Thank you, 2016

2016 was a crazy, wonderful, and nerve-wracking year for me. I spent the first half in San Diego in a traditional corporate job and the second half on the road in Latin America, sleeping in bunk beds, hammocks, and tents. While some experiences challenged me or left me heartbroken, I’m still grateful for everything that put me on the path that I’m on today. I’ve gone from obsessive planner to part wandering soul, and who knows what I’ll embrace tomorrow.

As another year wraps up and we all look forward to 2017, there are many things I want to remember and express my gratitude for. It wasn’t the easiest or most conventional year, but it was eye-opening and I’ve never felt more alive. Living each day with the certainty of uncertainty is something that I’ve started to embrace.

2016 was the year of…

Adventure

Service

Support

Beach bonfires and burned pages

Sisterhood and shenanigans

New roommates, new friends, new ‘hoods

Patience

Exploring 4 countries with me, myself, and I (and a backpack!)

Public buses, police cars, metros, speed boats, cargo ships, truck beds, cattle cars, motorcycles, rickshaws

Disconnecting from wifi and finding peace in the jungle

Fierce tropical storms and floods

Catching Caribbean sunrises

Walking everywhere (everywhere)

Vacationships

Global friendships

Hablando en español

Fine Kiwi company

Strange new words like togs and jandals

Playing 26…or 33

Expressing myself

Learning to trust my intuition

Defying expectations

Doing what I want, when I want

Embracing change

Finding courage

Facing fears

Saying goodbye

As I sit here writing this blog post from Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, I am filled with gratitude. I am grateful for the ability to follow my heart and for the freedom that comes along with it. I cannot even begin to anticipate what 2017 has in store, but as long as I continue to trust in myself, I know that everything will more than work out. We all just want to be happy, right?

Happy New Year to you, wherever you may be in life right now.

Don’t forget to enjoy the journey!