A Year in Review

In a GIF:

2015 has been a wild ride and a half.

I started the year burned-out, cynical, bitter, and generally miserable with life.

I knew I would have to do something drastic in order to change the highway to hell I was on. Otherwise, it was only a matter of time before I shut down mentally, emotionally, socially, and in just about every other conceivable way.

So I ditched everything to start living a life I actually wanted to live.

First, I went to Disney World with one of my best friends. It was my first real vacation in as long as I could remember, and it reminded me what it’s like to have fun. I’d completely forgotten.

Then, I moved back home to live with my parents while I saved for graduate school.

It had its ups and downs, sure, but most importantly, it got me to September, when I left the world as I knew it behind to study history in Scotland.

It wasn’t all fun and games. I’d never really traveled – certainly not alone – or understood what I was getting into in graduate school. I was wholly unprepared for the adventure ahead of me.

But none of my fears ever eclipsed my excitement to be outside of the painfully predictable, boring world I’d wrapped myself up in.

And by the end of my first semester, I got the hang of things and emerged virtually unscathed.

I even got to visit two new countries!

All in all, I conclude 2015 happy

And surprised with myself.

I’m tempted to be sad to leave 2015

But I’m too excited to see what happens next.

I’m learning how to be fearless.

I’m learning not to give a shit.

Most importantly, I’m learning to love myself.

So I wish you a very happy New Year from Scotland.

Goodbye to 2015

And a warm hello to 2016.