Unapologetic Thoughts

Depending on what part of the world you are at right now, you might already be some hours into 2019 or you might have a few hours left of 2018.

For me, there are still 2-ish hours left and I’ve spend a few hours of the last day putting together the now usual ‘year in review’ list of the year with an unusual ending. So, without further ado, behold the 2018 list:

• Jan:
• Feb: Went on vacation with two of my best friends and realized that sometimes doing the things that we are most afraid of doing end up turning into the best memories!
• Mar: Got promoted to a managerial position. Big milestone in anyone’s career! Dared to travel by myself (Yes, completely alone!) and spent a lot of time thinking about life in general, specially the things that matter most!
• Apr: Got a new roommate, who ended up being one of the coolest persons I’ve known in my life! Saw The Killers (my favorite band) play live and shed a tear in almost every single song, specially one (The Way It Was). Attended my sister’s graduation from her master’s program and felt the proudest sister in the world for the first time this year! (Keep going, you’ll see why).
• May: Pushed myself to sign up for swimming classes (I literally cried on the way to my first class) and started practicing boxing—a sport that I’ve always wanted to practice. Saw for the second time in my life Ricardo Arjona play live and sang every single song from beginning to end at the top of my lungs (I’m serious, there are videos!).
• Jun: Attended one of my best friends’ wedding and danced my socks off!
• Jul: Had my heart broken and went through a hard break up the week that my mom went into surgery. Cried myself to sleep next to my mom after talking to her about things that I’ve gone through alone or that I’ve held inside myself for months. Later understood that, while not everything can be repaired, almost everything can be survived! Got a new car and named her Tomasa! (She kept me safe later in the year, keep going).
• Aug: Met with my best girl friend after not seeing her for a year, even when we live in the same city, talked to her like time hasn’t gone by and nothing had change! Said goodbye to my best boy friend, who left to France to start his masters and promised him that I’ll go visit him in 2019 (I’m intending to keep that promise!).
• Sep: Made a conscious decision to start doing new things for the rest of the year, meeting new people, making new friends, going to new places, etc. Started a new diet and proofed myself that with enough discipline my mind and body are capable of anything!
• Oct: Got the news that my manager was moving to another department within the company and was invited to participate for the position he left vacant. Went on a out-of-town trip with the YW of my ward and got to know them on a deeper level!
• Nov: One for the books, one of the hardest months of the year. Covered (still am) for my manager while the decision is being made regarding who would take over his position. One of our team members quitted, creating a second vacant within the team. Realized how challenging being a manager of 6 people can be. Had a car accident that had me use a neck collar for two weeks. Got the news that my ward was being disolved immediately and got assign to a new ward. Again, one for the books!
• Dec: Attended my youngest sister graduation and felt he proudest sister in the world for the second time this year! Went to the Riviera Maya our second family vacation ever (and the last one in at least 2 years) for a whole week. Drove my youngest sister 300+ miles to the city where she will be spending the next year as a medical intern.

See? I told you, it was an unusual year, but great year too. I laughed, I cried, I learned, I loved, I danced, I screamed, I ate (a lot!), I jabbed, I failed, I swam, I felt , I succeeded; above all, I lived, intensely, the way one is supposed to live.

P.S. I hope you had or will have a great New Year’s celebration and that you are looking forward to 2019 as much as I am!