell of a year, and to be honest, I'm glad it's over.

I realise that New Years is an arbitrary date that doesn't really have any effect on its own, but I'm taking this week to reflect and to make some changes. I start a new job, and therefore a new, much less ridiculous schedule on January 4th, so that's my D-Day for Self-Improve 2011.

I did have some victories in 2010. Let's start there...

1. I lost 20 lbs. It was difficult and I'm not done yet, but I am extremely proud of what I accomplished, and I'm healthier and happier for it. I even had to buy all new pants!
2. I raised nearly $4500 for Save the Brains in Kevin's memory.
3. I continued sponsoring our foster child in Haiti despite some hairy financial times this year. Her year was infinitely worse than mine could ever be!
4. I got 99% on my Medical Terminology exam, the first exam I've written since 1997. I finished the course with a 96% overall.
5.Through my ongoing health and fertility issues this year I learned a lot about myself and what's important to me. It's been a very long time since I took the time for serious introspection, and being forced to was a blessing (although it's sometimes difficult to remember that).

The biggest thing that brought me down over this past year was a sense of powerlessness - over my health, my fertility, my marriage, my work life/schedule and my finances. This has to stop. I'm taking back the power, when ever and where ever I can. I've already changed my work situation for the better. Here are a few of the other things I hope to accomplish in 2011...

1. Lose 10 more pounds and stay at a healthy weight.
2. Exercise more regularly. Find an activity I like doing, other than yoga.
3. Raise at least $5000 for Save the Brains.
4. Get our finances under control. We won't be able to pay off all our debt this year, but we can come up with a plan and stick to it. This will alleviate an enormous amount of stress.
5. Take the time to paint and craft more, and sell some stuff. I'd really like to actually get a viable online business going by next fall.
6. Cook more. I got Great Chefs Cook Vegan from my brother and sister-in-law for Christmas, and I already have The Artful Vegan, so I plan on making some new fancy dishes. I'm also planning on taking advantage of my slow cooker and making regular hearty dishes on the cheap.
7. Blog more. I totally shit the bed on the last 10 days Vegan MoFo 2010. I tried my best, I really did, but work and school just killed it.
8. Join some classes and meet some new people. Maybe I'll start a meet-up of my own. I went to a Knit n' Sip at a pub in Nanaimo last year that was a lot of fun...

There are a few more things I need to work on, but I'm not ready to put them out into the world yet.

What are your plans for the new year?

The Haiti Poster Project

We all remember the devastation that the earthquake in Haiti caused only a few months ago. We all remember the outpouring of support, financial and otherwise. I think it made those of us who are lucky enough to live in safe, wealthy, first-world countries good to give something back to those in need in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. It made us feel connected, made the world a little smaller. Maybe some of us even learned about the amazing culture of the people of Haiti, unique and varied as the country's long history.

Unfortunately, the need in Haiti did not disappear with the news coverage. There are still thousands of people left homeless, thousands of children orphaned, and a crumbling infrastructure in desperate need of overhaul. Kirk and I sponsor a little girl in Haiti. Her name is Marguerite, she's nine years old, and her favourite subject in school is art. I'd hate to think of her struggling for food, water and shelter because the people who are able to help have forgotten.

There is an easy way that you can help: The Haiti Poster Project. Hundreds of beautiful limited edition posters have been donated by artists and designers from all over the world, and are available for purchase online. The proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières to support their work in Haiti.

Here are some of my favourites. I wish I could afford to buy all of them!

 

Untitled by Miki Iwasaki - $25

 

A New Beginning by A. Kwasi - $25

Hands of Hope by Kathy McGraw - $50

L’union fait la force by Cassie Cormier - $25

i. am. haiti. by Michael Thompson - $500

We Awake from Yesterday by Shawn Stucky - $25

20th Anniversary of the Massacre at École Polytechnique de Montreal

This is an unusual post for me, just because I don't generally like to get into political topics, but this is too important not to say. I'd like to think that things have improved since Marc Lépine massacred 14 women in Montreal twenty years ago, but they haven't improved enough for victims of violence.

Yesterday, there were memorials held across the country to honour the memory of the women killed, and to highlight the fact that violence against women still exists, even in this day and age. It's not only murder or spousal abuse; rape, emotional abuse, stalking and other forms of cruelty and misogyny still fly under the radar. They are taboo topics in our society, and the situation for women and girls in our society never going to progress if that remains the case. We have to talk about these things, especially with our youth, in order to make a change for the better.

According to the Canadian Women's Foundation, half of Canadian women (51%) have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16. I personally believe that number to be much higher. Based on conversations I've had with my girlfriends over the past 15 years, I'd guess that closer to 75% of women have been sexually assaulted, usually by a date or someone else they know. Most of these crimes go unreported because the women blame themselves, are ashamed or afraid. Even taking that into account, the statistics are frightening. I would like to think of Canada as a progressive, compassionate and safe place to live, but unfortunately that's not always the case.

So what are we going to do about it? The Ending Violence Association of BC has a mandate to educate the public and government bodies on the needs of victims of violence, as well as providing other community-based services for girls and women. I personally believe that the most important and effective way to end violence against women is to talk about it. We need to change the culture of fear and shame that surrounds sexual assault, relationship violence, child abuse and criminal harassment. Talk to your kids, including (and especially) boys, about appropriate behaviours and what to do if they are treated inappropriately. Talk to your teenagers about dating violence - There's a great article about it on oprah.com. If you suspect a woman is being mistreated in any way, talk to her. Talk to your friends about violence against women. Until we can talk about these things, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes.