2022

 

Brody Forbes

12-31-22

A Year about the World

 

            2022 was a year about the world. I went to Switzerland, the winter Olympics took place in Beijing, Russia invaded Ukraine, the world was recovering from the pandemic, and the World Cup all took place. With all of that, here are the highlights of what I did in 2022.

 

Jan –

·      New Years party with AT and my friends at our Barry house

·      G.C. party

·      Skied at Alpine Valley

B  Bulls vs Cavs game at United Center

     IU beat Purdue in Assembly 

     Bub City with G and A

·      Exercised more at LA Fitness

·      Visited S.H. in Iowa

 

Feb –

·      Ticket to ride with G, A, T, and M at G's place

     Attended an Irish Dance performance with friends near Grant Park

·      Wine night at Marie’s in Marina tower

    Auto show with Dad and Mr. H.

·      Medieval Times and party bus

·      Super Bowl party at our place Barry, Rams vs Bengals; made chicken and waffles appetizer

·      Watched the Winter Olympics in Beijing, figure skater took gold, Shaun White’s last Olympics

     Blackhawks game with C, G, J, K

·      Travelled to Switzerland with C.M., J.E., and J.M. Visited his parents, toured Gruyere and Lausanne, skied in Grindelwald, went to Turin, and drove briefly through France. What a fun trip!

 

Mar –

·      Ash Wednesday

     Batman movie

     Fr. Rob Galea talk and music 

     Switched to my own phone plan

     IU bball winning in big ten tourney

     Volunteered at MOLA during Lent

·      Gave a reflection during Stations of the Cross

    St. Patty's Day and seeing the green river for the first time

·      Bowling event

·      Watched March Madness

    Watched IU vs St. Mary's at Kirkwood 

    Visited JJ with Joe

    Father Kartje Lenten Series for men

    Basketball with T, M, and A

    Pho sunset dinner, Purdue upset by St. Peter's, T birthday party

    St. Clement Mass for Ukraine

    Blue Door Farmstand date

·      Dad’s Birthday

     JJ died

 

April –

·      Went to The Script concert at the VIC Theater

·      Went home for Easter

 

May –

·      Aidan graduated

·      Neck surgery

·      The Fray concert with J, J, and S

·      Coldplay concert at Soldier Field Memorial Day weekend with S and D and J

·      C’s friend JJ visiting

·      Memorial Day weekend at Mike’s lakehouse in Michiana

·      Memorial Day grilling at Barry

·Top Gun Maverick movie

June –

C’s UK friends Georgie and Charlie      

Theology on Tap

·      Bloomington camping trip in Brown County

·      Bleacher seats in center field at Wrigley

·      Started golfing, Robert Black, Billy Caldwell

 

July –

·      Celebrated July 4^th at Justin’s house in Libertyville

·      Turned 28 and did karaoke in Chinatown

·      Played beach volleyball at Castaways courts

·      Went to Henry and Kayla’s wedding outside of Crawfordsville

·      Travelled to Seattle via train, drove around Olympic National Park, Casey’s parents’ pool, dinner, and boat, Libby’s parents Woodinville

 

August –

·      Moved apartments to Old Town

·      One Republic and Needtobreathe concert with C, T, M

·      C going away party by the lake

·      Ca coffee

·      Nice long phone call with T

·      Rae and Matt wedding in Angola

·      YAC Cubs game

·      Luis B-day and trolley

·      H guitar playing

·      Hang-uppe

 

September –

·      M confirmed

·      Softball

·      IU beat Illinois in football season opener; watched with S, D; texted with Ca

·      ND vs Ohio State football game watch party

·      Bachelorette

·      J B-Day at Prost

·      S B-Day at Pequods

·      Wine night at Co

·      YAC camping retreat

·      Fantasy football

·      Sofar at The Rookery with H

 

October

·      M B-Day cookout

·      Watched the Marathon from my apartment

·      J euchre tournament

·      Alpha weekly

·      1^st Forbes annual golf trip at Uncle Rick’s in Georgia

·      Had my apartment house warming party

·      L sushi dinner

·      J Halloween party, pringles mustache

·      Michael and Grace wedding in South Bend at ND

·      Pumpkin carving event and Q&A with Father Matt

 

November

·      All Saints and All Souls Days; had Grandma and Grandpa Grace’s names read

·      Father Murray talk to Communio involving Mother Teresa

·      Alpha retreat

·      Wakanda Forever movie

·      Started ordering clothes from Stitch Fix

·      Went to Washington D.C. to visit C, and T; met Siggy

·      YAC Friendsgiving; karaoke at Harrigans

·      Thanksgiving at home

·      World Cup started

·      USA vs England at Brokerage

 

December

·      Started going to Orangetheory for workouts

·      L gingerbread party

·      Nate party

·      Ca zoo lights and apartment party

·      YAC Advent retreat

·      Francis party, ornament decorating, caroling

·      Michael and Maria Alpha Christmas party

·      World Cup final was amazing!; big watch party at Luis’; Argentina won on pks

·      Christmas at home was perfect with the whole family there

·      New Year’s Eve party at Swissotel!

 

This will always be the year remembered for Russia invading Ukraine. Lots happened in the world with the pandemic slowing, Roe v Wade overturned in the US, Inflation, Queen Elizabeth dying, new UK prime ministers, Pope Benedict XVI dying, Hurricane Ian, Taiwan escalation, NASA missions, and much more. It was a great year and I hope that 2023 will bring freshness and new perspectives, as it could be the first full complete year post covid. I really don’t know what to expect for 2023 but I have a good feeling about it. Cheers!

 

-Brody

2021

12-31-21

2021

    Here we are. It's the last day of 2021, I just watched Spider-Man No Way Home with A.T., we're still in a pandemic, and I've lived through another year filled with good memories. Even though we are still in a pandemic, it was another great year for me (it's slightly gut wrenching to say that), and this summer was one of the best summers of my life. 

    Regarding the pandemic, the biggest challenge has been how to coordinate behavior among everyone in a nation who has different beliefs, different medical histories, different fears, and different cares. The vaccines have helped a lot. It's hard to remember that at the beginning of this year we started rolling out the first vaccines for people who weren't in healthcare. I received mine in April and May, and then got my booster the day after Thanksgiving. Now that vaccines and boosters have been available and taken, I feel that myself and the nation have been more lax on following the recommended measures. I feel the only way we get the pandemic over is if we collectively all get vaccinated or collectively strictly follow the guidelines. When will the pandemic end? Hopefully when I write this reflection next year, I'll be able to say the pandemic has ended.

    The year was full of traveling, friends, and steps forward though. I learned more about the Catholic faith. I lived in three apartments. I gave more generously financially. I learned more about what makes me happy. Here are some highlights from 2021:

    January - The New Year brought hope. Read Barack Obama's memoir, Ate some salads, Capitol was stormed, watched playoff nfl football, Biden got inaugurated, the poem written and given by Amanda Gorman during the inauguration and the fireworks at night were inspiring, played cod with Bros and Casey, went over to Burwood, laundry joke, Watched Challenger, Waco, AOC biopic, Romney biopic, Icarus, The Dawn Wall documentaries

    February - Super Bowl party at G's, Bucs won the Super Bowl, intramural volleyball at the windy city fieldhouse, Coach Wood retired and went to celebrate his last home game, Phase 2 went live, drinks at GSP with W

    March - went to San Diego and explored!, visited Keeg and Marissa in Orange County, started dating a girl, started Phase 4, St. Patrick's Day party outside, Chicago date, got Dad a digital photo frame for his birthday, long bike ride along north branch of river and then Las Fuentes dinner with Dad and his friends

    April - started to be able to attend Mass in person again while wearing masks, had a call with Tommy to catch up and he announced that Rachel was pregnant!, intramural softball, Easter and date, Jalen Suggs drained half court shot for march madness semi-final win, vaccine 1, desk broke, tossed frisbee by the Windmill statue with L, J, and C

    May - moved into G's apartment, enjoyed having a roommate, got a Uhaul storage unit, Shades date, stopped dating a girl, started going to Communio consistently and Colectivo afterwards, vaccine 2, watched Bobby Flay and Alpha videos, watched golf majors, camping with L and friends in Kettle Moraine, volleyball at North Ave beach with friends on Memorial Day

    June - got a base pay raise and bright blue sky sunny day, watched a Quiet Place 2 in theaters (first movie I had watched back in theaters in awhile), intramural softball, dinner at Renallis with M and J, helped T and A move then Las Fuentes dinner afterwards, fishing trip with Dad and crew in Minnesota!, pool at L's apartment, Mickelson won PGA major

    July - Tommy visited me in Chicago!, crow's nest in Merrillville, closing campfire at Camp T,  birthday dinner at Orso's, call with R, Cubs game with G, Zion National Park and Glacier National Park road trip!, dinner at M and J's, intramural beach volleyball, Wells street afterwards, Bucks won NBA championship

    August - moved into an apartment with four other roommates, bike got stolen, housewarming, Keeg's bachelor party, went to Rome and visited Tommy in Italy!, watched Air and Water show from top of L apartment, trivia at barbecue place, C birthday Maroon 5 concert at Wrigley

    September - gave my first Communio reflection, started going to Dom's afterwards for coffee, Michiana lakehouse for labor day, YAC Cubs game, L birthday celebration, took Mom and Dad to printer's row lit fest, C's mom visited, went to South Bend and stayed in Airbnb and saw my first ND football game, euchre night at J's

    October - bought running shoes and started running along the lakefront trail, watched GL and B run in the Chicago Marathon, Sapori Tratorria dinner afterwards with GL, started Phase 6, joined the YAC Board, Keegan and Marissa got married!, Keeg's speech, wedding in Orange County, basketball on top of Old Post Office with M, tennis with C on Sundays, Richardson farm and corn maze, Braves won World Series, halloween party and pringles costume

    November - started going to the gym more often, 80 proof, played Catan for the first time, got a base pay raise and a really nice bonus, made a new personal email address, A.T. visited and took him to Barcocina and Kirkwood, watched Spider-Man Homecoming with A.T., A.T. and I picked Keeg and Marissa up from downtown and drove down for Thanksgiving, had Thanksgiving at our place in WL with Keeg, Marissa, A.T., Mom, Dad, Uncle Rick, Connor, Cameron, Aunt Beth, Grandma, Grandpa in nursing home, visited Grandpa with Connor, Bucket Game tailgate and watched game, Michigan beat Ohio State, Cincinnati in CFP, got Christmas tree and decorations with C at Home Depot

    December - YAC retreat at Mundelein, gave my second Communio reflection, crazy ncaa football coaching carousel, went Salsa dancing in West Loop, dinners with Franciscan (lasagna) and a Priest (duck), roommates steak dinner and gift exchange, wrote and sent out Christmas cards, made tuna melts for LCPS and Father Paul's Feliz Navidad, finished the Digital Products Lemonade Stand activities, watched Colts beat Patriots and Cardinals, cooked fresh Mexican food dinner with A.T. (tacos and corn salad) for Mom and Dad, long walk with Dad and A.T. to Peoples, enjoyed Christmas Time with Mom, Dad, A.T. and Wiley, facetimed Keeg, had Grandma over for Christmas dinner, played Fortnite with A.T. and Keeg, rearranged bed in my room, call with R, visited Grandpa, Brats and Smores firepit, researched about recycling, lunch with T at cafe literato, dinner at La Hacienda with A.T. and watched Purdue beat Tennessee in overtime for the bowl game win, watched Spider-Man No Way Home at Wabash 9 with A.T.

This year was jam packed. It was fun and I feel ready for 2022. God bless you all!

 

- Brody

 

2020

2020. Those four syllables are filled with so many stories of all types of emotion. Being blunt, it was a great year for me. While true, it makes me sad to type that sentence because it was such a horrible year for others. Restaurants closed, Deaths occurred that brought Racial Injustice mainstream, people got layed off, the Olympics were postponed, healthcare workers were stretched as much as could be, the education system had to make tough decisions, organic chemists and pharmacists were under immense pressure to deliver a vaccine, and millions of people worldwide were infected with Coronavirus, creating a Pandemic, with two million of those people dying from it. Families lost loved ones.

This year opened my eyes to how my age, health, skin color, and job barely made me directly affected by one of the craziest years ever. I'm thankful for the blessings in my life, but emotionally and logically I felt on the sidelines of this year while my fellow humans were suffering. If there is something that made me mad about this year, it's that I felt like I wasn't doing enough to help. I marched once. I voted. I wore my mask (although I could have done a better job of it when around my hub of friends). I took action, but wasn't feeling the motivation that I wanted to feel. I will use the lessons I've learned from this year for good. Here are some highlights of the year we called 2020.

Highlights:

• Jan - Jacksonville with AT, Driehaus Art Museum and bars afterward, AAD, Kobe died
  
  
• Feb - AAD wrap up, indoor Volleyball, Ecuador and Panama, Ash Wednesday, Ahmaud Arbery, Buttigieg won Iowa
  
  
• Mar - Phoenix, Breonna Taylor, March Madness cancelled, Biden won Super Tuesday, Dad’s birthday over google meet
  
  
• Apr - searching for apartments, rainy, zoom happy hours, cod with bros and Casey, Keeg’s birthday over google meet, scattegories with R's over zoom/google meet, Easter, Two Popes
  
  
• May - moved apartments to Lincoln Park, start of HPL, hung out with R, George Floyd
  
  
• June - got promoted to senior analyst, street closures with outdoor seating festival vibe, Breonna Taylor, marched in downtown Lafayette
  
  
• July - fourth of July outside deck, Sunday birthday turned 26 beautiful blue sky day, family time and presents over google meet, hung out with L and friends
  
  
• Aug - Asheville with Mom, Dad, and A.T., hung out with L and friends, went to watch softball games, Saturday park volleyball, end to end for HPL
  
  
• Sep - hung out with L and C and friends, Saturday park volleyball, end to end for HPL, Sports Sunday, interruption filled first Pres debate
  
  
• Oct - HPL ended, went to LA for Keeg’s proposal to Marissa
  
  
• Nov - started Bopis phase 2, Biden won the election, got promoted to consultant, Men’s group, IU football was good, Thanksgiving at home and Keeg came too
  
  
• Dec - cod with bros and Casey, went home for Christmas, enjoyed hanging out with Mom, Dad, and AT (dinners, board games, walks at Happy Hollow and Prophetstown, watching Mass, watched IU basketball, cleaned the basement, epic Yahtzee game, Spy Alley), G walk, drive back with AT on 31st, rearranged living room

 
I pray for those we lost, and those that are still suffering. I hope that there are silver linings from this year that we can look back on. I'll continue to strive for racial justice in all facets of life, hope to continue to learn how to prevent microaggressions, and will continue to treat others the best way I can: with love, compassion, and respect.

- Brody

   

Reminiscing on 2019 and the 2010s

It's pretty crazy that the year is at an end, let alone that we are closing a decade. Here are some of the highlights from this past year and some fun experiences that happened during the 2010s.

2019:

• After graduating from grad school in Dec. 2018, I lived at home in WL with my Mom and Dad in January. I shoveled the driveways multiple times and enjoyed going to the gym to workout, especially with my Dad. My mom and I enjoyed shopping for my new apartment. I even bought a couch!
• In February, I moved to Chicago! It was February 9th and I packed up the Uhaul and headed north. It was a blue sky day. I met my Godmother for the first time in awhile and she helped us unpack and put away my items in my apartment. It was really cool meeting her. One of my first days that week, I walked to Wrigley field in the snow. It was great.
• On February 20th, I started my first job, as an analyst at Accenture. I made sure I woke up on time to catch the red line eL and make it to the office by 8:30. It was fun meeting my other new joiners.
• I liked going to B.L.U.E.S. with Dad
• I like the independence and living on my own and exploring
• Throughout the year it was fun biking around and exploring all the different neighborhoods and the lakefront trail.
• I loved visiting home for Easter and Keeg's BDay 
• I liked hanging out with Mom and going to her cousin's wedding
• I liked going to the White Sox game with A.T., Keeg, and Marissa
• I liked hosting A.T. and his friend for the Cubs game
• I enjoyed going to Champaign for Kyle's wedding and visiting our old house 
• I liked eating dinner at Katie's and her family (my Godmother)
• I got an Illinois ID/license
• I went to two Cubs games
• I worked in Akron doing eCommerce; got to stay in Cleveland a couple times
• I visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• I took Greyhounds, rental cars, Amtrak, eL, and got picked up
• I played beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, basketball, and indoor soccer
• I found a Church
• I was home for Thanksgiving and Christmas
• I loved my first year in Chicago

The decade of 2010s:

• I played varsity high school sports
• I went to Ireland summer 2012
• I graduated high school
• I went to IU
• I read the Bible
• I learned how to play guitar
• I was a camp counselor and had amazing experiences
• I went to Germany twice, and studied abroad in Berlin summer 2015
• I graduated college 
• I was a best man in my best friend's wedding
• I attended two additional weddings of my good friends
• My cousins and their spouses started having kids
• I went to grad school
• I interned in Indianapolis
• I was at IU with my brothers for one semester
• I graduated grad school 
• I got my first job in Chicago at Accenture
• I met great friends
• I grew closer with God

It's been a great year and a wonderful decade. Time is precious and I'm thankful for the memories.


Here we come 2020!


-Brody

Adventure, Accomplishment, and New Beginnings

12-31-18

Adventure, Accomplishment, and New Beginnings

This has been such a good crazy year that I haven’t even written a blog post in 2018. 2018 was filled with new adventures, big accomplishments, and new beginnings.

            In the spring, I got an A- in one of the toughest classes in my program. I felt proud that I took the class instead of opting for what might have been an easier path. Then in March, I traveled with 18 of my classmates to India to explore its culture and business environment. It’s ironic that some of my favorite memories from the trip were on the bus rides. However, the Taj Mahal was a sight to see and the clear blue sky that day was a blessing. I discovered that India has as many mopeds as sand particles on a beach. Above all though, I learned that India is a wonderful country filled with history, hard work, and people just like me.

            In April, my little brother Keegan turned 21. We enjoyed a night out on the town going to the different bars and also celebrated with a bonfire the next day complete with hamburgers, chips, and smores. In May, I enjoyed watching my little brother Aidan play baseball. As a senior, he was hitting the ball all over the place. Watching him graduate later that month was a highlight for our family, and it was the last chapter in what amounted to 18 years spent between my brothers and me in the West Lafayette school system.

            As summer rolled around, I started my first ever internship. It was in Indianapolis with a tech company that does accounting and website development for charities. I’ve always wanted to get to know Indianapolis better, and I’m happy that I was able to explore it on the weekends through the various parks, disc golf courses, and other spectacles the city had to offer. Not only did I enjoy the exploring, but I learned a lot about business and how to work hard. It was a good experience that I’m very thankful for.

            In mid August, I returned to IU Bloomington for my last college semester to complete my masters degree. I was given a unique opportunity that fall to be one of two graduate assistants for the ERP class that the new students in my program were taking. After countless questions, emails, and help sessions I now have great sympathy for teachers everywhere.

September and October were filled with recruiting events. I was happy at how well I interacted at the various info sessions, careers fairs, and email conversations. I was excited at all the interviews I got, and could definitely tell that I improved in my interviewing skills. Overall, it concluded with me getting a job offer from my top company, Accenture. I thank my family, friends, teachers, and coaches for helping me reach this goal. Above all, I thank God for always forgiving me, loving me, and pushing me to be my best and to serve others.

            In December, I ended my semester with a pricing class and a trip to Las Vegas. I learned a lot from both my negotiation and pricing classes, and it was a treat to be surrounded by MBA classmates who I could learn from as well. Las Vegas was fun but I don’t think it is a place I’d want to revisit anytime soon. The Pinball Hall of Fame was my favorite part of the trip because I felt that I got to experience what any kid in the 80s longed to do with their spare change. Christmas was a thrill and I’m thankful that I have a tremendous loving family. A few days after the holiday, I found an apartment in Chicago with my parents and am all set to see what 2019 has in store.

            Before the clock strikes midnight, I’ll reflect on all that 2018 had to offer. Whatever thoughts roll through my mind, I know that 2018 was filled with adventure, accomplishment, and new beginnings. What a year.

-Brody   

Goal Accomplished

12-31-17

#myDecemberGoal

Goal Accomplished

            Today is New Year’s Eve which means that by posting this blog piece I have successfully accomplished my December goal. At the beginning of the month, I made it a goal of mine to write one blog post a day until the ball dropped celebrating the New Year. I wrote one that was private which I didn’t post and I forgot to write one on Christmas Eve so I wrote two on Christmas. Besides those little missteps, I can happily say that I successfully accomplished what I set out to do. It’s been a fun journey and I’ve learned some things along the way.

            First, I found out that it would take me until 11 pm to feel motivated to write. Often later in the night was when I would reflect on my day, which brings me to my second point. Each day of mine brought something new and something to write about. No matter how boring or how fun, there was always something on my mind that I could share.

            Speaking of sharing, I hope that you’ve enjoyed my short stories these past 31 days. My main motivation for writing these posts wasn’t to make you want to like my writing. It was simply me striving to accomplish something over time. I said in the beginning that #myDecemberGoal was like a reverse New Year’s resolution. I did it because I knew that a specific timeframe would help me stay accountable. Now that we have a little under 15 minutes until 2018 rings in, new year's resolutions will be made. For me, I’ve already accomplished mine. It just so happened to occur during December.
  

-Brody

Overcoming Limits

12-30-17

#myDecemberGoal

Overcoming Limits

Today I was inspired by E:60. It’s a show on ESPN where journalists interview people about their life stories and how it relates to sports. They were airing a special this evening to reminisce about their past 10 years of creating the show. While watching all the footage and hearing some interviews, it was incredible to see what some people accomplished while having some sort of setback.

One girl they covered was a star track athlete even though she had multiple sclerosis. She couldn’t feel her legs whenever she raced and had to fall into her coach’s arms every time she crossed the finish line in order to stop her momentum. She then had to be immediately carried to a bench to be cooled down by ice bags and water because her body would be producing so much heat. This happened every race and it’s not like she came in last. She won many of her races.

Stories like these inspire me because they make me realize that we as humans can persevere through the limits that Mother Nature puts on us. And when we do, we can accomplish great feats. I’ve found that this is easier when someone is along side of us, constantly pushing us to be better and encouraging us along the way, like that girl’s coach. While there is a breaking point and such thing as too much pushing, I usually find that I have a lot more effort to give whenever the thought of quitting or not even trying pops into my head.

I believe the military has a 40% rule that says when you first think you want to quit, you really have only given 40% of your available energy. Thus, you still have 60% to give. I remember when this saying affected my workout a couple months ago. I first only wanted to run 10 laps on the track but I decided at about lap 7 to add 60% more laps to my goal. I ended up running 25 laps (60% more) and was amazed that I actually did it.
           Mindsets like this and stories such as what the journalists of E:60 share have led me to make one of my New Year’s resolutions be not to underestimate myself. If I don’t underestimate myself, who knows what feats I can accomplish.

-Brody