As 2018 comes to an end I am full of a few different emotions but mostly all good! 2018 started off with a MAJOR life timeout (neck surgery) and is ending with a MAJOR life overhaul (launching a business). Here are the high points of the last 12 months:
navigate to this website January was chaotic and stressful; full of non-stop surgery prep! I spent weeks preparing and Amazoning for my surgery recovery! Moving EVERY item I had to “reach” for to a lower level so there would be no “reaching” to pouring cat litter into small 1lb bags. I was as prepared as I was going to be!
http://trueptwichita.com/allergic-rhinitis February 20 was my neck surgery! In all of my prior doctor appointments I had assured my surgeon I would need every single drug allowable before I would go into the OR. WELL, God had other plans. I was super calm and peaceful the morning of surgery! I didn’t need anything other than a glass of water to go into the OR willingly! Ariel and I prayed with my surgeon, my anesthesiologist and the nurses (pretty much any person who was going to be in the OR). I was wheeled into the OR full of joy and peace! Recovery on the other hand was not as peaceful. I am now #bionic I am so thankful to all of my friends who helped me! A huge shout out to Ariel who really went above and beyond to be there for this crazy and scary time!
March was spent mostly in bed! I thought for sure I was going to be reading up a storm! But I was mostly in bed vegging out. The pain killers wreaked havoc on my body! And I really needed a ton of DOWN TIME! Other than that it was a good recovery! I was able to ween off the pain meds as anticipated (thank God) and was able to heal and truly REST! I did get to spend much needed friend time with my peeps (thank you).
April was “back to work”. I had a lovely 8 weeks “off” from work. I went back to work with a bang! I also did my very 1st missions trip EVER to Tijuana! I absolutely fell in love with Gracia del Calvario church and all of the work God is doing there! I had my 1st Mexican Mocha IN Mexico and my 1st Mexican coke #obsessed!I am so grateful to have met Cindy and Jose Luis! I also got to meet Jen Sincero and Daymond John @ 2 different book signings!
May was full of business trips! Nothing like just getting back to work and traveling all over! I did get to spend quality time with my brother in law in Boston! May was a bit overwhelming trying to get back into the swing of things!
June started with the tail end of a business trip in Chicago! And this was the very FIRST time I got to explore the city and my 4 or 5th time into the city! I had a lot of fun being a tourist and spending quality time with my colleague and now friend! I finally got to see #thebean I am #obsessed ! I also had a super last min business trip to Jersey and got to spend some good time with my peeps!!!!!
July – ahhh the most pivotal month of the year. I LOST MY JOB! This is my 3rd lay off since 2012 and the nail in the coffin of my corporate America career! I had known since 2014 that God wanted me to pursue real estate investing but I didn’t have the means to take it on full time. Well, when your “steady paycheck” goes away you start to walk on faith and listen to God!
August is my birthday month! I love my birthday! I so loved celebrating with my friends being poolside with cocktails! It was so low key yet so fun and so “ME” (you all know I spend most of my weekends poolside in the summer). I also launched my freelancing career (account executive/project manager)
September brought another Jersey trip (yay) for my cousin’s wedding! It was so great to be there to celebrate her! And so great to spend time DTS (down the shore) with my Jersey peeps! It was also a super busy freelance month! I was blessed to do another missions trip in Mexico with Gracia del Calavrio! This is the trip where God inspired me to raise 100 toys for the children of the church! He came through with 150!!!! He is so good!
October was a heavy freelance month as I was planning a 400+ person conference in NYC. I am proud to say the conference was a success (thanks to a great team) and I truly feel like I really helped make an impact in the cancer space! This conference was very different from any others I’ve been to and it was so amazing to see the different sectors of healthcare come together as one! I got to spend a tiny bit of down time in NYC! I had drinks @ the Plaza (one of my fave things to do) and Al Pacino was about 20 feet from me! I got have to catch up with a dear friend and have dinner and I got to spend the whole day being a tourist in Central Park and treated myself to a delish lunch @ the Boathouse (I had never been there before???).
November is a rough month, typically my most super emotional month; this year marked 11 years my mom is gone. So crazy how time flies. The best part of November is Thanksgiving! My 2nd fave holiday of the year! I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Thanksgiving in Long Beach!! I love the cooking and the prep and the chaos and the people! It truly is a magical event. It is the most bittersweet month of the year!
December ahh the end of the year. This was a HUGE learning month for me as an Entrepreneur. I’ve learned business stops the 1st week in, no one wants to work and money is INSANELY tight! I also had an amazing trip back to Jersey! Yes, I know a lot this year (I think Josh is cool if I skip a 2019 visit lol). I went back for the Essex County CASA Ruby Red Shoe Bash to celebrate my dear friend Lori as she was given an honorable award! Lori introduced me to CASA and the world of foster care, she helped ignite my passion is supporting the aging out foster youth! It was LOVELY to be there for this gala and to celebrate her! I got to (finally) have lunch with my cousin Erica! My trips in are always so crazy and I can’t always see everyone, so glad I got to see her this time! Coleen and I got to spend the whole day (freezing) in the city (NYC)! We spent time in Times Square, Central Park, and OF COURSE Rockefeller Center! It was so great to be back in the city at Christmas and to see the tree! I just wish it was about 20 degrees warmer! I froze THE ENTIRE TIME!! I also squeezed in some real estate investing networking time with the local NJ REIA! #businesstrip
All in all, 2018 was a pretty amazing year! It was filled with A LOT of ups and downs (read: non stop roller coaster). My faith was tested and pushed to the limits but it also grew stronger and deeper. God did some pretty amazing things this year! I accomplished and grew so much! I did not accomplish every goal I set for this year but I realize I need better and more detailed planning.
I KNOW 2019 is going to take my breath away! I have some BIG (read: HUGE) goals and dreams! 2019 will be a year of #spreadingloveandjoy, changing lives and continuing to design my life. I don’t expect it to be easy but I KNOW it will be exhilarating and worth it!
I wish YOU an amazing 2019! May it be full of love and joy and success! May you spread love and joy throughout the world and receive it too!
Buh-bye 2018, bring on 2019!! 