Moving Past an Awesome Year

SUPER IMPORTANT

Unless you're in suspended in time in some hilarious Groundhog Day type situation, you're alive and well in 2015. How was your 2014? Did you pet lots of dogs? That's actually important, dogs are important, and you should make it your mission to pet as many as possible.

My 2014 was actually maybe my best year yet. I learned a lot about myself, and feel like I started this new year happier, healthier, and more sure of myself as a person. I know that many of you think that I'm completely sure of myself, but really I question my actions quite often, as one should. It helps in the personal growth department.

I learned that sometimes you have to cut people you care about out of your life because they just aren't healthy for you to be around, whether that is a physical, emotional, or mental thing. It can be hard letting go of people you care about, but in the end, if they aren't supporting you as a person or helping you grow, you don't need their negativity.

I learned that I should not drink tequila (I literally just shuddered thinking about it) because I will drink too much of it and end up sleeping on the bathroom floor. I learned that a whiskey and coke after a long day is much more relaxing than the much too strong vodka and lemonade I drank as a 20 year old and freaked out about because I was certain I was going to get arrested. For the record, I was in my house with one other person who was definitely 21. I'm just paranoid (with good reason. Don't drink underage, kids).

I learned that sometimes you should embrace your inner traveler and do something for yourself, like fly across the country and visit your best friend. Yes, I could have used all that money for school, or something else that others may have viewed as more valuable. But in my opinion, learning about the world, or in this case other parts of America, through firsthand experience is one of the most valuable things a person can do. And I came back from my week long adventure completely sure of what I wanted in life.

I learned that while some goals are a little far-fetched, they aren't unattainable. Remember that 2014 goal list I posted? Well guess what? I didn't finish it. I never actually cross everything off of those lists. But that doesn't mean I don't try! This past year I crossed off of some the more outlandish items off my list, which means in 2015 I can dream and achieve even bigger things!

I went to New York, saw a Broadway show, starred in a musical, perfected my eyeliner game, finally
figured out how to paint my nails and only my nails, volunteered (a lot) and was featured in the paper! I mean, there were cool things that I did this year that didn't make it on my list, like becoming an assistant cheer coach under the coolest and loveliest head coach ever (I love you, Mama!), was in my first readers theatre production, perfected my crochet skills, built a shelf, made a ton of new friends, shot my first engagement session,and flew to DC and back by myself. Seriously, I feel like I did so much, and I have still have so many things to do in my life! Maybe there are things that I'll never get around to, like conquering a back handspring or getting my phone screen fixed, but there is so much I am going to get around to, like traveling more, worrying less, and working on maintaining a less bitchy demeanor in general.

I also got to celebrate major things in other peoples lives, my brother and several friends graduated from college, Doug and Nicole (my housemates) had a baby, who is the sweetest and most precious baby I've known, but I might be biased since I live in the same house as him and babysit him often, my little brother kicked butt in football and basketball, Nicole landed Cinderella in our upcoming spring musical, the Seahawks won the Superbowl, and others simply made it through the year alive and well, which is harder for some than it is for others. I'm proud of my friends and family, and was so glad to sit on the sidelines and be the cheerleader to all these kick-butt awesome moments.

I am literally just so excited for this year. 2014 was sufficiently conquered, and left it with no major regrets, which is why I wore a "mischief managed" shirt on New Year's Eve. This year I'm going to do even more. This year I'm going to stop looking back on all the past things in my life and constantly being nostalgic, and look to the future and all the wonderful adventures it has in store. Will I find love? Will I find adventure? Will I go to places I've never gone before (literally and metaphorically)? I can only hope.

To end this post, I now present my 2015 goal list. I know there is some carry over from last year, but some goals I'm going to keep striving toward until they actually happen. Happy New Year, everyone, thanks for yet another year of reading my blog posts and here's to adventures in our future.

• Learn to play guitar
• Finish NaNoWriMo
• Take at least one class
• Fix my knees
• Run 3 miles without stopping
• Be more involved in theatre
• Learn to drive
• Visit a different country
• Move out of Omak
• Learn a different language
• Sing more
• Make a short film
• Go back to writing poetry
• Get new glasses
• Save $1,000, then save $2,000
• Stop eating fast food
• Learn to knit
• Donate all my old clothing
• Go to a concert
• Attend a protest
• Freelance for a newspaper
• Get my back walkover back.
• Get my flexibility back
• Learn how to do a back handspring
• Perform 22 Random Acts of Kindness on my birthday
• Be more open minded
• Get an autograph
• Go to Disneyland
• Buy my own DSLR

Alexis Olmstead is a 21 year old waitress from Okanogan County, Washington. She spends most of her days attempting to think of witty things to post on her blog and failing miserably. She enjoys reading and is currently working on Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. If you have any book recommendations, let her know. When Alexis isn't working, sleeping, or procrastinating the cleaning she is supposed to be doing, she coaches cheerleading and annoys the crap out of her boyfriend by playing Sims and Skyrim instead of interacting with the real world. For more useless updates on her life, rants, reviews and random thoughts about the world, check back often.