Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017

I’m pretty sure that the worldwide consensus is that the past 365 days have been the worst, and I’m not here to dispute that by any means. On a personal level, this has been the toughest year I’ve ever experienced.

Normally, when I blog on the last day of the year, I reflect on all the blessings bestowed upon me. But I’m not going to do that this time. I’m ready to move on from 2016 and look ahead to 2017.

Please don’t interpret this as me saying that nothing positive happened this year, because there were still plenty of things that occurred for which I’m grateful; namely that I was reminded yet again what a phenomenal support system of family and friends that I have. I tried to write about the good stuff, you guys, I really did. But I just kept thinking about the struggles and ended up staring at a blank computer screen.

So this time around, I’m dedicating my energy on the last day of the year to the next 365 days. There’s a lot to look forward to…

Improved Health: Thanks to the Weight Watchers app, I lost 50 pounds this year! I’m planning to keep this train rolling while also increasing my physical fitness (my new job comes with a free gym membership-woo hoo!). Cheers to buying smaller clothes and feeling great!

A New Career Path (emphasis on the word, Career): It was always my dream to be back at my alma mater one day, and the highlight of the year was definitely making that dream come true. After two weeks as the Assistant Director of Career Development at my beloved university, I’m happy to say it has truly felt like coming home. I’m looking forward to being the primary Career Advisor for students, as well as teaching an internship preparation course, and collaborating with other departments on campus. It’s amazing to me that on this day last year I was at the lowest point on my career path, and just 365 days later, I am elated about the direction my professional life is headed.

A New Business Venture: I must say, I never saw myself as the type of person to be involved with sales of any kind, but after using doTERRA essential oils & products for the past two years, I decided in November to become a Wellness Advocate. I’m excited to educate others about the health benefits of essential oils and how to use them in their daily lives. I have MUCH more to say about this, so stay tuned for future blog posts. In the meantime, please visit my website to learn more.

Volunteering: I haven’t quite decided where or how, but I know that I want to give back to my community. I’ve spent the past three years mentoring college students at my alma mater, (which is what ultimately led me to discover my passion for career advising), but I’m ready to donate my time in another way. I’ve considered being a Big Sister for years, and I’ve also looked at the Metro United Way volunteer site for tutoring/mentoring opportunities. What is something you’ve done as a volunteer that you loved? Any recommendations are welcome!

More Time With Family: After the health scares our family experienced this year, I’m beyond grateful that we make it a priority to get together every week. If you’ve visited my blog before, you probably know that being an aunt to my sweet niece and nephew is my favorite thing in the world. I’m looking forward to watching them grow and learn, and I’m going to soak up as many minutes laughing with my family as possible.

More Doing What I Love: A lot of my energy was focused on my career this past year, and I let the things that I love to do fall to the wayside. I used to be the queen of leisure time, but I swear I forgot how to relax. This year I’m looking forward to reading & writing more, traveling more (I need a beach vacation like yesterday), and spending more time with my friends (in other words: restaurant visits, concerts, and hosting get-togethers). These are the things that make my heart happy and these are the things of which I need much more in the coming year.

I feel like if I asked the Magic 8-Ball how 2017 was going to go, it would say, “Outlook Is Good”. And speaking of good, it’s officially time to say GOODbye (and GOOD riddance) to 2016, and hello to Twenty-Seventeen. Cheers to the year ahead!