Welcome, 2018.

It’s January 1st, 2018. In another year, I’ll have a whole new set of memories, trauma, accomplishments, and milestones to look back on. Right now, it’s full of potential. Even my tarot cards said so.

2017 wasn’t the year I had hoped it would be, but it wasn’t all bad, either. Rarely is anything truly that black and white. This is a good thing to keep in mind as I venture into another day, week, month, year–whatever it may be. Today is just one day. This year was just one year. But a lot happened. Here are the highs and the lows:

Professional accomplishments:

• I published my very first book chapter or “scholarly” work in the Feminist Reference Desk.
• I co-authored an article called Break the Stereotype: Critical Visual Literacy in Art and Design Librarianship. While I wrote/co-authored a couple of other articles this last year, this one was the one I was most proud of.
• I was invited to speak on having difficult conversations, safe spaces, and brave spaces in our learning environments at an the Arizona Archives Alliance Summit, alongside some truly amazing and generous folks.
• The Women/Trans/Femme Maker Nights that I started a year ago are gaining momentum and support and this year we were able to take a small group of students (and one alum) to the Women in TechMakers conference in Tucson. This was by far one of the most gratifying experiences of the year.
• I participated in this amazing, new Art+Feminism podcast (/rant) and conversation with fellow Art Librarians.

 

Personal accomplishments:

• I got married to my sweet, amazing human of a partner AND our wedding was stress-free/debt-free.
• I planned and hiked for 5 days and 45 miles in the Grand Canyon. This was, no joke, the hardest thing I have ever done physically.
• I managed to save the most money I have ever been capable of saving on my own, despite some surprise expenses along the way.
• I’ve found some truly amazing people in the faculty at NAU.

 

Favorite places:

• Anza Borrego State Park for the super bloom last Spring. It was incredible and probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, given the drought we’re having this year.
• Denver for New Year’s last year.
• White Sands Desert and Gila National Forest for fun.
• New Orleans for ARLIS/NA last year. I got to hang out with my dearest Art Library pals and learn.
• Lake Tahoe for camping and swimming. Showing my partner my favorite place on earth was definitely a highlight.
• Edge-of-the-World/Sedona camping. We don’t have to look very far to get out and enjoy nature.
• San Francisco/Oakland where I took a book art class with Julie Chen!

 

Activism:

• The Women’s March here in Flagstaff.
• I joined the Southerners on New Ground organization with a large donation from Libeyrian pin sales.
• I donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center with pin sale proceeds throughout the year.
• I did one of those goofy fundraisers on Facebook for SPLC, too. Thanks for donating, friends.
• I donated to a local group in need of supplies to get their message out.
• I spoke on multiple occasions in my community about using creativity in activist work and encouraged it at every opportunity.
• Hosted one Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon and it was the most successful one I’ve been a part of.

 

The challenges:

• My grandfather who raised me passed away somewhat abruptly and it became increasingly difficult not to cry in public.
• Our political climate also makes it more difficult not to cry in public.
• Feeling isolated and missing a sense of community for a good part of the year, this might be tied to depression, too.
• My mentor left for a new job mid-year and while she’s still a phone call away, I miss having her as a boss/seeing her daily.

 

In looking back at 2017, it would appear that I’ve had a lot of positives, but those few challenges are significant. In reflecting on the year, I cannot ignore those life events and how they impacted me. Luckily, I have the privilege and access to decent insurance and also found a good therapist to deal with some of the muck I’ve been trudging through. I have much to be grateful for and to look forward to this coming year. Here’s to triumph, personal/professional growth, adventures, moments of respite, more activism, more LOVE and community building in 2018.