As the Holiday of the Half-Lit Tree comes to an end,

(and not coincidentally, the year),  I'm thinking about how things have been this past year, what I learned, what I lost and gained. 

• I earned tenure
• a new enjoyment in my bike(s)
• a far better understanding of what depression means for me long-term
• a recognition that school (for the kids) takes up as much of our energy as it does theirs
• I met some new students and said goodbye to some good ones
• I have worked in a role that has forced me to strehhhhhhhhhhtch

anyway, there's plenty to navel-gaze about, to ponder, to plan to do better, and so on.  Isn't that what this post-Christmas week is for?  Other than cleaning up, I mean.