cheers & contemplation

Having a quiet morning to myself have allowed me to contemplate the year behind me and the new year ahead of me. If you don't want to read on, to make it short, 2011 was crazy. If you're nosy/curious, proceed:

Last year, 2011 started out with a depressing break up, and we went through up and down moments that lingered throughout the year. We sort of got back together for the rest of the semester, but our relationship was never the same. I finished my junior year in college, celebrated my 21st birthday with some of my closest friends, and then went off to Italy for a month. Italy was definitely my biggest highlight of 2011. I have always known that there is a much bigger world than my own, and I craved for it all my life. Italy was the first destination I longed for, and never thought I would have the opportunity to visit at a young age. I thank my mom for making that dream come true for me. I came back in July after a month of blissful traveling, got sick for a week, and then drove back to campus to start my first internship. I spent the rest of the summer feeling incredibly happy. I spent so much time with my friends, made new friends, learned how to cook a lot for myself, worked out a lot, lost eight pounds and was in the best shape of my life. I ran my first 5K in September, and was looking forward to the next one. October took a weird turn, and I was incredibly stressed, depressed, and unmotivated. It was the most depressing period of my life. The stress came from financial troubles at home, not seeing my friends that much anymore, and sadly, a lot of my depression came from the fact that I missed being in a relationship. I remember sleeping every night was the worst and waking up to start a new day was incredibly difficult. November finally rolled around, and once again the roller coaster of my past relationship continued until the end of the year. School wise, I was doing okay. Health wise, I started gaining weight again from stress from home, school, and relationships. Oh and I also gained some lovely acne that reminded me of my 12-year old self. Awesome. Thanksgiving break couldn't come soon enough. I finished the semester well, and the winter break have so far treated me really well, and now I have made it to the end of the year.

Where am I now?

Today is January 1, 2012. It shall be my most unpredictable year ever. It will contain so many changes, and I have to admit, I'm approaching them with hesitation. In a few weeks, I will be starting my last semester of college. In a few months, I will be graduating. And then what? I have already made five different post-graduation plans, and all of them were temporary day dreams. Last night, I laid awake for a while thinking about all of the relationships I have made while in college, and I just know that it will be the hardest goodbye. I don't even know where I will be after I graduate. Back at home? New York? California? Japan? Oi. Here's an advice to me and to you as well if you have read this far. Whatever you end up doing, no matter what it is:

"Love what you do, and do it well."

Now, someone go tell me that, because I usually end up forgetting my own advice. Ha.

Cheers to the New Year, new relationships, new job, and a renewed me.