It’s the sixth night of Hanukkah, and Smart Bitches gave to me… the Extrava-Hanukkah Giveaway of great simplicity!
Sometimes you just need books, and maybe some things to read with.
Whatever you need, we’ve got you covered: today’s giveaway is….
A $100 Amazon gift certificate!
That’s easy enough, right?
Here’s how to enter: leave a comment below and tell us something good you learned this past year. Maybe it’s a new author, or a new skill, or a Very Important Lesson suitable for a Very Special Episode of Blossom? Whatever it is, tell us about a good thing you learned, and you’re entered to win!
Standard disclaimers apply: I’m not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Must be 18 years of age and ready to shop though there’s no need to stop, drop or roll. We’re all safe here. Open to international residents where permitted by applicable law. Comments will close at or near 12pm ET on Friday 30 December 2016 and winners will be announced shortly afterward.
Good luck and thank you for being here!
Update: The winner is Sue Rice, who learned some pretty powerful things this year.
Here’s to more learning and growing in 2017!
I learned to be a little more open and outgoing. Also, that a change can bring blessings.
I learnt that there is a lot of joy in doing things alone and on your own (e.g., going to parties, movies, shows, dinners), even if society you need to be attached to live it fully 🙂
Attending RT for the first time in 2016, I found my tribe. I learned that’s where my people have been all along. Can’t wait to see them again this spring!
I learned a lot about knitting – picking out mistakes and fixing them without having to ripped back an entire project.
This may sound weird, but I learned I can comfortably drive an automatic car. I’ve driven manual transmission cars for over 30 years, but ended up with an automatic car for the first time. Theoretically it is easier to handle, but I have always preferred the feeling of control with manual transmission. It is very difficult to find manual transmission cars in the US anymore, though!
I took a Python programming online course because I felt like I needed to understand a little bit of how all the software I depend on works. I can now find the highest number in a list, but that’s it. 🙂
I learned how to change the oil in my car, which may seem like a minor lesson in the grand scheme of things, but makes me feel like a friggin’ car goddess!
This year I learned to make borscht!
*GROSS THING I LEARNED AHEAD!*
I also learned that sometimes when your stool looks bloody, it’s because you ate a lot of beets, not because you have internal bleeding.
I learned that you can start a “new year’s resolution” anytime during the year. I decided to start to “relearn” Spanish in April (it had been 35 years since my last Spanish class in college). I have a 261 day streak going on Duolingo as of today and plan to continue into next year. I don’t know that I will ever be fluent, but the daily practice has been surprisingly effective in expanding my vocabulary and I have enjoyed the process very much.
This year I learned that nothing is ever as black and white as you think it is. Be that political views, relationships with people, or what makes you happy. Going into 2017 with that mindset of continuing to learn by listening more and judging less.
I learned how to save a whole bunch of money! It was a difficult but rewarding lesson.
I learned how to sew a drawstring bag!
I learned a lot about fear this year. I bet that sounds pretty negative but it isn’t. I learned that most of what holds me back is my own fear about things and if I move with the fear, instead of against it, I can do so much more.
I learned that my husband and I can get through some very difficult times in our lives (job loss, financial hard times, moving to a new state) and be stronger for it. This was a good lesson because I thought the bad stuff from 2016 was behind us but things took a wrong turn around Thanksgiving and now we will go through it again!
To be kind to yourself as we are our own worst critic.
I learned that regular therapy sessions and prescriptions for anti-anxiety and anti-depressants do so much more for my soul than trying to quash the negative feelings down.
I learned a lot about taking things/people/situations for granted this year. I will never go through another election cycle with such naiveté.
I learned about how a population of ticks are making humans in certain geographical areas allergic to red meat. (Via NPR)
This year, I learned that mandolin harps exist but strings are hard to come by
My company ran a few book clubs this year. We read Drive and Smarter, Faster, Better. Both books were great and a filled with a lot of learnings!
I learned that the Christmas/New Year period is the worst time for your refrigerator to break down, especially in a subtropical Queensland summer. A cooler and ice is just not cutting it. (But perhaps the required spare part will arrive late next week – hooray!)
I learned to say goodbye and hello in the same breath. And I remembered that books will always be my refuge.
I learned how awesome Nalini Singh’s books are.
I learned the importance of not procrastinating! It’s all fun and games until you have to finish 10+ assignments in the span of two weeks, when in reality you had months to work on them.
I learned that sometimes the best thing I can do for my sanity is to just let it go. I’m starting 2017 much happier and calmer.
That old cats can learn new tricks when a kitten is added to the mix.
I learned how to grill. My building has a deck with propane grills, and I had no idea what I was doing, but it turns out they are ridiculously easy to use and nothing to be intimidated by.
I finally learned to not care what others think. Harder to learn than I would have thought, but I’m so much happier.
I learned that it’s OK to ask for help.
I learned that numbers and milestones are somewhat arbitrary.
I’ve learned how absolutely satisfying it can be to use everything up. Leftover meals, yarn scraps, donating a paperback when I’ve finished it. It feels so good to truly finish things and move on.
I learned patience. I have to be patient with my students, who have learning disabilities and emotional issues. However, where I struggle the most is the ability to carry that patience to my home life. It’s almost easier to do it at work, so I have to work hard to continue to be patient with friends and family. Leaving the frustrations of work at work and starting with a clean slate at home is very important!
This year I learned (and I’m still learning) how it’s okay to enjoy the things I like (crappy television, unpopular opinions, etc) and I don’t have to justify it to anyone.
I started a new job and am learning how to do payroll which makes my brain hurt daily! And is why I need to read every night and not think any more lol.
I learned that I have more support at work than I thought, and leaned heavily on friends and family this year. I count my blessings on my way to work (otherwise I start the day very grumpy), and those three are on the list every day.
This year I learned;
A rescue cat can come to trust and become a loving pet.
It’s okay to not give yourself a reading expectation. (I stopped the Goodreads Challenge, read less, spent less and enjoyed more.)
And a basic cable knit isn’t as hard as I thought it would be.
@ Erica H – I hadn’t heard of the “complaint challenge” but I’m going to try it as a New Year’s Resolution.
At the age of 50, I learned to NOT be intimidated when I am the only woman, and frequently the oldest person, in the free weight section of the gym.
I learned I can write M/M romance.
And that it’s *fun*.
I picked up a couple of new authors this year and I learned a new crochet stitch.
It wasn’t exactly new, but I learned again that taking time for self care is important. When my depression was deepening again, I had the skills to actually recognize it and get back to therapy. My episode didn’t go nearly as deep or last nearly as long. Yay! Progress!