Inspiration Mondays: What Eleven Saw

Have you made any New Year's resolutions? I haven't made any this year, not because I don't believe in them, but more because the new year arrived so quickly that I didn't have time to think of any. That and I don't really feel like thinking of all the ways I'm going to change all in one go. I'm kind of glad with the way things are going right now, and I just don't want to mess with it.

Instead, I've been reflecting on what good ol' Eleven (as in twenty-eleven) brought me. Here's what I learned in the past year:

• Nobody likes a sleepy grump.
• We all react to situations in a similar way, but the intensity of how we react is influenced by our experiences as children.
• I prefer kind and generous people over witty people. Finding someone who is both is a bonus.
• I actually don't mind typing on a touch screen.
• When you think you don't have anything to share, it is more likely that you don't think anyone will want to hear what you have to say. This is usually untrue.
• People are more like to engage in a difficult discussion if they are approached with understanding rather than guilted into seeing your point of view.
• Dogs don't care if you bought them a new bed if it doesn't have padded sides to flop their ears over (this might just apply to my dog, though).
• Adventurous eating is fun, but not when you combine fudge and garlic.
• It is possible to be overwhelmed by your hobbies.
• It is possible to change your mind about someone who gave you a really bad first impression.
• Sometimes, people do things that really hurt you, but they usually don't mean it. If they knew how much it hurt you, they would be mortified of the hurt they caused.
• Acid dyeing yarn is magical.
• Forgiveness is hardest when you have to forgive yourself.
• Patience is hardest when you have to be patient with yourself.
• When you think someone doesn't deserve your patience, it is usually because they actually need more.
• Pita is very, very easy to make.
• Pumice is like "lava foam."
• Granite can metamorphose into gneiss.
• Yoga is wonderful.
• Being in good health is precious... and priceless.
• Camel down makes a super soft cowl.
• When the going gets easy, you might actually be going downhill.
• The best yarn is the yarn coveted by others.
• When in doubt, smile and nod. You look friendly and understanding, which aren't bad things to be.

That's a pretty good year's learning, of you ask me. Here's hoping that Twelve will see even better things!