Fukubukuro 2011

Man, 2011, right?

Last year was the debut of my Fukubukuro (福袋, lit: lucky/mystery bag) series in which I look at the things that happened to me over the year and write about them. It’s deeply personal in a way that I never wanted this blog to be back in 2008, but also in a way that I think is truly important. Each year’s Fukubukuro is like a time capsule for me, allowing me to see where I was, how I was thinking, and what I was hoping for. Based on that, I have to say that one thing stands out most clearly to me:

I’m happier in 2011 than I was in 2010.

It’s important to point out that I’m not saying I was sad in 2010, but I feel like my mood, thoughts, and writing have less of a melancholic tone. I think it’s because I’ve accepted that I’m no longer a kid and that I’m moving at my own pace. 2011 brought me peace of mind. I felt like my relationship with my parents continued to grow while I found the strength let go of longstanding, but damaging and harmful relationships. Of course there was bad this year, like the break-in and burglary I suffered this summer, but, overall, I’d say 2011 was an up year and I hope that the writing in this year’s Fukubukuro reflects that.

Happy New Year,

Dan