This is why 2013 was the year of The Almost's

2013 was a very strange year. It was the year that Miley Cyrus and a Syrian war filled the headlines at the same time. 2013 brought a lot of chaos and confusion and also a lot of controversy and scandal. To me, 2013 seems like the year of “The Almost’s.” (No, not the band, although I do love The Almost). But for me, 2013 was the year that had so much potential and just couldn’t reach it or get to where it was headed.

On a grander scale, 2013 had so much promise and every time it seemed like we were making progress on something, it just fell through. The top news stories according to Yahoo! News were:

1. Jodi Arias trial
2. Obamacare (Affordable Care Act)
3. Boston Marathon bombing
4. Royal baby birth
5. George Zimmerman trial
6. Syria civil war
7. North Korea missile threats
8. Papal transition
9. Death of Nelson Mandela
10. Paula Deen lawsuit

You don’t need me to tell you why all of these things just had potential; some of them actually aren’t that bad and still have the possibility to do something great such as the Pope and the Royal baby. Those two united people and have the capacity to keep uniting people. But everything else on that list just divided people or brought about sadness or worry.

On a personal note, my life too had a lot of twists and turns in 2013 that could have (and still might) evolve into something greater. But my job almost worked out. My sports team almost won the Finals. Yet another relationship that almost made it.

I try not to dwell on those things though, because I want to move on and just keep getting better. While there were a lot of Almost’s, there were still things that worked out. And what people, and I myself, tend to forget is that the world doesn’t stop at 2013. Just because there are so many year-end reviews and various reflections, that doesn’t mean that the stories that were prominent are completely over. We still have more time, thankfully. And I'm not dismissing 2013 entirely. There were definitely good aspects about it.

I don’t know what 2014 will bring about but I am so optimistic because I know that I have grown so much in the past year. Whatever happens, even if it’s just potential, I have total faith that everything will work out just fine.

This is why I love the Christmas lead-up

I absolutely adore Christmas. As with many individuals, it is my favorite holiday of the year. The reason I love it is because of the entire Christmas season. I celebrate advent. So I just enjoy the lead up. That’s why my family refuses to open gifts until Christmas day. It isn’t about who gets what or who can out-gift each other. It’s about spending time with one another. But you don’t need to hear this lecture from me.

What I want to share is my experience of the lead up. I wasn’t able to get into Halloween or Thanksgiving this year. They didn’t even feel like holidays; but Christmas will always feel like Christmas for me. And it’s because I don’t stress out about the meal or the gifts. It’s because those 4 weeks after Thanksgiving and before Christmas are spent fantasizing and preparing for the actual day.

Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year. It’s like when you have really yummy food in the fridge, but you have to leave. You know that when you get home it will be there waiting for you and that you can fully enjoy it. For me, waiting is the best part. I know that might be weird but I don’t mind waiting for something if I know that in the end it will be everything I want and the wait will be worth it.

If you are reading this within 24 hours of me posting it, then I thank you for taking time out of the holiday to spend it reading my awesome blog. If you are reading it anytime after those 24 hours then I am especially happy because you were probably busy enjoying your time (whether it be with family, friends, or just doing something you love). So I’m going to stop typing now and go spend time enjoying my lead-up hours.  

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

This is why there's a surprise at the end

It is that time of year again, in between finals and Christmas, where I do quite a bit of reflecting. It is in these times that I would ideally like to get sentimental and thankful for this past year, and don’t get me wrong, I totally am. It’s just that this year I’m trying something different. Instead of sitting and reflecting, I am just go, go, go.

Why? I’ve learned about myself that if I reflect on my life for too long I start to regret the things I could’ve done and dwell on the things that went sour. I don’t want to do that anymore. Instead, I’m trying to be productive and getting a lot of things done. The scary part is I don’t know if I’m making a mistake. Trying to be grateful and trying to just reflect are two different things.

I want to turn any possible negativity into fuel for something greater than myself. Even if it means I just read more or spend more time with friends. What a better way to give back than by spending it with those I love or even just bettering myself?

I’m sorry if this hits too close to home or wasn’t enough of a distraction for you as we near the end of the year, but it was something that was weighing heavily on my chest. I probably wasn’t very clear last week about coming back to writing my blog, but it’s so that I will speak freely about whatever from here on out.

BUT DON’T YOU WORRY! I will still have fun topics and funny insights, just this weeks was not one of those weeks. But I want to know what’s been going on with you! If you need to talk, I am 100% here. Facebook me, Tweet me, whatever. I’ll listen. In fact, if you want to know my opinion about something, leave something for me to write about. I’d love that.

But until next time, here’s my favorite meme of the moment, Doge:

This is why I'm back

Hello and welcome back to the exciting adventures of my life. It’s been a little over two months since the last time I posted and you’re probably wondering what the heck happened. Either you are curious as to why my disappearance took place or you know the answer. The answer is simple, life, and isn’t that always the answer?

I never intended to stop writing, as it is something I love. When I started this blog back in 2011 it was because I was basically stuck at home and I loved to write. Times have drastically changed since then. I definitely go out more and have more of a life. I’ve been back at school and my love for writing has turned into passions for other things. That being said, I found myself exhausted by keeping up with my blog as well as school and other things. My posts started to feel forced and like I didn’t care about my subject matter.

I needed to take a break. Plus, I was keeping up with two other blogs for school and having three blogs was tiring. But enough with the excuses.  Here’s the real reason I’m back: I have time again. There were things I was going through that I didn’t feel were necessary to post on here; which I know is weird because I’m such an open book on here. Those events are over, however, and I am free to speak openly about anything.

SO what does that mean? Yes, I am back. I am better. And I am ready. Ready for what? I don’t know and I don’t care. Whatever life throws at me. I’m not afraid anymore. I know I’ve been through more than the average 21 year old and I am excited for what life brings. Life might have been the reason I wasn’t able to post but it is also the reason for why I can again, if that makes sense.

I love you all and I can’t wait to come back with another exciting edition of my life, my opinion, and my know-how. (Plus I’m done with finals so anyone still taking them, good luck).