2015- I started my resolutions (I dislike that word - let's call them annual life goals) a week ago. I was putting so much pressure on 1/1/15, which by the way falls on a Thursday off from work = no motivation. I figured if I wanted to change areas of my life, why not start now? Why wait until 1/1 or 1/5 (a Monday when I might have 10% more motivation) and set myself up for failure? If it was in my heart a week before the 1st of January to add/remove/change something in my life - now was the time to start! I think this is something extremely important to remember about resolutions, life goals, whatever you want to call them. If you want something - go after it NOW. What are you waiting for? There will never be a more perfect time in your life when you're less busy, in a better place, etc. etc. I am by no means saying start something before you want to/are called to - but if it's in your heart don't deprive yourself! The time is NOW! Take that, 1/1/15…
A reflection on 2014 - this year…
- I started a new job working from home! It has enabled me to spend so much more time with my husband, do something I love much more frequently (which is healthy cooking in the kitchen), and enabled me to focus more on work and less on idle political items that lend themselves to an office environment. I am so beyond grateful for this opportunity and for my friend Rochelle for taking a chance on me - it has changed my entire life and love your for it.
- I traveled to Chicago for the 1st time! And boy was it cold. But looking back it didn't matter - I was able to see one of my very best friends in what I think was a time we needed to be together most. And yes, we even got to see the Cloud Gate and the view from the top of the Willis Tower! Though Chicago fought me with its 2 degree weather, a stomach bug, and a little travel struggle - I am grateful for my experience there. And plan to visit again during their 100 days of summer next time ;)
- I tried 20 yoga classes in 30 days! I ended up with 16/20 classes and no regrets (also with a mild case of tennis elbow? thank you a thousand chaturangas and downward facing dogs). This experience changed my entire outlook on yoga - bringing to light the idea that incorporating yoga practice into my daily life (no matter how many times I go to class a week) made me more mindful, peaceful, and grateful. And it made me want to show up on my mat and bring friends to join the crowd as often as I could. I didn't do it because I felt I had to - but because I wanted to. This year, yoga went from an exercise class to a life practice for me - and for that I am tremendously grateful to my friend Katie who first invited me to step foot into that sauna of a classroom :)
- We got engaged! I could write 35,546 blog posts on my overwhelming feelings about getting engaged this year. The immense feeling of love, support, excitement, deep togetherness, and care that I have with and for the man of my dreams who dropped down and asked me to spend the rest of our lives together this year!!!! I am beyond blessed and grateful forever and ever for this moment together and all of the congratulations/love/support we received from family and friends.
- Drew hit a huge accomplishment! Without going into detail, I will say that I am so proud of the guy I met at a bar in NYC and the man he is. Also, big life events call for big family gatherings - and to have both my and his family here in San Diego together celebrating one of our own, was an unbelievable feeling. Togetherness was certainly a theme in our lives this year and we are so grateful for all of the love and support from our family and friends.
- We moved! I just have to put this one on here (and you'll start to notice a theme) because myself and my 2 sister wives who I have endless thank yous to radiate to for the remainder of my existence - did this on our own for the most part. There were tons of other people (including males) who helped to make this happen but it was pretty damn empowering that 3 women joined by friendship could move all of my crap, and all of my husbands crap - into a new house in a matter of 3 days.
- Deployment! We did it! And though it wasn't the longest or most difficult of deployments by some military standard, I personally feel accomplished in this experience. The big scary elephant that had been hanging out in the garage for far too long (his name is Deployment) came front and center in our lives this year and we conquered him. This would have been impossible without the love and support from my sister wives, family, friends, and the smiling people on base at the supermarket (seriously). I feel again empowered that you can do anything you set your mind to - and that experiences only have feelings associated with them that you allow. Don't just accept and assign fear/anxiety/sadness to an experience because everyone else says that's what it is. Figure it out for yourself and enter into each experience with a clean set of expectations.
- We had a wedding :) This was no joke the most magical, unreal, overwhelming, exciting, and heart filled 24 hours of my life!! We cannot thank our family and friends enough for all of their love, support, travel near and far, and outpouring of gifts and well wishes for the future. Every detail of the day was more perfect than I could have ever conjured up in my over planning mind. I feel like I got actual time with every single 1 of our 122 guests. I loved my dress. I loved having 10 bridesmaids. I love getting married outside after sunset. And most importantly- I loved seeing my man standing at the end of that isle waiting for me as I walked towards him. Seeing his smiling face back at me made every single dollar, detail, and distress worth it - I truly was blessed to marry the man of my dream this year.
- We went to Hawaii! I am including this one because it was on my vision board and it happened!! Thanks to gracious gifts from family this dream was able to come true. And boy did we enjoy it - from hiking through a bamboo forest through a river and up to a waterfall, to 45 ft cliff diving, to swimming alongside sea turtles, to being at the top of an old volcano at sunrise then biking 28 miles down to the bottom - our hearts were full of the amazing natural beauty this wonderful place has to offer. And we got to experience all of these adventures together - making memories I will cherish for as long as I live :)
- We had our 1st Christmas together as husband and wife :) First off I'd like to thank my parents for pulling off Santa for nearly 12 years in our household (yes, I'll admit that haha). It is extremely difficult to keep secrets and surprises!! With all the excitement of the year we were excited to stay at home base for the holiday - but part of me wondered if we would long for family and friends. We missed you all of course - but boy did we make it a magical day!! To celebrate the joy of Christmas together (I'm lucky he's even home for Christmas) and to be able to share that with folks at the local shelter and friends here - was magnificent. We will of course be going to see my old boyfriend NYC next year, and a trip to Dallas too :) but I could't be more grateful for how perfect this year was.
When we shift our focus to reflect on what we are grateful for NOW instead of bypassing right over it all and onto 2015, we set ourselves up for success in the new year. Half of goal setting is realizing how many goals (big or small!) you've already accomplished. How many great life experiences you've already been fortunate enough to have! Reflecting on these moments enables us to be filled with gratitude - and a happy heart. So that when we are ready to look forward to 2015 - we come from a place of confidence and love. I am so grateful to be able to say I had the best 2014 a girl could not even have pictured in her wildest dreams. I am so excited for continued love, excitement, and happiness in this great world in 2015 :)
xoxo,
- AM ;)
