2012. Messy room. Loud music. Fresh Air.

Its 2012. 

Its been a year. 

Its an amazing what things become the mile markers in your life. Last year, it would have been graduation, my wedding, or moving to Oklahoma. But those mile markers faded...called off engagement, summer in Marshall, moving to Tyler, starting MBA and big life lessons became the mile markers I use to gauge the time that is passing.

A year ago, I started by confessing confident resolutions ("Live each day to the fullest and really enjoy this life."), dusting myself off, and keeping my head down in fear that one more thing might fall apart if I watched. But it has been a beautiful year. There has never been a more shaping and life-altering year. I started at rock bottom with nowhere to go but UP. A few things I am proud of for this year:

Graduating from ETBU.
Living by myself in my tiny dream 1st apartment.
Working all summer as a waitress and spending my evenings with phenomenal people.
Dating some idiots that made life seem far too short to waste time like that again.
Moving to a strange town into an apartment with 3 other girls.
Making friends.
Going out and dancing.
Making friends with strangers like never before.
Putting on my dancing shoes often.
Joining CrossFit GymFed.
Quitting my job b/c I was unhappy.
Finding a job that I am excited to go to EVERY single Monday morning.
Doing more crafts than in my entire life before.
Cooking all the time.
Sleeping in my big bed all by myself.
Buying quality make up and clothes.
Saving paychecks, as well as treating myself well.
Reading a ton of books.
Spending more time in the moment and less behind the camera.
Finishing my first semester of my MBA program with a 4.0!
Feeling quieter and calmer than ever before.

This New Years Eve was a pretty good one. I was laughing and in a dress that made me feel like I belonged in a trendy magazine, with shoes that I used to dream of feeling cool enough to wear. (Not to mention, I've let my hair grow to a length that past lack of patience would never allow.) I was with some wonderful friends who know my heart and a lot who barely know the edges of my story. But as midnight struck, I had a conversation that caused little things to slow down dramatically and bring to light a resolution. Its not as clear cut as last years, but my heart knows what it means and has started following.

"Stop paying so much attention to other people around you. This is your life. Do what is right in your heart. Do what makes you happy. If you do that, none of the other stuff matters."

Here's to a resolution that makes my heart flutter after only one day. I know its right for me. And I know it will bring untold joy into my life. I just have to stop looking around at the circumstance so much, and look into my heart for what is right for me. That is when I will find the peace we all search for. The peace that slowly sinks into my life a little more as each year passes. Here's to another year. A beautiful year.