So, seriously? You thought I got a face lift?

I get you every single time!

Anyways…

Ahhh a new year.

To me, starting a new year is like taking a really deep, full breath of fresh air.  Even if the year before was cloudy and murky and full of questions like “what if?” and “why?” and a lot of things look sad and hopeless, there’s still something about counting down the last seconds to midnight and shouting in celebration that what comes next is totally new.  We can say we did it.  We made it through 2013.  Through every high and every low, through every happy moment and every seemingly defeating tragedy.  You made it.  So did I.  That’s pretty great.

I was looking back this morning on the past 365 days of my own life, and I’ll tell ya what, 2013 brought about a couple of jumbo changes for this girl.  The biggest ones being:

1. I went from being anti-college and vowing to never return (and also being extremely confused about what to do with my life), to re-enrolling to my once least favorite place on earth, Grand Valley State University.  It is now a place I’ve come to respect and enjoy, and I’m excited for what the future holds.  What. The. Heck.

2. I had also been single for quite some time, and was always happily so until it started raining engagements and babies and I faced the realization that I was single, not quite ready to mingle, 26 years-old, living with my parents.  I had a couple melt downs.  I had gone on so many terrible dates that I was beginning to lose hope in the race of man.  I was pissed off.  Had every guy become a disrespectful douche bag with no manners and no sense of chivalry?  I started looking at apartments and a lot of cats, as I was sure I was headed in that direction.

Now I’m not saying that that entirely changed.  No.  I still live with mommy and daddy, and at the time Ryan came around, I was still pissed off and apprehensive.  He caught me majorly off guard.  I don’t have time for that full story today, but I’ll just say that nothing as wonderful as Ryan has come along in my life in a very long time.

Oh my gosh, that is so cute I could barf my brains out.

As for the rest of 2013, I ran a couple of fun races with some great friends

I went on a couple adventures with more incredible people

and have witnessed (as mentioned before) my own friends start their families.  As it turns out, it’s actually really, really amazing.

Friends have gotten married and engaged (and yes, I was able to remember that we all live life at our own paces and I could not be more happy for each and every one of them.)

and I have not only been able to constantly be with my own family, but have been beyond blessed to get to know another group that I have truly grown to love dearly (ahem, Ryan’s family).

2013 was a good year.

One thing I haven’t done in a long time is make resolutions.  I don’t like them. I feel like resolutions end up looking like a long list of things you need to change about yourself, and I think the world would be a better place if we could all look at ourselves just the way we are and say “I hope to always strive to be a better me, but I’ll love myself every inch of the way.” (unless that person is a murderer or rapist or just a hateful person in general, in which case, they should totally make a New Year’s Resolution to change every single thing about themselves)

However, a friend of mind recently started a blog about his “To-Do” list.  He’s been making them every year for a few years now, and I feel like this is the way to do it.  You can read about them here: ryan40in14.wordpress.com

I really like this idea.  I’ve just begun my list, but it already looks challenging and wonderful.  I may share from time to time, but I definitely encourage you to check out Ryan’s page.

(sidenote: this is not “my” Ryan)

So for 2014 I wish you nothing but better and better.  I hope you look at the struggles with appreciation, as they will mold you into a stronger person.  I hope you melt into every good moment and capture it in your heart instead of just your iPhone.  I hope you make time for the people you love, and only surround yourself with those who make you better.  I hope you step outside your comfort zone, and force yourself to love those you now see as unlovable. I hope you search for understanding and peace.

I hope this for you, my friends, as I also hope it for myself.

Cheers to 2013, thanks for bringing us here!

P.S.  Remember in 1999 when we were scared shitless about the end of the world?  and then again in 2012?  HaHaHa…we are such weirdos.