So I'm actually really sad to end the year 2012 :( It was seriously probably my favorite year of life.... It's seriously gotten even better since my birthday, so I think I'm going to shoot for making 25 my favorite year ever, so that helps me not to be so sad right now. But while in Vegas with my chica Ellen Nygaard, she talked me into making a high light real of the year, which I think is a stellar idea. To preface, 2011 was not such a nice year to me. It was a very difficult year as I found that it was definitely time for me to hash out some major emotional setbacks that I had honestly ignored for years. But I began 2012 with a very fresh perspective on myself and my future and throughout the year, I feel like I grew leaps and bounds... and had a BLAST doing it! So without further adeu..... My highlight real!
1: Promotion! Early in the year I got promoted to assistant manager. This is my first management position in any job ever and I have learned so much about my career. I feel like I've progressed so much and developed even more passion for my job, which is a pretty good thing if I do say so myself :) Also, I love working so closely with the manager. She's pretty great and I feel a pretty good role model for me if I decide to ever own or manage a salon myself someday. Mostly though, this promotion has given me so much confidence in the hair world. From leadership to your everyday trim, this has been nothing but a huge growing experience for me.
2: I lost 35 pounds! Early in the year, I decided I did not like the way my body looked, so I did something about it. I moved more and ate less and lossed a whopping 35 pounds in the first half of the year! I'm pretty proud of this, because it was not easy. But I learned some very healthy habits in the mean time, and developed some much needed self control.
3: I biked the Oregon Coast! So I've been very interested in doing a sizeable bike tour for quite a few years and It was such a magnificent goal to accomplish. Not only was it killer to bike 407 miles in one trip, but I got to reconnect with some old friends that I forgot how much I loved! Poor Jared being so close to 3 girls the whole time, but it had to be so worth it :) And I must say that the coast from the seat of a bike was INCREDIBLE!!! And it made me realize that a transamerica trip is so very, very necessary for my life.
4: Got rid of toxic relationships: This may not seem like a very happy highlight to some people, but I really had some relationships that were making my life very hard. It took all year, but I really feel like the people I am now surrounding myself with are people that encourage me to be better and are extremely supportive of me. Christmas last year was insanely hard for me to get through, because the people I was focusing on were not people that wanted the best for me. They were bandaids for a wound that would never heal without air. That being said, I have changed some of my habits which has unfortunately disconnected me from some really great friends. They know who they are, and I miss being so close to them, but my life just had to take a healthier course for me.
5: I made major strides in my spirituality: The couple years that preceded 2012 were years that I chose to reinvent myself spiritually. I wanted to make sure that my beleifs were mine, and not those of the people that taught them to me. I won't ever forget the moment that I realized that it doesn't matter what influence anyone has over me, I make my decisions. The church I was raised in is part of me and always will be no matter what happens in my life. Since that epic moment, I have felt a peace I haven't felt in years and discovered a happiness that I forgot existed. What a blessing!
6: Me and Kendra founded a business! Me and one of the best friends I will ever have in my life got together and put some ambition together to create a small business. I have had so much fun doing it and have been able to spend a ton of quality time with one of my favorite people in the world. What a goal to accomplish in life.... I've always wanted to own a business and although this is on a very small scale, I can't wait to see how big it can grow!
7: VEGAS AND THE KILLERS!! Seeing my favorite band live has been something I've wanted for YEARS! It was seriously so amazing and I can't put it into words.... I love music, and being able to live in my favorite songs for an hour was more than I can express through the written word. And seeing them with Ellen Nygaard - couldn't ask for a better companion :) Also, I got to experience Vegas through the eyes of some very awesome designers, which was a pretty cool perspective. Plus I love being able to travel with my travel buddy! And I will appreciate it as long as I can, as I don't see her being able to take such girly trips with me for much longer.... I feel the fingers of matrimony tugging at her - if not with this boyfriend then her next. So, I treasure the short times I get to spend with her.
8: I got to look through a crystal ball: Okay, not literally, but figuritively. I got a glimpse of what my life could be today, had the previous years not been what the had been. I can honestly say that my greatest trials have been my biggest blessings. A huge part of the reason I went through such a rough patch was that I truly felt that God had squashed a few of my dreams right in front of my face. I was so conflicted with an array of emotions I cannot explain. I couldn't figure out why he would want me to hurt so bad. But there were a couple of instances that I got a clear view of what could have been through a wide variety of different experiences. I went through a TON, but I was spared an unmeasurable amount of heartache. And through it all, I learned who I am, which is my final highlight of the year :)
9: I found myself :) I have been looking for this girl for years and I finally found her. I actually am the same person you are. I am an ever-changing being, that evolves constantly. To give me a title, a label, a box only limits me. I dream and I realize those dreams so that I can become even more than I am capable of imagining. I am not one person. I am countless versions of self that will continue to evolve and grow throughout time. That's why it's so hard to find yourself - you aren't one person. I have developed a passion for life through my dreams, and I will never forget to dream again. I will never forget to create memories, because in the sad and lonely times, your best memories are sometimes the only things that get you through them. What a blessing we are for eachother! We mold and shape eachother so much that the idea of one person alone, is a complete misconception. I am my mother, my father, my grandparents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and closest friends all wrapped in one being with my mind and my direction. Take a minute to wrap your mind around that and tell me what you think :) I promise that no drugs played any part in this blog... that's really how weird my mind gets :)
So I am ulta excited for 2013. I can't wait to see what awaits! It's going to be great!!
