First, family. In 2012 we encountered many ups and downs as a family. We have gained ground collectively, and we are still gaining in momentum. My dad has found his calling and is now doing more of what he wants - public speaking - (though he is trying to hold onto the aspects of his current work that sustains the family financially). My mom has added many new clients to her landscape design business. My brother is closing in on the last year of his Masters degree in Advanced Level Coaching (which is accompanied with a series of applications going out to various D1 schools). My sister was promoted in her job out in D.C., and is now managing many more of the special projects (and staff) at her firm. My wife is "dissertating" quite vigorously at Stanford and is starting to collect the data that will be part of her final project.
As for me, well, I've gained some good progress in my work in environmental conservation, recreational access, outdoor education, and the many economic uplifting benefits that such work promotes. I'm feeling really great about the staff and team, and the conservation work that remains. The photo of the Coyote is by Bob Lewis, and it is from the area we are working to save. The group has already accomplished so much in 2012, and with many more projects, events, and outreach efforts coming together, I feel optimistic that we will be able to achieve our objectives.
On another level, I'm 30 years old now and it surprised me to come home and find many of my views and perspectives changed. For example: I no longer believe it's necessary to fix everything. Some things are better left broken for other priorities and resources to take precedent. I'm thinking right now about the distant broken relationships that I seldom encounter, and have never been capable of repairing. Another example, I'm a Stanford fan now...and more than some mid-west state like Wisconsin. You would think that such perspectives and approaches would be permanent, but they change.
Projecting about 2013 is simple and difficult. On the one hand, my experience and tangentially the experience of my friends and family will be based largely on the decisions I make, and the tone I set in my community. "Making predictions is hard, especially about the future," so perhaps the better approach to predictions is by suggesting a dedication of personal effort in a particular direction. For me the left side of this info graphic by MaryEllen Tribby and MetEdge is the most elegant description of how I plan to approach 2013.
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