Happy, Happy 2018...

Happy 2018 everyone! We made it to the new year! Hallelujah! Let's reflect a smidge on 2017 and then kiss *kick* it goodbye for good! Then we can all relish in the joy that is a fresh, new year, full of opportunity and possibility!

2017 sucked. No sugar coating, no daisies haha. It was just a doozy of a year and I am so grateful for it's end. I'd rather not stew on the bad, but without it I would certainly not be the lady I am today, so we'll do a very, VERY, brief review! So the bad things in all their glory and in no particular order:

*Massive depression, or at least being more aware of it and learning to come out of it

*Switching from one stressful, horrible job to another...four times.

*Politics, we definitely won't go into that here haha

*Almost being homeless because someone thought moving right at the beginning of school in a college town would be a good idea...FYI, it's not, you won't find a place to live so don't do it haha.

*Working through the difficulties of ever changing friendships and family relationships.

*Making friends that weren't positive influences, and letting go of them as well

*Being very lonely

*Moving

*Christmas, I won't go into it, but it was a big, fat, lonely, let down!

So those were the crappo parts of 2017, but the good news?? I'm completely over it and already moving onto this awesome new year! #OptimisticKayla...I hate myself for that haha.

Lets talk a little bit about the new year, shall we? I am SO excited! With all the downfalls of 2017, they all prepped me for a wonderful 2018. I am so ready and here is what I am going into 2018 with:

*Being happy...depression will always be something I know and will be wary of, but for now it's taking a step back and I am going to appreciate every moment it's at bay, but also have plenty tools for when it decides to make a comeback.

*Enjoying being alone and in my house. In 2017 I found myself desperately grasping for company at all times to distract from the overwhelming loneliness I felt. I felt out of place and sad being home. Before I would love being home, it was my safe place, the place that was completely my own and cozy and wonderful. This year I have managed to find that love for being comfy, cozy, and alone in my dreamy home and I couldn't be more grateful for feeling that again.

*No expectations. I am going into this year with no idea what's coming and I am so glad! I want to be bamboozled, shocked, flabbergasted by whatever comes with this year because for some reason I have an astounding amount of optimism that it will all be so good.

*Optimism...see above hehe

*More twinkle lights!

*So much more that I just can't think of! I am going into this year so carefree and more myself than I ever have been and that's my theme for this year. This list is never ending and I will just keep adding and adding to it because I can!

This year is going to bring good things for certain and I am here for it all! I don't usually make new year's resolutions simply because I don't like to disappoint myself, but I am going into this year with a list of possibilities...things that I might do, things that sound interesting, things that could happen, because why not?? What I want to do...

*Hot yoga...a friend at work told me about this and I definitely want to give it a go! It's basically yoga in a super hot room that feels like death, but afterwards your body feels new.

*Go to Europe...my parents and I have plans to go to Paris and the UK in the fall and I'm very much hoping this one works out!

*Tap dance...Victoria and I have been wanting to take a tap dancing class together forever and hopefully this year we go for it!

*Do fun things like go to the symphony and museums more often.

*Find more clarity for my future. I feel more content now than I ever have, but I'm hoping this year I will find something that will contribute to my future a lot, whether that be a job opportunity, love, or even just a new hobby. I feel ready to start laying that foundation.

*Better skin care routine. I found a routine that I like last year, but I was always terrible at keeping up on it. This year I want to sit down every morning and every night to do it and keep my skin healthy and happy.

*Read a lot. In the past few years I lost my love for reading a bit, but I have found it again and I am ready to read all the books!

Those are just few things on my list, what's on your list of possibilities?? Last year was so much about finding myself and figuring out who I am spiritually and mentally. I feel like this year will be all about what I do and give in the physical world and I'm ready to go! I'm trying to journal and keep a paper planner and cook more and I'm having so much fun guys! Something big that I want to do, however, is take you along with me on this year because I love to write and I love this blog that I created so long ago in the midst of my mental reset and I let it slip through my fingers. I'm ready to document my experiences here, not just to bring you all along, but mostly so I can look back and remember everything about this year because it's going to be grand! Welcome to the 2018 Wonderland Boulevard folks!!