2017 is coming to an end and honestly readers, before I started writing this I thought it would be difficult to think of things in my life that were triumphant this year. The more I thought about it, I started to feel ashamed of myself. I have so much to be thankful for and promised myself to enter 2018 with more positivity. I also want to get into the habit of doing something that has always been so hard for me to do: thank God daily for everything He has given to me.
January – I went on a trip to Ensenada, Mexico with my boyfriend and his cousins. They were so fun and the laughs were endless. Thank You God for the opportunity to make memories with the people who are a part of my boyfriend’s life.
February – I was able to serve on a confirmation retreat for what I think was the 8th year in a row. St. Andrew’s Abby in Valyermo, CA will forever be a special place to me. It was there, in 2004, that I became that much closer to God and grew a better understanding of what it meant to be Catholic. After that, I kept going back to serve the candidates whose shoes I was once in. Thank You God for this beautiful faith.
March – Oh boy, March. My birthday month. My 30th year on Earth. I went to Costa Rica and had an absolute blast. My friend from college has been living there since 2012. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate a milestone birthday – one that many people seem to dread. Meaningful conversations, beyond friendly people, and the most gorgeous sunset I’ve ever seen on a beach that I could never find in California (sorry guys but it’s true). Thank You God for allowing me to experience it all. Pura Vida!
April – At the tail end of that trip I received an email for a phone interview that would eventually lead me to my current job. After my in-house interview on April 7th, I received another email stating I was moving forward with the background process. Thank You God for continuing to give me more opportunities to grow and strengthen my skills and talents.
May – On the 12th I drove a little bit over an hour to Pasadena to a book signing by Jen Sincero, author of You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. She was there to promote her new book, You are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth. Was it worth it? Oh yes. Jen’s humor was just as infectious in person as it is in her books. Her story is incredible, and her advice is noteworthy. I was nervous as I approached the table and told her that listening to her and reading her work has inspired me to get back into writing, even at my age. She laughed as if to indicate I was perfectly fine. “I didn’t start writing till I was in my 30’s too!” After learning how young she still is, I became even more inspired. Thank you Jen for sharing your talent and advice to the world, and thank You God for creating people like her who inspire those like me.
June – I left my job and I took a week off for myself. I have always been that person who believes taking time off means you’re going on a trip. Who takes vacations and stays home?! Taking that week off was so refreshing and very much needed. Note to self: take more days off to recuperate. Thank You God for allowing me to reenergize not only my body but my mind as well.
July – I started my new position with my current employer. It was (and in some ways, still is) a breath of fresh air, a huge relief from the environment I had just left (that’s another blog post for another date). It was almost culture shock to see a management team treat their employees so well. If you’ve read my previous post then you know how I have been feeling about the direction I want my career to go. Don’t get me wrong, I am truly grateful for this opportunity. Thank You God for it, and I cannot wait to see how it prepares me for my sole adventure.
August – I surprised my boyfriend for his birthday and we headed to The Greek Theatre in LA to see Postmodern Jukebox. It was so much better than I had anticipated. He introduced me to them a few years ago so I knew I had to buy those tickets. Thank You God for giving me the ability to buy them to be able to build more memories with my better half.
September – Oh yes, the travel bug never stops. From the 13th to the 18th my boyfriend and I went to Seattle and Vancouver B.C. with his brothers and some friends. Growing up in Southern California, it’s not uncommon to hear that we are missing a great deal of green. This trip really allowed me to take in the beauty of nature and appreciate that people have worked to preserve it. The Pacific Northwest is a new go-to destination in my book, and I am excited to continue the adventure when we visit Portland this upcoming March for my birthday. Again, thank You God for giving me these opportunities to travel.
October – This month I gained new memories that allowed me to enjoy my time with my loved ones, related or not. I was a bridesmaid in my cousin’s wedding, I watched a Beatles tribute band on my mom’s birthday, my boyfriend and I made friends with a couple from Montreal, and we celebrated a friend’s birthday in downtown Orange. Thank You God for bringing these people into my life and for reminding me to always have fun, no matter how stressful life gets.
November – This past Thanksgiving allowed me to really sit back and reflect. So many things happened around the world this year that made a lot of people angry, hurt, confused and fearful. Politics driving families and relationships apart. More mass shootings that instill paranoia and fear. It’s not easy to tune out the suffering when it’s everywhere in our social media, the news and television. I reminded myself not to eat, breathe and sleep all of this negativity. That no matter how bad it gets, I still have my family, friends and my better half to remind me that God’s love is still existent in this troubled yet beautiful world. Thank You God for having them in my life as those reminders.
December – The month may not be over yet as I type this, but already I have a lot to be grateful for. I am very excited to start 2018, for this blog to flourish so I can share my thoughts and ideas with those alike. Christmas is 6 days away, and the only thing I want is for my family and friends to be safe. So here is to better health, fun trips, and a more positive outlook on life. See you next year!
Something Genuine 