for the capture: Dear 2017

Dear 2017,

I have to say, 2017, you had way more in store for me than I have ever expected.

I started the year, not at my best - I was unemployed, had some personal issues with people who I thought were my friends, and had a few inner conflicts - as any 20-something struggling to "adult" would. I stepped into the year 2017, thinking "okay, well I can try to figure my life out, maybe find a stable job, and maybe feel less lost than I am now, maybe get my life together, maybe get myself together, maybe just feel more together in some form."

And I have somewhat in 2017. I've been lucky enough to be on a job I absolutely love, with a supervisor and co-workers I absolutely adore; I've had opportunities to work on projects beyond my level, and have somehow had the best group a #real friends anyone could ask for fall into place when I needed it most. I've traveled to new places, tried new foods, and even re-connected with old friends who live across the globe.

Of course 2017 has highlighted some of the things I can improve upon, I still don't have a solid direction of what I really want to do with my life, but I'm sure as hell enjoying the journey as I go.

And I'm so incredibly grateful for it all.

I've never been one to dwell on the past too much, but there will always be parts of me that wondered the "what if" for things I didn't do. 2017, I do apologize for the delay in this letter to you. It took me a while to write this, because with this letter, I want to say good bye and let go of the past. The memories I'll keep, the inhibitions and doubts I'll gladly leave behind. Rome wasn't built in a day, and I will never grow if I keep holding myself back.

Some of my favorite memories from 2017:

Road tripping to Montreal in time for Canada's birthday.

I can always depends on you two boss ass bitches for the most interesting and inappropriate yet enlightening conversation topics haha

Reconnecting with old friends who life half a world away.

We all met during study abroad 5 years ago, and it was so great seeing you guys again! You guys inspire me in different ways, I hope you keep being your totally awesome selves, dudes. It was a high time! Of course holding butterflies on our fingers was also magical!

Finding some spiritual enlightenment in New Mexico.

After driving around nearly 800 miles around the state by myself, while fighting altitude sickness, through desert, forest, and the occasional barren waste land. Happy that my rental didn't break down, that I got to stay in a vintage trailor in the mountains of Taos, soaked my worries away in the natural mineral baths, and tried the famous green chili burger. I let my inner child out at the Balloon Fiesta, touched my toes in gypsum, experienced Meow Wolf, and made some amazing memories for myself. Accidentally trespassed on government property, but it was worth the instagram photos lol
If any of you have any doubts about traveling by yourself, all I have to say is - DO IT. It isn't for everyone, but SO worth doing at least once.

The best girls trip I've had yet.

It's one thing to be in a nice place or travel with some great friends. It's a blessing to be able to do both. We keep it #real and we keep it fucking fun with a little bit of crazy and a dash of savagery. Mixed drinks, tanning pool side, living like the local Dominicans with an interesting bus ride, trying not to get ripped off for souvenirs, sustaining injuries from mermaiding too hard, making friends people of different countries, and of course...

My first tattoo.

What says a good trip like coming back with a new piece of permanent artwork on your body? Surprisingly my mother did not want to kill me. She even smiled and said it was cute. My mother never fails to surprise me.

Work Shennanigans.

Whether it's trying to get the EDTA to dissolve, suffering through UAT together, or overall just laughing about technical difficulties, I couldn't ask for better coworkers, or a better supervisor (shout out to Sam, we have no selfies together, we need to fix that). You've all impacted my life in ways I can't really describe, but feel very deeply.