A Year in Review

I can’t believe that 2019 is almost over! This year was filled with so many trips, achievements and memories. I have also learned more about myself this year than any other.

2019 Recap

In the beginning of the year, I got my first tattoo. I got a tattoo of the “I love you” sign in sign language with the word love underneath because that is something that my Mom always does. Also at the beginning of this year, my friends and I got to go to a taping of The Bachelorette and be extras! We were on TV for a solid 2 seconds…it was very exciting.

In April, I ran a 13 mile Spartan race which was a huge accomplishment for me. I did the race with my Dad and my uncle who had both done the race before. I was nervous because I didn’t think that I would be able to do it. I went to the gym and trained for months before the race and finishing it was a huge day for me. Since then, I have been working out a lot more and know I can do anything that I set my mind to. Participating in a 13 mile race was a big confidence booster for me and it gets me excited for what I will be able to do in the future.

In May, I finished my first year of college. This year, I feel like I finally figured out what I want to do as far as my education. I have changed my major so many times and have gone back and forth on what I have wanted to do. I have always majored in Communications but this year, I decided to double major in Writing and Rhetoric. Along with that, I am minoring in Business. I know this is going to be a lot of work to accomplish, but I am so excited to be majoring in things that I am so passionate about.

In June, I got to go to a Kiss108 concert. I had never been to one before, but I really loved it because I was able to see so many different performers in one show. I was also able to go to a very last minute Kane Brown and Jason Aldean concert this year which was so good.

July was a crazy month of traveling which is one of my all time favorite things. At the beginning of the month, we rented out a house in New Hampshire with our cousins, aunts, uncles and grandfather. This trip was a great time and was filled with memories I’ll never forget. We went on a beautiful hike that ended with a gorgeous spot that had a natural waterslide made by the rocks. It was such a blast. On the way back (which was about 3 miles long), it started to downpour. Not only downpour, but thunder and lightning. All of us walked back to the car in the storm and were soaking wet. You would think that this would be a very brutal 3 miles, but it was something I will never forget. My cousins, sister and I laughed as we walked through the mud as the rain started coming down harder. It is something that we can laugh about now and a memory we will have forever.

Later that month, my family and I took a trip to Florida and went to Universal Studios. I wrote two blogs about the trip that I will link here and here. Going to Universal was so much fun. We got to stay at the Hard Rock Hotel which was the coolest hotel I have ever been to. I had a blast going to the park and spending time with my family.

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Also in the month of June, I went to New York City which is one of my favorite places and somewhere I always like to visit.

July was also a very special month because it was when I started this blog! Blogging was always something that I wanted to do because I love taking pictures, writing and sharing ideas. I am so happy that I started this because it is something that I love to do.

In August, I ran two more Spartan races! During the same weekend! On Saturday, I ran a Spartan Super which is 8 miles and a Spartan Sprint which is 4 miles. This time, my sister ran with us and she was really really good at it! I thought that these two would be easy because I had already completed the most challenging one, but I was wrong. These two were challenging as well. I am really proud that I was able to complete all three in a year. I wrote a blog about all 3 races which I will link here.

During the last few months of the year, I celebrated the holidays with my family and turned 20! For my birthday, I got to spend time with my family and go out to lunch. The next day, I went to the Sugar Factory with a couple of my friends and we went shopping. It was a great way to finish out the year.

My Goals from 2019

Every year, I write a list of goals that I have for the year. Some of last years goals that I was really happy to accomplish were starting my blog! I had always wanted to start it but never got into it. This year, I posted about twice a week and I worked really hard to come up with ideas. I am so glad I started writing on a blog. When people comment on my posts, and people tell me how much they love it, it makes me so happy and I want to keep writing.

Another goal I had was to work out more. I definitely did that and even did 3 races that I never thought that I would do. After graduating high school and not playing sports anymore, I didn’t really want to work out. But, there are so many other reasons to stay healthy and stay in shape. That is something that I learned this year.

Another goal I had was to take time for myself. I think I did this in a lot of different ways this year. Working out is time that I can focus on myself. Also, I have taken more time to write in my journal and read more books. This year, I focused on things I really like to do and made sure to spend time doing these things.

Goals for 2020

One goal for this year is to keep working on my blog! In 2020, I want to plan my blogs out a little better and really take the time to post things that I am proud of.

Another goal for this year is to get an internship! I work a lot in the summer, so it can be challenging looking for an internship. But, since I am almost halfway through school, it is really important to get one this summer so that I can really figure out what I want to do.

The last goal I want to share is to take every opportunity I get. I want to take advantage of every experience that I can and create as many memories as I can. This summer, I am going on a super exciting vacation (that will be in future blogs) and I will be visiting places I have never been before. I want to make sure that I really take in the experience and don’t let any opportunity pass me up.

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me this year. I am so thankful for everyone who has been by my side. I wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy new year. I can’t wait to see what 2020 brings!

Signed,

Ashlyn