Life's a Dance; You Learn As You Go.... Goodbye, 2011.

Over the past 365 days, I have learned so much. As the music was playing and I was dancing through life’s trials and tribulations, I was learning and growing with every passing second. I admit that I had my fair share of moments of complaining about these lessons learned (sorry!), and if I could have controlled more of life, I would have.  With that being said, I am truly grateful for everything that I had to endure in 2011.  From the move to Oregon and the heartache that I felt for the good part of the year, to my journey across the country to Colorado and losing a friendship that I never imagined I’d be without, I learned more than I ever thought possible: more about friendship, love, regret, loss, and most importantly about myself.

With each passing day, I gain more and more confidence and pride in myself.  No matter what happens, I get up and make things great. Yeah, there are times that I stay down longer than I’d like to admit (and again, I'm sorry!), but once I get up, I am unstoppable. I wake up each day with no regrets and give my all in everything that I put my mind to.  I love with my entire heart; I give all of myself to my friends and family; I laugh even when I want to cry. I go through life with a smile on my face and love in my eyes. I treat people with respect and genuinely get to know others and listen to their stories.  It makes me feel good to make others feel good. No matter what, I continue to live, love, and laugh. Because of the way that I embrace life (even the bad parts), I know that I will be okay and that life will be great for me because I won’t stop until I make it the greatest life ever.

So, here’s to 2011: to the good times, to the trials, to the love and heartache I experienced, to the family that loved and supported me even when they didn’t agree with my decisions, to the best friends a girl could ask for, to the employers who gave me a chance, to the kids who look up to me, to the guys who let me go, to the new friends I have made along my journey, and to everything that has made me stronger and even more amazing than ever. Thank you for keeping my life interesting. There definitely hasn’t been a dull moment over the past year.

And to 2012: I cannot wait to see what you have in store for me. However, I do pray that you will be a little easier on me. But who knows, maybe there is more for me to learn about life and love!! One must fall to grow, right?! I know that without the hard times, I could not and will not grow stronger and more determined. I’m ready for you! Welcome.

A reflection on the best of 2011:

• Life in four different states before July/seven moves before September
• Couchsurfing for two months in Colorado
• Living on my own in my own place for the first time ever!!
• Walking on FIRE! (1200 degree hot coals, barefooted!!!)
• My first tattoo
• The “Three Best Friends Road Trip” 2011 with Kristi and JC
• Hot Air Balloon Festival in Albuquerque
• Breckinridge in February
• Camping Trip at Pagosa Springs (...only the first day though)
• Spending the night in Iowa with Quinton/ shooting guns for the first time
• Jackson Parker Whelan’s birth
• Five weeks of teaching at the best middle school ever
• Living with the best roomie (Jody!!!) ever in Georgia for five weeks
• St. Paddy’s Day in Savannah with Telisa, JJ, Cindy, and Steve
• 80’s Dance Night at The Crystal Ballroom in Portland
• Running my first 5K
• Running my first Half-Marathon!!!
• Tour de Fat with Cameron and Johnny
• My first annual “Ugly Christmas Sweater Party”
• Road trip across with Kansas with my parents in a gypsy van with an air mattress
• ZBB concert at Red Rocks
• Welcoming my brother-in-law home from Afghanistan
• Spending Thanksgiving with my family
• Surviving Christmas without my family
• And last, but definitely not least: Meeting so many friends along my journey this year. I am so glad all of you are in my life, especially those of you in Tennessee, Georgia, Oregon, New Mexico, and now Colorado.