THE YEAR OF ME

“You don’t have a right to the cards you believe you should have been dealt. You have an obligation to play the hell out of the one’s you’re holding.”

So 2017 is tomorrow. This blows my mind. Insert squished face emoji here. But honestly, I don’t think I have ever been more ready to say “Byeeee” to a year than 2016. Not because I had a ‘bad year’. Nope. Quite the contrary. This year was truly magical. I mean, I traveled the world. I set my mind to a goal, followed through, and it repaid me in the best way possible. I could continue to describe every detail of my travels through the UK, Europe, Indonesia, and Australia, but I’ll leave that magic to blog posts {both past and future}.

But like everything else in life, 2016 wasn’t perfect.

My health, heart, and happiness was tested this year. On levels I was unprepared for. But since when are we really prepared for anything that tests us? The simple answer is we aren’t. That’s why we refer to it as a test. We are given a problem and intended to find the solution. Now, at University we were given a falsified version of how tests work in the ‘real world’. There are no study guides, study groups, or a preparation period. You aren’t graded with letter grades or scored based on a number out of 100. One day, you are just given a problem. Or multiple problems. We’ve all been there. And you just figure it out, one step at a time.

I didn’t always feel in control of my decisions this year. That whole battle between your head and your heart nonsense? Yeah.. so.. that’s real. But 2017 will be the year of me. Of decisions and suggestions and ideas that are 100% my own. Influenced by none other than yours truly.

I experienced things in 2016 that many people on this planet will never experience. I understand things that only a select group of people will ever come to know. Traveling is my passion. It is what I crave and what motivates me in my life. And I want to continue to feed this passion in 2017. I want new places, new faces, and new challenges. I want a suitcase, multiple plane tickets, and maybe a new passport stamp or two. And I want to be in control.

There are things that will always be out of my control. But I am dedicated to improving my health, heart, and happiness in 2017. I don’t expect a perfect year. In fact, I have many reasons to believe that this year will be one of my hardest thus far. But it’s due to decisions that I am making. Challenges I am bringing upon myself. In the hopes that one day I will look back and give my 2016 self a pat on the back. Because if anything, 2016 taught me that you must take risks in life. Some of them will leave you furious, hurt, and lost. Others will change your life for the better, leaving you empowered, confident, and hopeful. But you should never let the the fear of the risk keep you from accomplishing what it is you want out of life. Don’t settle for a life that leaves you furious, hurt, and lost. Always know that around the corner is empowerment, confidence, and hope.

You just have to take a risk.

You have to try.

I have no regrets from 2016, or any other year for that matter. Some of my risks failed me this year. And some brought me so much joy that I want to relive every moment. And I can expect the same from 2017.

2017 will be starting off.. uh.. chaotically? That is the only word that can be used to describe it.

For Christmas this year, I have gifted myself with another one-way ticket.

Are we surprised? Absolutely not. I’m leaving with a suitcase, a winter coat, and a dream. {god, I seriously can’t get any cheesier}. It’s the biggest risk I’ve ever taken on. And for the first time in my life, I am terrified. But hey, if your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough. Or so I’ve been told. Regardless, the next couple of months will be an adventure.

And that’s what life is all about.

As far as the blog goes, I want to truly commit to it again. I lost my drive for a bit, admittedly. However, I have recently been extremely inspired. So, you can look forward to a lot of material in 2017.

As I kiss 2016 good-bye with some of the most perfect humans I’ve ever met, I know nothing will ever compare to this year. It was incredible, unbelievable, chaotic, impressive, stunning, difficult, uncomfortable, humbling, unreal, heartbreaking, stimulating, breathtaking, overwhelming, and astonishing. And with that…

 2017 come through.