Recap of My Big Year

On July 15, 2013, I began a challenge to give something away every day for one year and blog about it. At that time I didn’t know that it would be such a gigantic commitment.

There were many trying life events that happened during the year. I comtemplated quitting several times, but there was always someone who lifted me up. Tim said time and again, “You’ve had a lot of reasons to give up over the last year, but this isn’t one of them.” Some of the events were:

• Several friends and close family members died.
• Receiving cards, letters and “likes” on Facebook that encouraged me when I was ready to quit.
• Professional endeavors didn’t work out.
• Teaching online was much more time intensive than I expected.
• A fun college roommate reunion where I wanted to spend every minute reminiscing and not writing a blog.
• Feeling like I had given away everything that I could possibly think of, but still had to think of something else.
• One time I went to bed early after a really disappointing day. Tim woke me up at 10:30 p.m. to say that he had written my blog for me. He wrote a story that he had heard me tell and wanted me to be sure he got the facts accurate.
• Attending a convention that was so intense that I didn’t have the brain power to think about a gift or write about it.
• Going on adventures where I didn’t have internet access.

In spite of the highs and lows, I learned so much about myself and other people. Below are some of the highlights.

Most blessings:

The Gift Goes to the Giver

Enriching Lives

Recognizing Warning Signs

Most fun:

Cause to Paws

An Encouraging Word

You Might have Moved Too Many Times If . . .

One White, One Black

Laughing at Yourself

From the Kitchen of . . .

Secret Santa

Try Nt Prncg Yr Vwls

Texts Gone Bad

Hugging Instructions Not Included

Most likes on Facebook:

A Fun Contraption

Surprise Change

Family Giving

Human Goodness Wins

Speedy, the Not So Speedy Dog

A Gift of Sharing

Most views:

Free Rice for a Better Vocabulary

Family Giving

Felt the best:

Anonymous Love Letters

Smile, You’re On Candid Camera

Having Just Enough

Parking Space Karma

The New Normal

Most emotional:

If I Knew Then What I Know Now

Supporting Firefighters

An Angel Among Us

Blame Someone Else

A Gift of Sharing

Train of Memories

If I Were in Charge of the World

March Madness to March Gladness

Longest:

Everybody’s Got a Story

Let Them Drink Coffee

Most comments:

Pantyhose Won

Free Ride

Real Life:

Distilling the Truth

Grumpy Gratitude

Don’t Let a Thief Steal Your Passion

The Job Candidate Said, What?!!!

Demon of Cancer

Most quizzical:

Human Goodness Wins
Watching a Movie in Person

Most Difficult: 

Forgiveness

Biggest Surprise:

Comfort in Chaos

Help from Friends:

Girls Gone Wiles

This past week in my blog I quoted eighty-seven year old Rose. She said, “In one year, I will be one year older whether I go to bed for a year or not.”

I chose to make this past year one that I will always remember.

Colin Powell said it best, “Giving back involves a certain amount of giving up.” Thank you all for coming on the journey with me.                                                                   

In Giving,

Robin