Wednesday, September 4, 2013

25 + 365= 26 years in the making.

If you asked me a year ago today- where I would be, I honestly wouldn't have had an answer for you. It's crazy to think of all that has happened, and all that has changed in the last 365 days.

365 days ago I was celebrating 25 years, a whole quarter century of life. I was unsure of myself, my career path, my relationships, my friendships, and basically everything. I'm not saying I wasn't happy, because I was- but there were a lot of unknowns. Do I know any more about my life 365 days later? Maybe a little, but I am still learning each and every day. I'd be lying if I said this past year was easy, it was actually anything but easy- but it was the best year by forcing me to make hard decisions, forcing me to push myself, forcing me to take chances and make big changes.

365 days ago John and I were in a MUCH different place than we are now. Relationships have ups and downs, like anything in life. If you asked me a year ago if we would be engaged and planning our lives together, that answer absolutely would have been no. But I am grateful for the changes we have made, the chances we have taken, and the things we have worked through to get where we are. Last night we had a long amazing talk, and it's incredible to see how our relationship has grown stronger over the last year. The comfort and sense of security that comes with a love like this, is more than I ever could have imagined. There isn't talk of IF, it's WHEN.  Oh, and that WHEN, is 367 days from now.

365 days ago I was working at the restaurant, nannying on the side, and applying for jobs in random fields. I had left the Nursing career path in the dust months prior, I didn't want to be one anymore and was trying to figure out which direction to go. Shortly after my birthday last year I was given an opportunity for a job, something full time with normal hours and a steady paycheck. A friend (at the time) helped me get this, and for that I am grateful. What I chose to do with the opportunity was not let it be a job, but to work hard and turn it into a career. So, yes someone took a chance on me and I had help getting started- but MY hard work and determination got me to where I am in this position now, and for that I am extremely proud.

365 days ago the 'friendships' I had were much different than the ones I have now. Hindsight really is 20/20. I believe that people come into your lives for a reason, and some are meant to stay and some are not and there is nothing wrong with that.

The friendships I have these days are more real and more important to me than any that I have before. I am very grateful for ALL of the people who have been in my life over the years, for I wouldn't be the person I am today without them. The ones who aren't in my life anymore are not bad people, and I don't regret knowing them. But something I have really come to see is that finding the RIGHT friends for what you want and need in a friendship is extremely important, and not everyone is going to fit that profile. I have found the friends that support me but not control me, the ones that tell me how it is and don't baby me, the ones I can laugh and cry with, the ones I can feel completely at ease with. Just as not everyone is the right friend for you, I know that I am not the right friend for everyone and I can appreciate that.

This past year has been a huge year for my running as well. At this time last year I was training for my 4th marathon, one that 6 months prior the doctors told me would not be possible. While 25 I demolished my half marathon PR, demolished my marathon PR, BQ'd (twice), did my first duathlon, my first triathlon, my first half ironman, broke my long standing 5k PR, and have been training better than ever before. It will be hard to top a year like that, but that just gives me more motivation to keep pushing myself :)

365 days days really isn't that long in the grand scheme of things. I'm in a very different place than I was last year, and I know that 365 days from now, I can't predict where I will be but I do know who will be by my side, and I know that I will be grateful for everything that has gotten me to that point. There isn't a number that can be determined to show how much I have changed over the last year, but I know it and the people who have stuck by me know it. I am far from perfect and made many mistakes, but I have also worked hard to better myself and to work on mending things that need it. 25 turned out to be a big year, and I am grateful for those that were a part of it.


So what's really changed?
My hair is a longer, my heart is happier, my future is brighter and I'm pretty sure my smile is bigger. 365 days in the making, and looking forward to what the next 365 has to bring. Here's to 26, the perfect year to run marathons, 26.2 at 26. (runnerd, I know). 


What has been the most significant year for you so far?


Does anyone else get as reflective and sappy on their birthday as I do?



16 comments:

  1. You deserve all of the happiness in the world! 26 is YOUR year and I have no doubt that you will far exceed any goals and expectations you have for yourself. :)

    I would have to say that my most significant year was when I turned 30. I ran my first half marathon that year after a long running hiatus. While I didn't have a big birthday bash to celebrate a new decade or do anything remotely exciting that I can remember, I do remember that I started to figure out who I reall was. It was almost as if a lightbulb went off and life just became more clear.

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  2. You've had an amazing year and at just four years older than you I feel like I can confidently say it just gets better. I just wrote this in my recent birthday post haha but I really do think around 26 your world changes a lot and you grow so much. Sounds like you've been well on your way to that over the past year though. :) Congratulations to having such a great year in racing too- you've been a rockstar for sure. I'm so glad I've recently started following and getting to know you through twitter and your blog!

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  3. The most important thing you can do in life is pick the right partner. Congrats! Like Lindsey said, it just gets better from there. I was certainly never happier than I was after getting married and having someone to plan all the fun things in life with. I guess the most important year for me is always the big changes all at once - we went to grad school & moved - we got married & moved - we had kids & moved - let's hope it's settled for about 20 years now!!

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  4. What a great year you had! Wishing you many more! xo

    p.s. I reflect every day...does that make me sappy? lol My bday is coming up in 3 weeks :)

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  5. You've definitely had an amazing year and I know you will make the next one just as great! Happy Happy birthday Laura!!!

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  6. Happy Birthday hope you have a wonderful year!!!!!! I to reflect back on year past when my birthday comes around and get sappy :)

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  7. Happy birthday!! I hope this next year is even better and I know it will!

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  8. I am not sure which year has been the best. There has been a lot good in many of my years. At 29 I finished my MEd, ran my first marathon, and my nephew was born. That pretty much rocked.

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  9. Happy birthday!! I love this post! I reflected on the last year, too, because it's been a year since I moved to CT. It's amazing how many things can change in a year.

    P.S. I nominated you for the Liebster Award. Love your blog! Go check out the details in my post today.

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  10. Hope you had a great birthday! That is quite the year you had, and this next year will be just as awesome - you get to run Boston! Congrats on a great year and all your running PR's!

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  11. So many great things happened in just a year! Huge accomplishments and only 26!
    Happy Belated Birthday!

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  12. What an awesome year, and I'm sure next year will be even better.

    Happy Birthday!

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  13. Happy Birthday :). And yeah, it's totally fine to be reflective because you've had an amazing year of running and life. It's so good that you're in a job you like (and not nursing) and that things are going well with your relationship and you're getting married. Life IS full of ups and downs, and I'm glad you're on an up because it sounds like you had some "downs" before this. I'd probably say 25 was about the best year of my life, since that's when I got married and a lot of other cool stuff happened that year (more consistent running, first half, etc).

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  14. Happy birthday! You have had a great year. I love looking back every so often to assess everything I've accomplished.

    I hope your 26th year is just as amazing (if not better) than the last!

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  15. I know I'm so late in commenting on this and I'm glad you had a good birthday last week. You really have had a great year full of ups and downs. I honestly do believe people come into your life for a reason and I'm so glad you came into mine.

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  16. Happy belated birthday! I hope this year is your best one yet! And as a gal who is pushing 36, I can honestly say that every year gets better. I had a quarter life crisis at 25 too. 35 is so much better!!! Just keep on rocking it out :)

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