It has been a while since my last update. For the past few months I have been preparing for my first trial. It required my full attention and left little time for anything else. Unfortunately, on the list of life priorities, the blog fell below all of the other things I had to do such as occasionally eating and sleeping. (Although, now that I think of it, the trial was possibly the mother of all New Things). Work has slowed down for the time being, so I hope to cram in as many activities as possible before things pick up again. (And yes, we won.)

The absence of New Things in my life made me realize how much I love my adventures and how energizing they are. I realized that not having a hobby is indeed my hobby, and I have missed it quite a bit.

Over the past few months several friends have asked me about my list and have said they have been inspired to make their own for 2015. While looking at other lists can be helpful, examining your own goals is the best place to begin. Your list should of course have fun bucket list items you have always wanted to try, but the most rewarding things are the ones you think you are too afraid to try or think you will not be able to accomplish.

Speaking from my own experience, I can say that taking a flying lesson has been one of the most fulfilling undertakings yet. Saying that I was a nervous flyer is an understatement. While I never had a full mid-air breakdown, I was convinced (despite knowing I was perfectly safe) that the tiniest bit of turbulence was going to send us spiraling towards the Earth. I spent most of my flights holding the armrests for dear life as if I could will the plane to stay in the air. However, the flying lesson, which was terrifying in itself, had a sort of time-release effect on me. I learned a lot about how planes work and could feel how getting close to the clouds affected the movement of the wings. Now, I fly for work fairly regularly and when turbulence hits I just look up from my laptop, look out the window, think “ah, clouds,” and go back to my typing (ok watching TV). I don’t think I would have that peace of mind had I not forced myself to take a lesson.

I hope you all will keep reading despite my hiatus, and stay with me on this journey. Somehow, along the way, the blog has received visits from people in 158 countries. That is astonishing. If anyone out there has been inspired to make his or her own list, please share it with me. I’d love to see it.

Blog World Map 2015

PS: If any of you know one of the 57,000 people who live in Greenland, send them my blog. They take up a lot of space on the map.