2018 Year in Review
The past year was one of big milestones, leaps of faith, unexpected challenges, and tremendous personal growth. So many huge things happened that it honestly felt like a whirlwind. As we head into the New Year, I’m taking a moment to reflect on this crazy year, what I’ve learned, and what I’m focusing on in 2019!
2018 Recap
This year was jam packed with craziness! In case you missed it, here’s the highlight reel:
Rescued and fostered four doggies in March/April. Passed the NASM Personal Trainer Certification in May. Married my long-time love in August. Had my appendix removed three days later. Started training my first PT client in September. Changed jobs and moved in November. Returned to the gym fully recovered in December.
Of course, there’s so much more to life than the big insta-worthy moments. Here are a few things that didn’t make the highlight reel:
Omar and I went to a premarital counselor and learned so much about being a little more kind, patient, and loving with each other. This helped me open up about my struggles with anxiety for the first time.
After my appendectomy I learned how to be patient with my body, not push too hard, and embrace the way I look even when I don’t feel my best. This taught me so much about adapting training techniques for an injured muscle group, and it was actually really cool (albeit frustrating) to experience it firsthand.
My perspective on nutrition has shifted so much this year, from a more results-based, strict diet to eating foods that support health and well-being from the inside out. I stopped eating foods and supplements “for the gains” and started listening to what makes my digestive track feel the best — game changer!
While I don’t share that much about my full-time job on my blog, I had a lot of professional ups and downs this year - from buyouts and layoffs to career changes and burnout. Balancing a full-time job and side hustle has proved to be so challenging, and while I’ve managed, I found myself constantly being pulled between the two.
I read more books this year than I have since college. Reading was my first love and I studied literature in my undergrad. I’ve struggled throughout the years to find time and energy to read, and making that time for myself this year felt like rediscovering a part of myself that I had lost touch with.
2018 Key Takeaways
With a lot of change comes growth and 2018 had so many lessons in store for me. These were my biggest takeaways from this crazy, chaotic, beautiful year:
Ask for help. From wedding planning to mental health to recovering from surgery, this year forced me to ask for help! And you know what happened? Things got easier. I felt more understood and supported, and the pressure of handling everything myself was lifted.
Trust your gut. If something feels wrong, don’t waste your energy on it. There are bad opportunities, people, and decisions out there. If your gut says no, listen!
Play the long game. When I was recovering from my appy, all I wanted to do was get back into training - but I knew that if I jumped in too quickly, I’d pay for it later. So I practiced patience. This year, I focused on habits, decisions, foods, and training that inched me closer to sustainable, long-term success, and it felt so much better than the instant gratification of short sightedness.
Lean into fear. Every fulfilling thing that happened to me this year came from doing something that scared me. I have a tendency to overthink everything I do, and sometimes that can hold me back. If it doesn’t scare you a little, you’re not challenging yourself enough.
Open up. This one’s for the introverts! I struggle so much to open up to people, even those closest to me. This year I challenged myself to be more vulnerable, voice my needs and thoughts, and be more open to possibility. I have to say, the relationships I formed this year are the closest I’ve had in a long time.
2019 Goals
Walking into 2019, I feel so grateful for the past year and a little uncertain of what lies ahead. I’m not huge into New Year’s resolutions, but I do set goals for myself each year that I think will bring me closer to joy and success. More importantly, I always commit to the daily habits that will help me achieve those goals.
In 2019, I plan to restore my post-op body to tip top shape, eat for my gut health, read 12 books, and monetize my passion for fitness. In order to reach those goals, I’ve committed to moving daily, prepping gut-healthy meals each Sunday, unplugging an hour before bed to read each night, and spending 30-60 minutes each morning on my side hustle.