My Year in Review

Much to my surprise, 2013, which started without any truly visible promise (aside from bringing the horrible 2012 to a close), improved as it went along, and turned out to be one of the most auspicious years of my life. 
 ___________________________________________________________________________

The highlights:
 
1. I stuck to my resolutions
I made two year-long resolutions starting in January: to leap out of my comfort zone wherever and whenever possible (admittedly vague, but it worked) and, specifically, to mix up my workouts, which I did in some unexpected ways. 

For the latter, I purchased four Pilates DVDs, and learned that a good toning/stretching workout is possible without spilling too much sweat (or dough, for that matter) and that these workouts make great add-ons to longer, more grueling cardio and strength-training workouts. I also bought a beginner's yoga DVD and attended a yoga workshop during the summer, though I equate yoga more with relaxing meditation than with a solid workout (mainly because I lack flexibility, good balance, and the courage to try Jillian Michaels's brand of killer yoga).

During the summer, I enjoyed a short hike nearly every day in my local park, which stands as my all-time favorite workout, hands down. The biggest fitness lesson I learned this year is there's workout life beyond Jillian Michaels. Although I remain devoted to her and her workouts as my #1 go-to fitness solutions, there are other effective, less-torturous forms of exercise available. I think I needed that reminder.

2. I started this blog

After much anxious soul-searching and self-doubt (discussed here), I launched this blog shortly after the start of the year, which serves as my truest chronicle of 2013 and one of my biggest accomplishments this year.

3. Men, dating, and relationships

I swore off men forever the time being, and devoted this year to falling in love with myself (which is much less twee in practice than it sounds, I swear) and making myself my first priority. It's been too easy for me to lose myself in relationships, forgetting and/or compromising who I am and what I want and need for the perceived good of a relationship. I'm determined to never do that again. And if that means being alone for 2014 and the rest of my life, all is not lost. I've realized that I like myself and enjoy my company a lot more than I ever have before. I might not be happier than I've ever been, but I doubt I've ever been healthier.

4. Big leaps and bounds

I did so many things that scared my pants off (figuratively, not literally, I promise) this year, things that I never imagined I would do, under the influence or otherwise. I went skydiving (still can't believe it) (discussed here); I attended yoga, nutrition, workplace bullying, and poetry-writing workshops; I took my first (and last) horseback riding lesson (discussed here); I survived five months of swimming lessons, and can now successfully dive and swim laps (discussed here); and I took up ice skating (something I have always dreamed of doing) as a new hobby this fall and have, so far, managed to avoid a hospital visit (though I did fall and bruise my tailbone three weeks ago). 

All of these things, individually and as a whole, built layers of much-needed self-confidence. I've given myself precedents to reference for the rest of my life when I set a new goal or come face to face with fear. Now I know I'm in the front seat of my own life and my only opposition is me. As a result, I feel a thousand times happier and healthier than I did last year, which was my ultimate goal for 2013.
_________________________________________________________________________

So that brings 2013, one of the most important and successful years of my life, without question, to a close. Not one of the easiest, but one of the greatest. I'm maturing, which is never without growing pains. This lost girl without a voice ("I've been here/Silent all these years") is growing into a woman who is not afraid to speak.