Year in Review - 2017

I had a lot of goals for 2017, which you can read all about here if you're so inclined. Some were accomplished with little effort, and others didn't even begin. 

And I could focus on how I fell short, but I think it's important to give yourself the grace and acceptance that you would to someone else. Life changes, schedules fill up and goals shift. So instead of focusing on failure, I'm choosing to reflect on all the moments that filled the days and nights of 2017, and all of the amazing people that were standing beside me.

January found us celebrating my 31st birthday in Arches National Park. We loved seeing the arches covered in snow without all the crowds, plus Mark found the perfect little cabin for us to stay at. 

Mark and I crossed the finish line at the Hot Chocolate 15K and hit the slopes at Brian Head in February, proving desserts and beer are necessary for any and all types of physical activity.

March was the unofficial start of a concert-studded year, starting with one of our favorite bands, Death Cab for Cutie. Professionally, I celebrated my one-year workiversary at both my full-time and part-time job.

Love was in the air in April, as we witnessed my baby brother get married in Houston, Texas and welcomed our new sister to the family. When we got back, we kicked it old school and saw Jimmy Eat World at House of Blues.

In May, my company was acquired by DaVita Medical Group. I also conquered the bicycle ride from hell on the River Mountains Loop Trail with my adventure buddy, Lisa; met DNCE at our SPF show; and sang along with Andrew McMahon and Foster the People. 

By June, Vegas was unbearably hot with record-breaking temps of 117. So I whisked off to see my Japan bestie in her new home of New Mexico, while Mark decided the best way to beat the heat was to buy a boat and spend every weekend wakesurfing.

All of July was spent drinking spiked seltzers with friends on the boat or hiking with the puppies on Mount Charleston.

We dusted off our passports in August and spent a couple of weeks in South America, marveling at Machu Picchu in Peru, finding our spirituality in Ecuador and drinking way too many pisco sours.

It was all about shows in September. I spent a whole day wrangling Lights, Shawn Hook, Eve 6, Vertical Horizon, LeAnn Rimes and Neon Trees at Mix 94.1's Bite of Las Vegas. All the hustle scored me an interview op with HAIM and a three-day pass to Life is Beautiful a couple of weeks later. I've wanted to go to LIB since we moved to Vegas and this was finally my year!

October. October still hurts to talk about. We watched in horror as the worst mass shooting in modern US history took place in the city we call home. We counted our blessings that we weren't there that night, or anyone we knew for that matter, and felt our hearts sink for those that were. We saw a city known for parties, glitz and lights go dark. We clung to stories of everyday heroes, risking their lives to save others, dropping everything to donate blood and becoming a beacon of hope. For the first time in two years, Las Vegas felt like a community and we will forever be Vegas Strong. 
 
We spent the weeks following reflecting and distracting in Zion National Park and traveled to Flagstaff to reconnect with friends. 

Training and hard work paid off in November when I reached a new half marathon PR at Rock N Roll, shaving 18 minutes off my finish time from 2016. Even more special was that my bestie and husband led the way and I crossed the finish line with my brother by my side and my parents cheering on all of us. Immediately after the race, I flew down to New Orleans for an intensive two-day professional development retreat with DaVita. November also marked the second M&A of the year and the beginning of my employment with Entercom as CBS Radio was acquired. 

Calendar pages flew off the walls in December as we hosted the Rustic Christmas party at our house; met Kelly Clarkson at Not So Silent Night; cheered on the Vegas Golden Knights at our first NHL game (they upset the #1 team in the last 2.3 seconds of the game, btw); and had a very merry Christmas with family in Austin. 

So there you have it. All the "life" that happened in 2017. I didn't run 365 miles or read 10 pages a day. But what I did do was smile and laugh. A lot. I felt loved and invigorated. I found a piece of myself that had been missing. And when you break it down, isn't that the whole purpose of goals and resolutions in the first place? 

And now it's time to realign, readjust and refocus for 2018, and I couldn't be more ready.