Wow. 2015. Feels like yesterday we were celebrating the "new millennium" with red and green braces and Lisa Frank t-shirts and lightening jelly roll pens and NOW! 44-48 (obviously). 15 years ago? I still feel like I'm 15. How is it possible that I have 15 YEARS to even look back on... and that doesn't even cover all my years on this earth?! At times this scares the living shit out of me. I'm 5.5 years away from 30? I have a big girl job? I live in the coolest city on the planet? I have a boyfriend of almost 5 years? I pay all my own bills? I don't wake up every morning to my mom tickling my back and singing some super-sweet-but-this-is-way-too-early-for-songs-mom tune in my ear? The sensation of growing up has been weird. And definitely scary at times. But growing INTO MYSELF in parallel? Now that has been awesome. Exciting. Crazy. Surreal. All those "is this really my life?" synonyms put together wouldn't even describe what it feels like. And what's even cooler is I'm not done growing. I'm not done reaching, dreaming, exploring. And that is terrifyingly awesome.
Every year I feel like I discover new things about myself, the world, love, loss, friendships, faith, doubt.. But this year in particular I really feel like I not only learned a lot; but I retained a lot. It's hard to put into words... but I just feel totally and completely at peace with who I am and where I'm going. Which makes it SO much easier to live in the moment, and, in return, welcome and apply lessons learned into my life with open arms. I'm no where NEAR perfect, and I'm no where NEAR done growing and learning. But I like the things that I've learned this past year, so I want to share 14 things (for 2014, get it?!) with the people I love! Some are super silly, some are kind of deep; but all were super meaningful to me this year in one way or another. I hope you enjoy! xoxo
1. If you're teetering on the verge of doing or not doing, going or not going; ALWAYS do. ALWAYS go.
2. No matter how much a company is paying you, or what the title is, or how much it accelerates your career; if you're not happy there, it will seep outside the cubicle walls into every aspect of your life.
3. Make sure the people you love are constantly reminded - with your words, and your actions. Write your grandma a letter saying hello, spend the afternoon watching movies with your mom, tell your siblings you love them, treat your significant other to something. This life is so short, so uncertain. I for one want all of the people I love to know it, every. single. day.
4. It's ok to tell the spray tan lady that you want her to go super light on your hands and feet. Just take my word on this, k?
5. It's important to remember that your relationship with your significant other is one of a kind. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' timing. YOUR timing is the perfect timing. He is YOUR guy. She is YOUR girl. This is YOUR relationship. Unlike anyone else's in the world. And guess what? No other couple in the WORLD is doing it better than you guys. And that is fucking exciting.
6. You don't have to waste your time with people you don't really care about, or that don't care about you. There's too many good ones out there to spend even a second chasing someone, and don't be the person that misses out on something with people who love you because you're wasting your time (or someone else's, for that matter).
7. Don't ever go to bed angry. At friends, at significant others, at family members, over work-stuff. If it means staying up until 2am watching Friends re-runs to cheer yourself up, do it. If it means swallowing your pride and saying you are sorry, do it. Anger never wakes up happy.
8. It's ok to splurge sometimes. You are an adult. You make good money. If you want that bag, get the frickin bag.
9. On the other side of #8, it's important to save. Even if it's just 1/8 of your paycheck each month. That's something. And that something will only benefit you in the future.
10. You have to exercise. I don't care how busy you are, how crazy your work and travel schedule is, how demanding your lifestyle is. You are not too busy to go on a walk, come on. You'll stay healthy. Clears the mind. De-stresses. DO IT.
11. Get outside more. Go on a walk with your girlfriends, bike to work, spend the afternoon at the park or beach with your significant other. Brunch outside vs in when you can. Sunlight is important. It makes ya happy! And has this funny way of reminding you that all is right in the world.
12. Take risks. Personally and professionally. When you fall, you can always get back up (even if you need some help). If you never try, you'll never know. There is no worse feeling than watching someone else benefiting from the risk you were too scared to take. It should be you. Go for it.
13. It's ok to go to bed before 8:30. It's ok to stay in on a Friday night. It's ok to watch the RHONJ marathon with a mud mask on instead of going to that work happy hour. To my #1, if you're teetering, you should go. But if you're not, don't force it. There will always be another happy hour.
14. Don't be that person who is always complaining about work or finances or relationships or friends or WHATEVER. Again, life is short. We only have 24 hours in a day. And even less waking hours than that. Don't waste anyone's time, or your own energy and mood, complaining about things. Wake up every day ready to take on the world.
Choose to be positive. To be happy. ALWAYS choose joy.
Bring it, 2015!
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