Unlike most, my new year started off 4 days late.

Ya see, whilst everyone else was preparing and celebrating not only the start of a new year but the start of a new decade, I was studying. Not just here and there either. 6-8 hours a day, every. single. day.

My studying started even before Christmas so you could say I spent the 2019 holiday season feeling guilty for every second I wasn’t spending hitting the books.

But friends, that is all over with.

For the FIRST time in my entire life and more specifically in the last 6 years I DON’T have to worry about studying! (!!!!!!!!) I’ve graduated (for the second time), completed all things school and in turn taking the biggest deep breath/nap of my life.

For the first time in my marriage I get to just be a wife. Even though it’s short lived as I’m on the hunt for a job–I am filled with excitement that for the first time when I’m home, I get to relax with my husband.

If I want to read leisurely, garden, work in the yard, go for a ride on our Polaris–I can do all of these things without feeling guilty of needing to be doing school work.

This feels like not only a new chapter but a new life. An unfamiliar life at that. I’m not a student. I’m an adult. A married adult with career moves to make and nobody looking to pass or fail me. WHAT!

With all of that being said, I thought it was time to sit down and create some goals for this new year.

It’s so funny because on January 2nd I told my husband, “I feel so weird that we haven’t even sat down to discuss goals or tacky resolutions for this year.” That’s because my mind was literally so preoccupied with studying and passing exams that determined my fate that I couldn’t think about anything else.

I’m not going out of my way to create goals this year. What I mean by that is whatever I feel I’m being pulled toward with all of my new found financial and academic freedom is what I’m going to make a priority–yeah, priority is a good word.

1. Revise and plan garden layouts and supplies for the rapidly approaching spring. This one makes me REALLY excited. Our garden from last year, while completely fruitful and beautiful in all of it’s glory, was poorly planned as we had little to no idea what we were doing. We stuck some plants in the ground and hoped for the best.

2. Educate myself enough to PRESERVE the harvest from our garden. This one is huge, I’ve learned a few methods and tips but I truly love the idea of only grocery shopping during the winter months for the most basic supplies (flour, sugar, etc) and being able to go to a root cellar or storage component with fresh veggies that we grew. Also, I’m C R A V I N G some homemade salsa like you wouldn’t believe. (that’s one way I know to preserve tomatoes)

3. Make 2020 the year of HABITUAL and ROUTINE movement. This is the year that I want to appreciate all that my body does for me to be able to enjoy my life. I’m not saying “hard core exercise” but just movement. Brisk walks with my pups, occasional pushups so I can chunk bags of fertilizer around like nobody’s business. Ya know, simple stuff.

4. Learn and understand the importance of self care without feeling the pressure of school. This one is huge. I have always put self-care and mental peace on the back burner because there were tasks and grades that always demanded my attention. And I wasn’t just someone who could let things slide for the sake of lesser scoring grades or mediocre work. No no, I’m all in to the point of mental breakdowns. But this year, my goal is to learn to prioritize myself and my health above all else. Which brings me to point #5.

5. Learn that health includes family time, outdoor adventures, and saying yes to things that can be outside of your comfort zone.

6. Travel. I’ve said no to many travel opportunities over the last 3 years due to anxiety. I don’t want to be that person anymore. After all, this feels like that actual start of my life–why the heck would I want to waste it.

2019 Recap

2019 was a good year for so many reasons.

I celebrated my one year anniversary to the LOVE of my freaking life. I swear I never imagined I would marry a man so good.

I pushed myself academically in ways I never had before. (Note to self: yeah a 4.0 is cool and all but not always worth the mental distress)

I traveled for clinicals after saying August 2018 that there was no way I could do that.

Camping and fishing with my puppers– of course. Need to do more of this honestly.

I graduated for the second time.

Many many hours of family time.

Many many more hours of cooking, baking, and house tidying.

We (unintentionally) got our blue heeler mut named River.

My marriage grew in leaps and bounds. My husband saw me when I was UGLY– ugly crying, ugly mad, ugly stressed and I swear his love wavered none. All the while I fell more in love.

Oh, and I went out on a limb and started this platform here on my blog.

I’m thankful and overjoyed to be starting this new chapter in life. It’s weird to think how far I’ve come in just 6 years. Each year telling a completely different story.

Hey 2020, I can finally say I’m ready for ya.