I have officially moved back home for the holiday season.

I moved back a few days earlier than expected because of school just feeling extra stressful. I couldn’t focus and study for my exams so I quickly planned a little surprise back for the holidays.

I kinda forgot that I was going to have to come up with a new routine. But who isn’t used to a little change?

I’m reflecting again. Are we surprised?

The holidays always get me reflecting and feeling kind of vulnerable in a way. Sad that another year has passed. Emotional from looking back on the past. My goals for the future… But being vulnerable is not a bad thing. It shows strength, builds a little character, and lets us all know that we are still human and can’t put up a wall all the time.

But this time, I am thinking back to the past month and a half. Because if I remember correctly, I made it my personal goal to spend the rest of the year making decisions that are for me and my happiness and to take in every moment around me. So did I do it? YES.

There are moments not just in the past two months but the whole year where I wish time just STOPPED. I was so genuinely happy yet lost at the same time but I was in such a big growth period that I wish some moments just lasted forever. Imagine we had a pause button that we could just push at any moment. There were many moments I wish I could hold onto forever. It’s hard to grasp the concept that some moments don’t last and it makes me sad but who’s to know if they will ever return. Or if something even better comes along.

Here’s my year recap: (I also have a really special video to recap 2021 that I cannot wait to share:))

Basically this year, I graduated (which still comes as a shock to me).

I had an amazing job where I met some of the kindest people ever and I joined a family at Starbucks that I will seriously never forget.

I spent a lot of time on the blog too. I took A LOT of pictures. Like a lot. And I am very happy with how it came together this year.

I tried MANY coffee shops which was a goal to not only expand my knowledge of coffee but also support small businesses.

I traveled. In a time of uncertainty, a quick retreat to the west coast was the perfect reset I didn’t know I needed. The fam was back together and I was living a dream that I wish lasted forever.

I went to the cottage. Back-to-back resets were necessary to relieve the school stress I was feeling.

I lost my dog this year. My best friend. It was one of the biggest heartbreaks I have probably ever felt. And I didn’t want to bring this up, but I didn’t want to glamorize my year either. Because we face challenges. We have our hard times. But we cherish the good memories, push and grow and learn through the not-so-great memories. That’s what makes our years so unique.

And then I went to UNIVERSITY. BIG adjustment for me. but who knew in such a mentally draining time that I would also have the best time. I have met some AMAZING humans. And the people I have surrounded myself with are SPECIAL, from my hometown, from my university… these are my people. I will continue to mention them in every blog post because I kid you not they have absolutely changed my life. They let me be myself. They bring out the best parts of me. And for me, I cannot stress how important that was for me during my adjustment. I needed reassurance that I was going to be okay. And this was one aspect that let me see my capability of growth.

This year I fell in love with life again. And it’s not that I didn’t love it before… I was just growing and learning so much that I couldn’t pause to look around and see how much I was becoming a better version of myself. This year was exciting and genuine and adventurous and it was filled with so much happiness and my favorite people.

So I leave this with you, what has made your year unique? Was it everything you wanted?

I know at first it may not seem like it but maybe what we thought was a hard time led us to a better situation, a better life.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS. STAY KIND:)