It’s the end of another year.
The end of something and the beginnings of something else. For me 2015 was such a time of transition. I got married, I left a job, I said goodbye to a handful of friends, only to welcome some of them back and then see them go off on adventures again. I went on trips. I laughed and cried. I hosted parties and Thanksgiving went to parties and Christmas. I learned how to cook and to shovel my own walkway. I learned how to communicate better and I got on a budget. I prayed more and I angsted plenty. I thought more about the world and it’s issues and took action. Basically a year and a half after graduating I learned even more what it means to be an adult, which sometimes I think it’s as simple as this: to be responsible for someone/something beyond yourself and to show up.
“Today I’m going to believe that showing up is enough.” Brene Brown
So while I’m moving a bit beyond thinking of myself as just a graduate and owning my titles as adult, wife, and woman this blog is still going to be an integral part of my writing and learning for next year!
That said I thought it be fun to look at this past year so without further ado here are my top 5 most viewed posts and some insights into why I wrote them, why I think they were so relevant and a fun video that may or may not actually connect with the post.
1: Surprise! Life After College isn’t Always Happy (July 8, 2015)
For a post about unhappiness this post seemed to resonate with a lot of readers, and I’m not surprised it was one of my favorite pieces. I must say getting married released a lot of the melancholy of being engaged! But seriously sadness is an emotion we as graduates are very familiar with, I’m also just impressed with my ability to incorporate Jesus, A Practical Wedding, and Inside Out in one post.
2. We Got Married! (August 22, 2015)
Ironic considering my generation on average isn’t marrying till well after college, but I respect that and try to make my posts as universally appealing as possible. It was really about pursuing your dreams and goals in the face of others doubts especially in your youth. I don’t ever want to forget the lessons I learned from falling and pursuing love as a crazy young thing.
3. Seek the Snitch (January 6, 2015)
So my word was seek. I don’t know how good I was at it, I certainly stumbled upon some adventures. Some updates: I’ve certainly grown spiritually and have come to a greater understanding of who I am as God’s child, what that means for church and day to day life isn’t always so clear. We got married and it’s amazing (even with the crap). The Bible play was an OVERWHELMING success, I’m just curious what our director is going to do with it in the new year. Career, well, I didn’t think I’d still be with Miss J, but I learned a lot and getting to be much better at interviewing and talking about myself. I wonder, should I choose a word for 2016?
4. Why Can’t Everything Be Easy? (February 23, 2015)
Found this funny video, but really I’m surprised it was so viewed, this was just me ranting and complaining and getting over what turned out to be a manageable disappointment. I to perform and I had my party, just not on my schedule. But you know even when we’re in the wrong sometimes we just need to express our unhappiness and being an adult as much as it is a joy is full of compromise and disappointment.
5. Lessons Learned from Wedding Planning (July 3, 2015)
I was pretty much in the zone at this time we were knocking things out in anticipation to being married. There was stress, but so much excitement. And in the after math of marriage those lessons are still ones I’m learning. Especially the last one: Not living by others expectations is something I’m doing my best to embrace, sometimes it’s really hard to be yourself.
Before I say goodbye are there any posts you loved, content you want to see more of, emotional rants you hope will continue, advice on job searching? Let me know what’s good and what’s not!
Thanks for reading glitter gang, most likely this is my last post of the year, the husband and I will be heading to my grandmothers and spending a couple days with her (just have to get through a few days of work first). See you in the new year!
Peace, love, and glitter,
Juanita