Year in Review: 2018

I’m still kicking myself for not writing a year in review post for 2017, as that was quite a year and this post is one of my favorite to write (whether people read it or not).

I really enjoy looking back, seeing what was accomplished, experienced and learned throughout the year. I knew I needed to make it happen to round out 2018.

As always, it’s been a year. So many things and people and places that whenever I sit down to reflect quietly, I’m generally overwhelmed and thankful to the point of tears. [proof I am indeed turning into my father].

Winter was long + cold last year, but I told myself that I had no room to complain after CHOOSING to move out of Southern California. So, I embraced full hibernation in January (especially since the craziness of holiday retail was over) and after years of ignoring the hype surrounding The Office, I managed to watch every episode in a few weeks. In a matter of days my opinion went from “this is too awkward to watch” to “okay this is tolerable” to “how in the world have I already watched 6 episodes today?

Is that sad that The Office was my January accomplishment? (and that I sobbed during the finale?)

In February I emerged from the aforementioned hibernation to head to San Francisco (well and to go to work, teach 6am spin and hit the gym). For someone who moved out of California, I spent a good chunk of time there in 2018, making three tips out in a matter of seven months. I went to see Lizzie and Kenny and we had a wonderful long weekend. I could never live in the SF, but I LOVE visiting. If you’re planning a trip there this year I’ve written two previous posts about visiting (here and here).

My dad surprised my mom with a trip to the Bahamas for Christmas, and my sisters and I were lucky enough to be my mom’s “plus 3” on the trip. My dad called to ask if I could be available back in November and my response was something along the lines of “I can ALWAYS be available for a free trip the Bahamas. ALWAYS.” We loved the sunshine and warmth and it was just what we needed to push through the tail end of winter (aka non existent spring) in the Midwest. During March I was also knee deep in the not fun process that is job hunting.

After successfully avoiding office life for about a year, in April I dove headfirst back in after a year of coaching, nannying and doing retail management. It was an adjustment at first, but it’s nice to have normal holidays and weekends off with the rest of my friends. (Although I do still feel like a bird in a cage). Office life isn’t for me forever, and I think by now most of my friends and loved ones have realized that, but for now I’m learning a ton (hello marketing degree in an operations and accounting role) and doing the best I can, while working hard on my side hustles.

Brendan and I also managed to squeeze in a quick long weekend to Colorado to see friends and family, and my mom and I visited Shannon and Delaney to enjoy our first Kent State Fashion Show!

In May Natalie and I attended a charity event at Reserve Wine & Food, an awesome place in downtown GR, and I headed back to Toledo to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mom and cousin.

Grand Rapids had AMAZING weather for Memorial Day Weekend (which can be really hit or miss). With Brendan and Ricky both out of town, Devin and I spent almost the entire weekend together soaking up all the sunshine, along with Lizzie, who was in town.

Summer 2018 was my first summer living in the Midwest and having to work inside (which I was actually nervous about). Thankfully my office started summer Fridays, so we worked a little extra Monday-Thursday and were able to leave at 12pm on Friday. It was a GAME CHANGER. Devin and I created a routine for these summer Fridays – we would wake up and run together at 6am, both go to work until 12, then meet back up at his apartment pool for lunch and sunshine. Such a good way to start a weekend.

June ended up being music festival month and it looks like it will be that way again this year (not mad about it). I flew across the country to meet Lizzie, Kenny and Brian in Palm Springs, CA for Splash House, a 3 day music festival/pool party. If you’re someone who loves house music I would highly recommend. We had a blast in the desert. Back in Michigan I got to squeeze in two days of Electric Forest, a huge music festival about an hour outside of Grand Rapids. I love all types of live music and I love it even more outside, so I was pretty happy.

In July I turned 26 (HOW?!) and I’d say one of the bigger (aka more adult things) that happened this year was buying a house. I haven’t shared too much about it (other than mentioning it in this post), but progress is being made with the renovations, and Brendan and I are so excited for the final product.

My sister came up to Grand Rapids for a long weekend to celebrate her birthday, and Brendan and I took her to all our favorite spots and checked out a few new ones. My family also came up for a day to enjoy the beauty that is Lake Michigan in the summer. We spent a day kayaking and swimming in the lake a  PJ Hoffmaster State Park.

We had so much fun at Splash House in June that we went back out for round two in August, and this time competed in the balcony decorating contest. Each festival they put on a balcony decorating contest and the winners get free tickets for life and a complete hotel and ticket package for the following year. We won!

 

September was gorgeous! We enjoyed Art Prize (a massive national art contest hosted in Grand Rapids) and my sisters and I took my mom to see Ed Sheeran in Detroit. He was actually really adorable in person haha.

October flew by, as I spent most weekends away from Grand Rapids, heading back to Toledo one weekend, to Chicago for Brendan’s birthday one weekend and to Ann Arbor for Allison’s birthday. I finally decided to take a step back from teaching Spin classes, and breathed a sigh of relief on my last 5 am alarm morning.

A few weeks later I was back in Chicago, this time to celebrate Devin’s birthday. We had a blast and Mother Nature was kind and gave us two days of 35-40 degrees and sunshine. Later in the month I headed back to Toledo to celebrate Thanksgiving with my extended family and celebrate an old friend’s baby shower.

December reminded me how lucky I am to have such great people in my life. Between time with some of my favorite ladies in Grand Rapids and getting to catch up with out of town friends over the holidays, my heart was (and still is) so full.

And, to round out the year, Brendan and I took a very last minute trip to North Carolina with friends, where we explored Winston-Salem and took in Bassnectar’s NYE 360 show (amazing).

I spent a good amount of time in 2018 going back to Toledo to see my parents, siblings and cousins. I didn’t realize how much time I actually spent with them until I was asked if I had moved back to Toledo part time….to which the answer remains “no, never.” (Sorry Toledo).

I’m ending 2018 the strongest I’ve ever been, both mentally and physically.  I spent the last 10 weeks of the year macro coaching with Alex, and trained for the entirety of 2018 with Annie.

A lot of this year was spent trying to find my “direction” or “path” (while having a ton of fun along the way). I FINALLY feel as if I’m making progress; realizing all these jobs and steps were useful, and honing in on where I want to be.

It’s something I wasn’t prepared for, and I know I’ve probably talked about this at length, but when I graduated college I had NO IDEA what was to come. I’ve learned SO much about myself in the past 4 years. In high school and college I was always so focused on the next steps and completing the goal, that I didn’t even stop to think if that was what I wanted.

Now, with decades ahead of me to work, figuring out what is going to be fulfilling for me while also supporting me is one of my top priorities. (But damn, it is SO hard to be patient sometimes.)

Life is too short to do anything because you think you are supposed to.

Let me repeat that.

Life is too short to do anything because you think you are supposed to.

Do it because you want to, or it gets you closer to your goal, or because it helps out someone you love.

Do something for the learning experience, for the challenge, for the thrill.

But please, don’t simply do something because you think you are supposed to.

It’s your life, not theirs.

And on that note, I’m out. Cheers to 2019 my friends.

Thanks for joining me on this ride!