Here's Looking At You, 2012

I didn't participate in Weverb11, even though I really, really wanted to. I love looking back at the year and setting goals for the new one, but alas, I never did figure out how to fit more hours in the day. 

Twenty-eleven was a tough year. Of course it was full of joy — I married an amazing man, our families surrounded us with love at all the events surrounding our wedding, I've made excellent new friends and have gotten to settle into a new home with my husband and cat — but overall when I look back at 2011, I'm more than ready to leave it in the dust.

I struggled a lot in 2011. With keeping perspective while planning my wedding. With losing my first full-time job. With learning that independence doesn't mean only considering my own needs. With dealing with unemployment. With a new position I wasn't really cut out for. With learning what it means to be a good wife, and learning to not beat myself up when I didn't fit into my own expectations of what I thought that should mean. On Weverb11 day one, I knew my word for the year was "Struggle." And I hated that.

Which is why I'm so excited for the next year of my life. I've decided my word for this year is "Opportunity." I'm turning 25 this year. And I'm finally taking those big scary steps to following my passion in my career. My Christmas gift to myself was quitting the job that was making me unhappy every day and allowing myself to pursue self-employment. I haven't been able to find a job that truly fulfills everything I wanted in my career since I moved here while Matt finishes his degree. And I figured if I couldn't find what I was looking for, I'd make it up myself.

So I've officially started my own business, and I am so excited to be taking the leap.

What great steps are you taking in 2012?