It’s mind-boggling how much you consume in one year. No matter how quickly the days disappear, your year appears pretty full and well-lived when you reflect on all you’ve read and watched, how much you’ve laughed and accomplished, how many miles you’ve driven and how many people you’ve learned from. Year-end reflection reminds us, despite the bad days and bad news, that life is pretty damn fantastic.
Laughter:
Listening to the ever-lively David Sedaris at Wolf Trap was an outrageous treat last August, especially after reading “Stepping Out” and “Long Way Home” in “The New Yorker” earlier this year. At the Reston Regional Library, I plucked “Hyperbole and a Half” from the nonfiction shelf and read the first chapter, snorting with laughter into my hands so as to not alarm the quiet patrons. Allie Brosh illustrates and writes genius true short stories with unique flair about clinical depression, cross-country moves with two troublesome dogs and a home invasion by a terrorist goose.
Fuels an addiction:
Ever listen to a podcast you can’t stop telling your friends about? “Serial” aside, I’ve bookmarked “The Heart,” formerly named “Audio Smut,” for a one-click check for new episodes. I can’t get enough of these well-produced but down-to-earth stories of sex workers, alternative relationships, transgender performers, kinky sex, nude beaches, one-day loves and sweet stories of romance. As a married mother of two living in the ‘burbs, this podcast feeds my curious nature.
I love original artwork, but I’m not able to shell out hundreds of dollars for a piece—so imagine how fulfilling it is to buy a number of top-notch paintings at local Fairfax art gallery Olly Olly‘s annual “Baby Canvas” exhibit featuring small pieces of art by uber-talented local artists. It’s a must-see for any new art collector who is shy about spending too much money on a piece of art. I’m kind of hooked now, and you will be too.
Sense of accomplishment:
Just once a year, I set out to find a studio to take my kid’s portraits. Sometimes it’s the portrait studio in the mall, but this year I went to Diana Adams of Studio Diana. She captured my children’s essence, and now I don’t just have two more oversized pictures of my kids on the wall but two gorgeous pieces of fine art to last a lifetime. Worth. Every. Penny.
I’ve worked out for many years, and this year I got fed up with lonely gym workouts, so I joined Fusion360 at Southlakes in Reston: best group fitness class in my 20 years of working out, a small personable staff and super professional management. The wall-shaking, pumping music and never-the-same workout make exercise as fun as exercise can get for me.
“Pride and Prejudice“—the graphic novel—made me feel hip and accomplished as I had never read this classic in its original form. Now I don’t need to.
Soul moving:
Capitol Dance Company puts on a performance once a year. Although I was totally fixated at Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour and duly impressed by the sets and choreography of Broadway’s “The Lion King,” I felt emotion-laden shivers at the Capitol Dance Company’s show. What made it the best show I saw all year? Yes, it’s local; yes, it promotes opportunities for young people who don’t have the best lot in life—but it was the music, the dance, the pure power and spirit in the auditorium that shook me.
Best nonfiction book of essays: Leslie Jamison’s “The Empathy Exams” and Abigail Thomas “What Comes Next and How to Like It” caught me off guard with everyday insights and raw writing talent so much so, I reluctantly returned them to the library and then bought them for myself so I can reread them anytime I want. My favorite fictional books this year were “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt and “The Plague” by Albert Camus.
Not going down without a fight:
This year I turned (oh mon dieu) 40. But this year I also finally confronted decades of hiding uneven teeth behind my hands and invested in Invisalign. I bought the simple clip-in Euronext hair extensions for my rare night out, and I love Hair and Nails Care at South Lakes Village Center in Reston for the best gel manicures. Aside from their skill level, what I love is the nail tech’s easy silence so I can just let my brain relax instead of making small talk—because we all need to stop talking, stop consuming and just breathe sometimes.
