Bravery in 2014.

I've never chosen one single word for a year before, but the thought of doing so really inspired me this year.  After writing out all of my resolutions, I chose the word brave.  [with hustle and create as a close second and third.]

I want this year to be a year of action.  A year of taking risks and not being afraid to fail.  A year of becoming exactly who I want to be, regardless of what anyone else may think.  A year of making every day count, full of experiencing life and taking big chances.  A year of making things happen.  A year of celebrating more and worrying less.

A year of being brave.

It takes bravery to make things happen. 

It takes bravery to be yourself. 

It takes bravery to decide where you want to be in life, and then do everything you can to get there. 

It takes bravery to live fiercely and without regret. 

I am planning on doing every one of those things this year, so brave seemed like a good word to choose.  That, and brave is not a word I would have ever used to describe myself in the past.  And I want to change that.

2014 is going to be good because I'm deciding to make it good.  And to bravely take on everything that comes my way this year.  Because I don't want to be sitting in the same spot on January 1st, 2015 thinking of all the things I missed out of because I was too afraid of __________.

So that's 2014 summed up in three words for me.  What about you?  What does 2014 look like for you? 

Happy first Friday of the New Year!  Cheers to making it count. 

all sources for images can be found here.

2013 in a picture.

A blurry picture, but still my favorite.  This was last New Years when we were on our honeymoon.  We started 2013 out my making wishes and lighting lanterns on fire and sending them into the sky, watching them float over the ocean.  I remember feeling so hopeful and full of anticipation at what 2013 would bring as I watched it float away.  Because really, I had no idea of what our new life was going to be like. 

I think that sums up 2013.  Exciting, hopeful, anticipating, and having no dang idea what was going to happen.  It's been a year of adventure and discovery, and I have loved experiencing all of it with Christopher. 

Happy 2014, you beautiful people.  I hope it brings you more than you could possibly imagine.  I'm counting on it. 

2013, You Were Pretty Amazing.

2013 has been one crazy year.

I welcomed in 2013 in Jamaica, still on our honeymoon celebrating our new life.  When you start a year out like that, it has to be good, right?  2013 certainly has been.

2013 is the year I started blogging.
2013 is the year I found myself in a new town knowing no one but my husband, and you know what?  I survived.  And not only that, but made some pretty great friends along the way.
2013 is the year I decided to get serious about writing.  And while it would be pretty awesome to be ending the year with a book contract, the passion and determination I've discovered in myself is almost worth as much to me.
2013 is the year I figured out who I was...outside of college, outside of living at home, outside of being in the same town as my best friends.  It was a year of both finding who I was and finding who I wanted to be.
2013 is the year where I learned what being a wife means.  How it's so much more than cooking dinner and doing laundry.
2013 is the year I started building a life with my husband.
2013 is the year I traveled with Chris: to Jamaica, to Haiti, to New York, to the Bahamas.
2013 is the year Mr. Gatsby came into our lives.
2013 was a beautiful, incredibly full year.

This week, while you're making your resolutions and determining how much better 2014 will be than 2013 was, don't forget to take a minute to reflect on how good 2013 actually was.  Don't forget to be thankful for all the things you will have to think of when you think of 2013.

2014?  It's going to be amazing.  But 2013 has been pretty spectacular too.