January 1st – the magical day that we all start working out more, eating more nutritious foods, weaning ourselves off social media, meditating daily, saving money…
Winter days are characteristically long, cold and dark (depending on what part of the world you live in) but every year there’s a lot of energy, intention, and momentum that comes with another trip around the sun. While it’s just another date on the calendar, I love the idea of a collective reset. Throughout the world, we all see this date as an opportunity to become a better version of ourselves, and that seems like something worth celebrating. So for starters, happy happy new year & cheers to you!
While there are a lot of things I’d like to manifest in 2019, January feels like as good a time as ever to reflect on all the magic that characterized 2018 – blessings, triumphs, and challenges included.
2018 is a year I know I’ll look back on with a smile.
Not because it was without challenges, but because I entered 2019 happy, healthy, and whole. If I had a highlight reel to sum up 2018, it would be all over the place. It was the year I took routine and threw it out the window… also the year I decided to just take it all in stride and keep smiling even when I’m a little overtired (& jet lagged).
While we’re already a month into the new year, it seems as good a time as any to reflect on the blessings of 2018.
Dear 2018,
Thank you for the chance to start 2019 with a heart full of gratitude,
for starting my year in Houston
for wine nights in, impromptu candlelight yoga, and after-work runs
for my yoga teacher trainee tribe and the hours we spent together learning & reflecting
for the strength to uproot and move to Seattle
for the chance to stand beside my best friend on her wedding day
for reconnecting me with old friends
for blessing me with new friends in a new city
for the magical experiences hiking in the Pacific Northwest
for all the fun US trips –Pittsburgh, Aspen, Napa, Nashville, Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles, and the San Juan Islands
for letting me see the world – Zurich and Lucerne, Switzerland, Sardinia, Italy, and Vancouver, Canada
for girls trips
for the opportunity to lace up my steel toes and walk through sawmills in Montana and gold mines in Alaska
for the opportunity to travel for work – to Spokane, Lewiston, Portland, San Diego, Fairbanks, Anchorage, Juneau, and Ketchikan,
and for testing and challenging me each and every day. I promise I learned a few things along the way.
January: don’t let the fear of past successes prevent you from giving it another go
In college, I trained for and ran 3 half marathons, but never alone. In January of this past year, after MONTHS of 5am boot camp classes and countless after work runs, and yoga sessions, I lined up at the starting line of the Houston half marathon, excited but terrified. This time, I trained just for me. This time, I told myself I would run “my race” and not obsess over the time or my performance. Turns out, by running my race, I smashed my previous half marathon PR by over 15 minutes- scoring a 1:47 finish. I think it was my mom and Alessandra’s cute signs that really propelled me forward. My legs were jelly by the end but nothing could wipe away my smile!
February: remember the promises you make to yourself and KEEP THEM
After I turned 24, I wrote a list of the 24 things I wanted to do in my 24th year – a tradition I started a couple years back. On that list was “teach a yoga class.” Life is busy and there never seems to be time to do everything that I want to. When Yogaleena announced their first yoga teacher training in February, my heart skipped a beat. I made up every excuse in my head as to why it wasn’t a good time. Well, turned out it was the perfect time. With a little nudge from Brooke, Mary Kate, Jenn, my sister, and my mom, I decided YES, I’m doing this.
I’m incredibly grateful for my personal yoga journey, and it has been the greatest blessing to be able to share yoga with others through teaching. I co-taught my first yoga class in July in Houston to a room full of friends, and taught solo to both friends and strangers in Seattle by the end of the year.
March: don’t be afraid to say yes
March was probably the most pivotal month of 2018. It was the month I turned 24 and the month where the path I thought I was on took a complete 180. It’s becoming a trend that as soon as I start to feel settled, something changes… but maybe that’s just life! March started with a quiet and calm retreat to Texas Hill Country to kick off yoga teacher training and not three weeks later, my announcement went out that I was moving into a sales role covering a territory that included western Montana, Alaska, northern Idaho, and Washington – oh, and I was moving to Seattle! It has been a whirlwind, but also the most magical journey that I wouldn’t change for anything.
April: be open to new experiences
April was a month that challenged me to be open to new experiences. This was partly food related – I ate my first crawfish at what was also my first crawfish boil – but it was also work related. In April, I faced the reality that my 8-5 office job was a thing of the past. I flew on more planes that month than I ever imagined, visiting cities and states I had never been to, and meeting my customers at a variety of industrial facilities.
May: you have to show up to win
My last month in Houston was bittersweet. By May, I was well into mentally preparing for my move. As my time in Houston dwindled, I really tried to cherish every moment (even my 30 mile commute to and from work). Cherishing my time in Houston meant showing up – to Porch Swing trivia that is! Turns out, when you show up – with Ryan Tucker and his extensive football knowledge – you can win!
June: there are good people everywhere
YOU WILL FIND FRIENDS, I told myself even though I was not sure I believed it. Moving to Seattle knowing less people than I could count on one hand was one of the more terrifying aspects of the move. But like attending college in New York, interning in Virginia, then Texas, and ultimately moving to Houston for a full time position, interesting, smart, funny, and kind people can be found anywhere.
July: growing up happens quickly and unexpectedly
As my 25th birthday approaches in a month or so, I’m slowly accepting that I’ve reached the quarter century mark and I am embarking on the stage of life known as THE MID-TWENTIES. I’m not sure when that happened, but when I look back on 2018 I realize I have done quite a bit of growing up! 2018, it’s crazy to think that you were the year I became a 200-hour certified yoga teacher, I sewed my first quilt with Alessandra, and one of my best friends got married!!!
August: there’s a big difference between a choice and a need
August turned out to be particularly eye opening. I started working with Jeannie Oliver, a holistic health coach in Seattle, and with her guidance completed my first detox, which meant a month without gluten, caffeine, alcohol, or dairy. After the caffeine headaches wore off, I was able to step back and reevaluate my relationship to not only coffee, but other food groups that affected my health more than I realized. Cutting out dairy allowed me to completely stop using prescription antibiotics for acne, and I had a renewed sense of vitality that didn’t depend on whether or not I drank my coffee when I woke up. While I’m no longer coffee free, it’s nice to know that every day I have a choice in how I nourish my body.
September: mental grit is a muscle
This September, I completed my longest day hike ever, covering a distance of 22 miles on foot. The memories forged from hiking this past summer make my heart feel so full. I must have asked Steph at least three times if she thought I was fit enough to do the enchantments thru-hike with her. I had been hiking all summer but the speed we would need to maintain throughout the day slightly terrified me. Turns out, mind over matter is a real thing. We did it!
October: just book the flight
Sometimes, having friends spread out all over the country breaks my heart. The flip side is that I have the unique opportunity to visit friends all over the country. Booking a flight to see Colleen in South Lake Tahoe was worth every penny, evidenced by the smiley selfies and post race pictures we captured that weekend. Thanks for being the sweetest host!!!
November: unexpected experiences are often the coolest
When I have a rough day at work, I remind myself how lucky I am for the experiences that work allows me to have. In November, I traveled to Juneau, Alaska by plane, followed by a cab ride, a bus ride, a ferry ride, followed by one final bus ride, to visit an underground gold mining customer tucked into snow capped mountains in the outskirts of Juneau. Who would have guessed I would be taking oil samples and inspecting how pins and bushings are being greased, with 1500 feet of solid rock above me. The best part – it was a ton of fun.
December: turn your ideas into plans and make new traditions
Living in a different city than Brooke makes me sad, since it’s impossible for us to spend a Monday evening blogging at Agora, an afternoon spent at 9round, or a Saturday doing yoga and eating açaí bowls. Instead of meeting in Seattle or Beaumont, we decided to plan a girls trip to LA. When we both lived in Texas, we attended Renegade Craft as it passed through Austin, Texas. Turns out, we forged a new tradition of attending Renegade together, in whatever city it may be.
Invite the universe to smile back at you
I don’t believe that everything happens for reason necessarily, but I do believe that the energy I choose to put forth in the world does reflect back. Give the universe a hug, and soon enough she’ll hug you back. Be intentional about how you choose to show up and react to whatever crazy thing is thrown your way, and your future will reflect that. I’d like to think I have some control over what my future will look like, but that I won’t miss out on the opportunities that I’m meant to experience.
I don’t know why a baseball analogy popped in my head as a way to explain this, but hear me out:
Bases are loaded and you’re up to bat:
- You walk up to the plate and expect a strikeout
- You have your game face on and expect to hit a home run
The pitcher throws a curveball. Same pitch, same circumstances… the only difference is how you show up. What’s your outcome look like? I sense a home run and a bright 2019.
xo marissa
