In 2012, I decided to write down some of my goals for the new year.  Now that it’s over, I thought it would be fun to see how I did. My resolutions were:

I want to read the Bible from beginning to end. – I’m looking at you, Old Testament.
I struggled out of the gate with my bible plan. As unread chapters piled up,  so did my responsibilities. I couldn’t keep up and my effort to read through the entire bible lost its steam somewhere in the second month. I knew it was an ambitious goal, but I wanted to try anyway.  I’m glad I did. I’ll try again when I’m out of school.

I want to read at least 12 books – one a month. I need to spend less time reading current events that drive me crazy.
I finished 1 book in 2012. I started 6. So I have 5 books that I never finished. I failed. Towards the second half of the year, school dominated my time. The only reading I was able to do was for class. It’s no real excuse, but I had to make sacrifices.

I want to pay off my truck. – I owe $6,700ish.
I PAID OFF MY TRUCK! This is one thing I can feel good about. No truck payments in 2013 – which means it will begin to break down.

I want to write more. – Which means less tv.
I wrote more in 2012 than I did in 2011. Of course, my health dictated a lot of that. However, I began writing for MD Anderson and Oncor’s (my job) blog. So that was a great step in the right direction. As for TV, I don’t watch much of it anymore.

I want to be a better giver. – Monetarily, gifts, and with my time (volunteer).
I can’t really measure this one. I believe I provided others with intangible things, such as encouragement, positivity, and hope through some of my blogs, but school/work, once again,  limited the amount of time I was able to physically volunteer. However, I made a commitment to work with the National CML Society, a non-profit created to assist other patients living with CML.

In the American education system, 60% is failing, however, with resolutions, there’s got to be a Bell curve. Three out of five…not bad at all. Ultimately, 2012 provided me with immense opportunities to grow. It was the most difficult and trying year of my life, but also one of the most rewarding.

• In January, Katie and I got engaged!
• In February, I began a clinical trial for my leukemia and ended it two weeks later because of the side effects. We began looking for a bone marrow transplant donor.
• In March, I began a new clinical trial via compassionate use, Katie moved to Dallas, and I began blogging for MD Anderson at Cancerwise.org
• In April, I began a commitment to work with a national non-profit, the National CML Society to connect those living with CML in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
• In June, I registered for classes, after dropping out of school three previous times (due to leukemia). We also saw that the new drug, Ponatinib, showed positive results.
• In July, I began blogging for Oncor at powermylifetx.com
• In August, Katie and I met with young adult cancer coordinators at Baylor University Medical Center to talk about their program and share our experiences and perspectives.
• In October, I was told that I had reached a complete molecular remission (after 7 long years)! Katie threw me a surprise party in SA, and my family hosted one back home.
• In December, I survived an end of the world scare.

2012 was filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. But even through the worst moments, I learned a lot to learn. I’m a better person today because of it. That’s all anyone can ask for.

Thank you, 2012.