The end of 2021 marks the end of an excellent decade for me. I’m moving forward into the new year and next decade with sights set on big goals.
Before compiling this year in review, I read through my five previous ones, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. It seems that with each year the exercise becomes more time consuming. I don’t regret the effort though. Reflecting on where I have been motivates me and inspires dreams for what might lie ahead.
Today I’m carrying less weight than I was a year ago, both physically and emotionally. The weight loss feels great. Even so, it is difficult to write about. The emotional weight took flight in late January after the inauguration. I prefer not to talk about politics, even with those with whom I agree, but this positive change is too defining to go unmentioned. Experiencing a pandemic during a time of dismissive and divisive leadership caused anxiety, anger, and fear that immeasurably weighed me down. Seeing empathetic leadership replace callous bravado, is a great relief. Excess physical weight has disappeared along with the weight of anxiety.
The Mostly Everyday Things
2021 was a year of routine. These routines wove a pattern of familiarity that defined the year.
School
School occupied most of my time and took up the most space in my head. This year I completed six courses towards earning my Master’s in Instructional Design and Technology. The experience has been mostly positive. I like the challenge. I like learning new things. I enjoy creating and making things and have assembled a portfolio that I am proud of. During the summer session we produced a group project which I especially enjoyed. This experience convinced me that I’d love to lead a team of creative people.
Although I have learned a lot, I don’t enjoy doing research or writing research papers with citations. It’s a painful slog. I tell myself that a challenging journey means the reward will be richer at the end. The next and final semester will be spent completing an interactive learning project and a five-chapter research paper. Building the project will be fun. Somehow the writing will get done and I will graduate next May.
Daily Walks
Daily neighborhood walks became twice daily by mid-February. Mornings were spent with Blaise or Audible and afternoons with Jameson. According to Fitbit I averaged 13,500 steps a day for the year.
We live in a beautiful place. Occasionally I took time out on my walk to photograph the scenery with my iPhone.
Books
Books were a constant companion. I consumed more than any previous year, even without counting school assigned reading. I continued my effort to switch back and forth from fiction to non-fiction, taking advantage of Audible premium content and purchasing extra credits when needed. This list is mostly in order.
- 10% Happier by Dan Harris
- The Overstory by Richard Powers (favorite for the year)
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- The Vanishing Half by Shayna Small
- A Promised Land by Barack Obama
- The Midnight Library by Mat Haig
- God and Mr. Gomez by Jack Smith
- The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkah
- The Premonition by Michael Lewis
- American Women by San Choi
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
- Rock Me on the Water by Ronald Brownstein
- Trust Exercise by Susan Choi (most surprising, you either love it or hate it, I loved it)
- Grit by Angela Duckworth
- ACT Daily Journal (read and completed)
- The Cape Doctor by E.J. Levy
- The Prophet by Kahului Gibran (slowly read this in print)
- The Last Leonardo by Ben Lewis
- Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Never Said Nothing with Liz Phair (audible original)
- Foreign Student by Susan Choi
Music, Journaling and Meditation
A wide variety of music accompanied me every day, sometimes on my walks, sometimes when I worked, and always while I journaled or mediated. According to Spotify I listened to more music than 95% of other listeners in the United States.
In 2020, I journaled more than I meditated but found myself writing a lot about missing meditation, so I picked the practice back up in 2021. Journaling moved to a nighttime routine creating space for meditation in the mornings. I averaged about four times a week for both, finding they each have their own way of providing clarity and creative inspiration.
Teaching & Inspiring Others
I love sharing my knowledge with others in hopes that I might inspire. This year offered continued opportunity for writing, teaching, presenting, and recording. New, surprising opportunities presented themselves too.
A cover article I wrote for InDesign Magazine was published in March. I’m proud of the finished piece. I just wish writing was easier. There is more opportunity for me to write if I want it.
I kept busy with one-on-one coaching again this year with most of my clients needing Lightroom Classic help. I also continued to present and judge photo competitions online via Zoom, keeping busy with almost one meeting a month. The audiences ranged from Adobe groups to photography clubs with some attendees located elsewhere around the globe.
My relationship with LinkedIn continued as well. I recorded several course updates and wrote a Lightroom Classic Book of Knowledge (BOK). I’m most proud of my Lightroom Classic Essential Training course which remains popular, receiving steady positive feedback. I’m starting the recording of my ninth LinkedIn course right now.
MiraCosta College
This Fall I completed five consecutive years as a MiraCosta college associate faculty. Associates are not guaranteed classes from semester to semester, so five years is an achievement to be proud of and grateful for. I’ve been happily teaching fully online for two years and have no plans to return to the classroom.
Conferences
I had the honor of speaking again this year for two prerecorded online conferences. Both conferences were within a month of each other in Spring, so that was a crazy busy time for me. I taught two sessions for the Lightroom Virtual Summit and three for CreativePro week. It was a lot of work to outline, plan and record them but I am proud of the effort and results.
Adobe Photoshop
In my wildest dreams I could never have imagined that I would find myself inside of Photoshop, but that is what happened this year. Adobe contracted me to create Hands-on Photoshop tutorials that are found in the Help menu. Watch a short video about the tutorials, linked below.
Anderson Ranch Creative Center
I received an email from Anderson Ranch in mid-August asking if I was available to teach a week-long Photoshop workshop the following month. I had to read the email a few times before I could believe it was real. Luckily my calendar was open for the week offered.
Everything about the experience at Anderson Ranch was exceptional, and a bit surreal. For years I have dreamt of getting paid to teach somewhere special that I might not otherwise ever see. Teaching at Anderson Ranch was literally that dream come true.
Return to Normalcy
Vaccinated!
Vaccinations in Spring brought somewhat of a return to normalcy. I received my first vaccine in early March and cried with joy knowing that activities I had missed would be possible again.
Safari Park
I immediately renewed our San Diego Zoo memberships so I could return photographing the animals and fauna, right in my backyard.
Hiking
Family & Friends
Most importantly, after everyone was vaccinated, we made lots of time for family and friends.
Live Music
In September we attended the Jackson Browne concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl. We love live music and greatly missed going to shows. The concert setting and music were perfect, The evening was a highlight of the year.
New Normals
During the peak period of social distancing in 2020, we spent many afternoons on the coast for a change of scenery and open air. Frequent coastal visits continued this year and have become a new normal for us.
Both of our sons have dogs and we’ve become their pet hotel for those times when they travel without them. Several times we have had all three. Fortunately, they seem to like each other well enough.
Adventure
I am always seeking a new adventure. This year started off with an excellent one. For my birthday on January 1st we went to the desert, arriving at sunrise to photograph the metal sculptures by Ricardo Breceda. It was a fantastic day. Many more photos, and the day’s story can be viewed here.
New Look
By this April my adventurous side was badly in need of a new look, and a good haircut. The purple color was a lot of fun while it lasted.
Mono Hot Springs Campground
In August we camped for a week at Mono Hot Springs. The twenty-one mile drive into camp (in an overloaded CRV) on a rutted, single lane, winding mountain road was the start of an adventurous week. At camp, we hiked, floated, swam, read, talked, played games, cooked outside, and did our best to keep a good distance from the local bears.
Anderson Ranch - Snowmass, Co.
My time at Anderson Ranch was also a great adventure. The day I arrived I explored the town of Snowmass taking lots of photos. I only wish I had the time to ride the gondola to the top of the mountain. I will plan for it on the next trip. During my week’s stay I walked to and from campus to my hotel a mile up the road, constantly photographing the beauty surrounding me.
Anza Borrego Desert
Just before year’s end I returned to the desert for one last adventure with a couple friends for a day of hiking and exploring.
Illustrations
I found a little time this year to draw. I wish it was more. All of these were drawn on my iPad. The Filly and Tiger illustration were both featured on Behance which is quite and honor.
Remembering
I lost two people in my life this year, my cousin 'n law Kacy, and my good friend John. They left too soon and I will miss them. Both struggled with similar demons but were two of the most thoughtful and caring people I have known.
Not Positive… Not quite normal either.
Unfortunately, the Omicron COVID-19 variant is raging this holiday season. One family member who attended Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations with us has tested positive. Possibly we were exposed. Fortunately, as of the last day of 2021, all five of our house occupants feel fine and have tested negative.
I’m thinking of those that are infected this season, which includes a greater number of people I know, than one year ago. It seems that the return to normal has been postponed for now but I’m hopeful we can return to a healthier and less stressful way of life in 2022.