“Like, I feel like every year has a new energy, and I feel like this year is really about, like, the year of just realizing stuff. And everyone around me, we’re all just, like, realizing things…” ~Kylie Jenner.
I can relate to a certain element of finding out what you didn’t know before. So here are 10 things I learned in 2018, some are more personal revelations and some are just interesting facts:
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This year I made a YouTube channel, started on Goodreads and Instagram, opened up a shop at Redbubble, and learned how to build this website!
It’s amazing the things I did to entertain myself with while lying in bed with casts on both legs recovering from fractures the beginning of this year. I’m still figuring out a lot along the way but I’d like to thank the people behind the many resources available. For links to tips and tricks that have helped me along the way and my sites visit:
Resources
YouTube
Goodreads
Instagram
Redbubble
Here is a YouTube video I made where I had some fun learning about cinematography:
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Did you know that Caesar is pronounced more like Kaiser instead of like seezer?
Yup, the C is actually pronounced like a hard K in the original Latin.
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Are you wanting to learn a new craft?
I highly encourage you to do so! I took the time this year to learn how to paint in acrylic, oil, and watercolor and I am loving it. Oils are my favorite so far since you can take your time painting with them. Here are my first paintings in each media:
And here is my latest oil painting project in anticipation of an upcoming partnership between Redbubble and Cartoon Network: 
When did the dashes drop off of the word email?
Apparently I missed this change last year. You can read more about it in this article From E-mail to Email: Is the Sky Falling?
Did you know puffins fly?
Of course they do, makes sense… but have you ever seen one that wasn’t perched or waddling on the ground? Check out the Instagram posts by photographer Justin Hofman. He takes some stunning photos, including puffins like this one here. They look so imbalanced it just seems impossible that they would fly. Be sure to visit The Nordic Visitor blog for more facts about these amazing birds.
Speaking of birds, what is your interpretation of the Bird of Paradise flower?
It’s called bird of paradise because it looks like the left picture, not the right.
7. Did you know that the word “smog” is a combination smoke and fog?
The word was coined and used to describe smoky fog, its opacity, and odor.
8. Why are key number pads and telephone pads a different configuration?
I’ve always wondered this and it drives me nuts. The article Why is the keypad arrangement different for a telephone and a calculator? has some interesting theories.
9. The world might actually be better than you think it is.
I read (actually listened via audiobook) a book this summer called Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong about the World – And Why Things are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling. Be sure to take the Gapminder Test 2018 to see how much you know ahead of reading the book.
10. Have you ever noticed a piece of clothing shift into a really visually distracting pattern?
Well there’s a name for that and it’s called “moiré” and Lightroom has an editing tool to fix it. You can read more about this strange interference in the article Fixing Moiré in Lightroom.
11. Bonus Review- I have a renewed passion for photography.
It’s something I’ve always enjoyed as a fun hobby, but never took it any further than that. I’m really behind in understanding skills and techniques, gear, and editing for as long as I’ve actually been taking photos. But this year I have learned so much and I now shoot in raw which has been a major change for me. Here is my most popular photo of 2018 and prints are available at Redbubble:
12. Bonus Shoutout- An artist who inspired me in 2018.
I would also like to give a shoutout to an artist who has inspired me along the way. She is amazing and you can check out her work here: SillySallyMoon.
2018 has been quite the journey for me and I’d like to thank you for all your support in my endeavors!
I hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know what you learned in 2018 in the comments below and be sure to include your social media @username (links won’t be accepted) so we can all see your latest projects and works of art! And who knows? You could be featured next year!
