So much to be thankful for. Where do I even begin?

So, finally, I’ve had the chance to slow down and reflect on the past 12 months. And honestly, this one is going to take a while to come back from. I can’t tell if I’m feeling small right now, or if my conception of life is too small to comprehend the gigantic nature of being. I have met so many souls that have changed my life, and have increased my appreciation for this incredible world. There were incredible moments of pure joy, excitement and magic. There was also a hell of tears, confusion, heartbreak, chaos, disappointment, and failed plans. Indeed, this year was an absolute whirlwind; every exceptional high had its equal and opposite low, a roller coaster worth of ’em. There have been adventures of all sorts and crossing items off the bucket list, enough goodness to make my head spin.

What have I learned?

They say cats have nine lives, and humans have one. I was blessed with two. What most people don’t think is that I have struggled with major experiences that have almost taken away my dreams, my passion, my whole being. And, apparently, the universe had other plans for me, and it decided last-minute, by some lucky twist of fate, to keep me for a while. And here I am, choosing to celebrate it all wholeheartedly—the beautiful, the straight up ugly, the honest, the awe-inspiring, the love, the heartache, and all that has come to fruition in the past twelve months.

I’ve gone crazy over things, thinking they were meant to make my life whole. I’ve lost to countless night outs, which pretty much gave me bad hangovers. I’ve almost drowned because of unexpected leg cramps. I’ve worked OTs and messed up at some points. I’ve been through shortcomings that have kept me in bed for days. But at the end of it all, I’ve made some unforgettable memories, and I’ve met new people who I know will stay in my life forever. I’ve been to places that reminded me of how small I am in this world, and that changed my whole perspective in full swing. I’ve fallen deeper in love with my friends, who stood by my side through the ups and downs. I’ve met the person who’s been keeping me up all night. I’ve climbed the mountains, chased sunrise, planned crazy adventures and experienced the world over—or just had enough juice to see everything through to completion, day in and day out. And all these are just part of a chapter in the wonderfully strange thing that we call life.

I’ve had a few people tell me how lucky I’ve been to be able to go to places and do so many things over the years. Honestly, luck has nothing to do with it, because I’ll tell you straight up that it’s all about choices, priorities, and compromises. I decided what I wanted, and I put my life back in order to make it work. And yes, there have been sacrifices, and they haven’t always been easy. That’s pretty damn sure. But, you know, in some form or another, it’s accessible to everyone, it really is. If there’s something you really want to do, there’s always a way to do it. Well, that’s seen. And if you don’t know where to start or how to do it, and you need someone to bounce off crazy ideas, DM me! Hand over heart, I would be happy to help in any way I can.

You’ve got to know that perspective is a pretty incredible thing if you really think about it. In an instant, you can turn bad to good, and begin to see small miracles in things that you thought were insignificant. Which is why every time I go, I learn a little more about who I am and who I want to become. You see, I may not be the strongest or the greatest, but the thing about me is—I’m not afraid to look stupid trying. I’ll throw myself repeatedly at things, and when I fail, I’ll do it again, and again, until I get it. It may not be graceful, or effortless by any means, but I’m all good about winning dirty. Continuing to show up every time I bumped my head with my limitations—that’s the most I can ask for. Truth is, you don’t need to be the best, but you do need to show up and back yourself, no matter how stupid you sometimes feel. And I hope you’ll do that, too. At the end of the day, if the door doesn’t open, go through the goddamn window. But find a way to do things you don’t think you can do. You owe it to yourself, man. It’s to set a solid foundation on which you can safely build your dreams, your passions, your goals. It’s to have the mental stamina to see all of them through. It’s to be able to live through the most difficult, and to have the resilience to bounce back, mentally, physically, when you crumble (repeatedly, as we all do).

Well, happiness is indeed a choice. Some days it’s handed over to you on a silver platter, and some days you have to fight like hell for it. It’s ok to feel lost, disappointed, frustrated or stressed. We’re human beings, we feel, and we think about everything. Just take the lessons, learn them, and let them go. And if your life is in shambles, and a cupcake or a funny meme makes your day, let it. Soak that shit up, man. Life is too short to pass on opportunities for happiness. If you master the ability to find beauty in disaster, you will always be able to find happiness.

There is nothing more attractive to me than kindness and sincere happiness. Spread that stuff like confetti. It’s going to come back to you, I guarantee it.

They say there are years that ask questions, and years that answer them. 2017 was the first, most certainly. It’s been a year full of challenges, doubts and questions, but a year full of falling more in love with the world and the people in it, and I really wouldn’t have it any other way. Wrapping up this year with a neat little bow and signing off with a big thank you for the lessons, and… 2018? I’m going all in, as always!

I wanted to leave this year behind with one goal—to have my mind blown as many times as possible. Well, mission accomplished! Another 12 months have passed, and we ain’t even done yet. Here’s to life, love, adventure, madness, and everything in between. Let’s face it head on this year. Pursue passion and joy relentlessly. Fight for what you want and what you believe in. Destroy the limits. Live vigorously, live out loud, live your life the way you imagined it. Find what makes you infectiously happy and hold on to it.

The 2018 adventure list is growing every day, and I can’t quite shake the excitement that this new year is going to unfold, and I’m confident this is going to be one of the best.