What a whirlwind this year
has been. I started with no idea it would end up this way- which goes against
so much of what I feel strongly about: planning is EVERYTHING! Don’t get me
wrong, I will always be a planner and will always try to plan as much as I can,
but I never could imagined or planned a year ago what I am about to embark on
in a just about a week.
The Year of Love.
The biggest unplanned event
this year has to be Adam. Meeting someone like Adam is life changing, even if
you don’t end up falling in love and traveling the world as we may be. He has
made me stronger than I ever have been before- believing in me when I didn’t
believe in myself and picking me up when I needed a little help. He is the most incredible support system and
told me that if I had a dream and really wanted to make it a reality, I am the
only one stopping myself- 100% true. Dreams do come true. Cheesy- but only when
it happens to you, you believe it.
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| First Date! |
The Year of Long-distance Love and THANKYOULEAH.
While meeting Adam was one of
the best things, we started our relationship as a long-distance one. He was
hiking the Appalachian Trail with Warrior Hike. We didn’t know when we could
talk as service was spotty, so every day was a stare-at-your-phone-until-he-calls
kind of day. In addition to not knowing when we would talk, we saw each other
just about every two months when I would visit where he was. How did I stay so
strong? I was lucky enough to have an incredible friend who would listen when I
was having a hard day and who would continue to make me feel strong when I
wasn’t feeling that way myself. As I said previously, meeting someone like Adam
is life changing but I have to say- meeting someone and having a friend like
Leah is just as amazing. Thank you SO MUCH Leah for being there through thick
and thin, as I’m sure you wanted to say SUCK IT UP about a hundred times but
didn’t. If I could pack you in my pack and bring you to New Zealand I would- I
know I’ll need you while I’m there!! Love you, Freebird!
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| Adam took BOTH of us off-roading the morning after our first date. |
The Year of Selling Things.
What didn’t I sell this year?
The most emotional sale was that of my house…my first home. This was bittersweet as it held so many
memories for me, but it was so incredibly satisfying. I lived on Harvest Ave
for four years, and it was a learning experience that I will take with me for
the rest of my life. I know what I would do different and what to look for when
buying: what I want [a bigger bathroom] vs. what I don’t want [a tiny
bathroom]. The important things of course. In addition to selling the house, I
just about sold everything in it the weekend before hosting an epic yard sale
with some amazing things. The house was sold the first day of my week vacation
that month- luck. That brings me to the most recent- I sold my SUV yesterday.
LUCK for sure. Perfect timing and it was to someone I know which is even
better. Sell. Sell. Sell!
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| My first home. |
The Year of Heartache.
I debated writing about this
[because it makes me so emotional] but it was one of the hardest things I had
to do this year. Due to my crazy work schedule and traveling in 2012, and the
start of planning for this travel adventure, I had to find a home for the two
most amazing fur babies anyone could have- Raisin and Lilly. I refused to
separate them, and I wanted nothing in return other than finding a new forever
home for these two peanuts. Thankfully, with the help of The Island Pet Lodge
on Grand Island, NY, and knowing some incredible people, I found the most
incredible place for them to grow up in. Thank you Kim & Jeffery Pardee-
you made one of the hardest things I have ever had to do just a little more
bearable. I fought through the tears [and still do when talking about it…like
right now] but I know, without a doubt, they are with two INCREDIBLE people
that would raise them just as I would have.
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| Lilly & Raisin |
The Year of The Freebird.
I’ve worked since I was 14 so
leaving my job was one of the strangest things I have done this year. Since I
am a planner, and the thought of the unknown financially makes me a bit CRAZY,
I wasn’t happy and I knew that. From our first date [which Leah attended by the
way…I’ll never live that one down] we joked about being Freebirds. Not until
this moment did I feel like a true Freebird. There is comfort for me here though since we
will be volunteering while on our journey. As it will be in exchange for
housing & meals, we have a purpose. We will learn new things every day while
we are gone, knowledge that will benefit us for years to come.
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| Dave Matthews Band Concert |
This year has truly been
amazing.
As New Years Eve is here, I
do not have a New Years Resolution as many do. There is no specific thing I am
looking to change or make different, but in turn hoping that during my upcoming
journey I find more about myself than I knew when I left.
I open my arms wide to 2014:
The Year of Happy.
