Side note: I share a birthday with the one and only Mickey Mouse. Did you know he has a birthday? Check out his passport.
25 was a big year for me. I graduated with my Masters degree after 3 years of studying abroad, subsequently making me no longer a student after being one of some kind for 19 years. I moved back to London, where I have spent the majority of my life. I got married and had a wonderful wedding in the South of France. I started living with a boy for the first time ever (E and I started living together 2 weeks before we were legally married in London). I became an adult in the "real world" - working and earning.
It was also the hardest year for me; it has been a tough ride. And I am so grateful for the gem of a husband I have, and for my unbelievably wonderful friends and sister, who have been with me through thick and thin and now I breathe a little easier.
As for the upcoming year? I'm excited. I just know it's going to be a good one. Scratch that, I'm determined to make it a great one.
I love resolutions of any kind, but particularly birthday ones. Your own personal milestone to set your own personal goals. Here are mine.
Find the fine line between gratitude and complacency.
I used to be a horribly negative person. Not in that I thought negatively of other people, but I had terribly low self-esteem and always assumed the worst. A few years ago, I made a real, conscious effort to override this default attitude and although it took a while (and a lot of fake it 'til you make it), I got there. I am so much more relaxed about myself and about life in general, and when I get anxious or stressed about my work or future I think,"but I am so lucky. I am so grateful for my lot." This is truly great, but I fear that it sometimes has presidence over the ambitious side of me that always wants to achieve more. I want to find that ideal balance of being happy and driven.
Keep up with the blog.
I currently have a strict schedule of posting on this blog every other day (although I skipped a day this weekend so this post would be on my actual birthday!), and it's working out well so far. I started this blog as a means to document the little things in life, as well as appreciating and recommending what London has to offer, but I also wanted to be serious about it and commit myself fully. I am absolutely loving it, and so thrilled with the interactions I have with other bloggers who may stop by or are becoming fast internet friends of mine. I want to continue on the same path and make many more blogger friends along the way.
Face my fears.
One thing I haven't quite grown out of is the inability to be fearless. I know, you're thinking, "but no one is really truly fearless." You're probably right. But some people believe in themselves enough to not fear failure as much as I do. It's not a question of confidence, per se; I just so desperately don't want to fail at anything. I know, though, that this is the only obstacle in my way. And I'm the only one who can beat it. So my aim is be able to say, come this time next year, that I knocked down those barriers and did my best to kick those fears in the butt.
I hope you will stick around to hold me accountable - one of the many perks of blogging, yes?