With the first month nearly wrapped up now, I’ve had plenty of time to appreciate the beginning of the new year. In the spirit in one of my good friends (an absolute blog list maven), here’s what I’ve learned in January:

1. On winter road trips, there are few things better than a Jeep heater core.
2. No matter what your insurance alleges, your ER coverage sucks.
3. You will seriously reconsider your definition of “emergency” (even though it was an actual emergency) when the hospital bills arrive.
4. “Deductible” is a truly malleable term favoring the insurance company.
5. Being able to share holidays and birthdays with your nonagenarian grandfather is amazing.
6. Sonicare toothbrushes are fantastic (but will ruin you on every other toothbrush forever).
7. The first rule of Sonicare Club is close your damn mouth.
8. If you forget the first rule of Sonicare Club, those tiny droplets of toothpaste dry instantly and stubbornly everywhere they land. But they look great spread across the top of a t-shirt. People will compliment you and want to know where you bought your shirt.
9. Obamacare: Fuck yeah. Free physical? Free labs? Even on my grandfathered plan? What a world.
10. Now and forever, I will always bruise uglily after a blood draw.
11. Uglily is, in fact, the adverb form of ugly.
12. If you have a self-deprecating sense of humor, you should probably dial it back about 100% when dating. (The things that came out of my mouth. My God.)
13. Meditating is not as difficult as making the time to meditate.
14. A good walk is a great way to start the day.
15. Multiple-computer imaging workflows are still a pain.
16. When AirPlay, Handoff, and Continuity work, they’re magic. When they don’t, they’re an evil curse.
17. Modern pop music is satisfying in the same slightly-filthy way that junk food is.
18. While driving with the right person, I can sing along to far, far more pop songs than I’d ever willingly admit.