new year – Rosie Culture

My Word For 2019

For the past two years, I’ve decided to designate a word to my new year instead of resolutions. In 2017, my word was enough and in 2018, my word was presence. I think about my words from time to time throughout the year and never really feel like I’m accomplishing them until I reflect back. Enough has really made an appearance in my life, I have accepted a lot about myself in the past two years and am generally happy. I am still working on presence and I think that’s mostly due to scrolling through social media so often. But I’m aware of the problem and that means I’m closer to fixing it.

My word for 2019 is going to be adventure. While I like to put on a brave face and show everyone how much I love to do new things, new things actually make me extremely nervous. Traveling, moving, starting something new all give me anxiety and actually give me migraines.

But I’m starting 2019 off with a bang by moving out of state, starting a new job, and basically a new life. I know I will have to make new friends, explore a new area, and balance everything I’m leaving behind in New Jersey.

I’ve decided to accept the adventure and carry that feeling with me throughout the year. It will all be a new learning experience, but I’m going to make it fun and I’m going to make the best of it. Despite the anxiety, I know this is a great step for me so I just need to embrace my adventurous side and see where things take me.

Let me know your word for 2019 below!

man riding boxer motorcycle on road — Photo by Pete Johnson on Pexels.com

PostGrad

My Word For 2018

My word for 2017 was enough. You can read more about it here. And it may have taken me a whole 365 days to really grasp the word, but I did it. I don’t feel guilty on lazy days, I don’t drain all my energy for other people, I’ve had enough of that and I’m not going back. Though I could work on my self-esteem and thinking that I look good enough, I’m happy with the progress I made.

My word for 2018 is presence.

I truly struggle with being okay with where I am. I’m constantly thinking of my next steps. Where are we traveling to next? When will I have to start looking for a new apartment? Where is my next move? How long should I stay at this job? I think of everything except the present.

Because I also get caught up in the past a lot. Why did I do that? How do I get past all of this regret from high school and college? Why did I trust him? What made me ignore important signs? Why couldn’t I have been better?

But what I really need to do is ask myself questions about what’s happening right. now. How do I feel today? What can I do today that will help me feel more present? What have I accomplished today? Can I do better today or make an effort to do better tomorrow? Am I appreciating what I have? Do I need to relax or do I need to go out?

I want to be fully committed to where I am right now instead of searching for happiness down the road. I don’t want to work for the weekend and live just to die. I want every day to be special, even if it’s just me rocking out in the car and taking time to myself or as big as going on an awesome vacation.

In 2018 I will be present. What’s your word for this year?

Photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisgold/

The Hookup On...

Happy New Year

I’m currently in the Azores time zone and the New Year is just a few hours away! I can’t wait to update everyone on my trip and post all the blogs I’ve been writing during my very long travels.

I hope everyone has a great New Year, it’s a time to reflect and start over. It’s a time to prove we can do better. I appreciate every single person reading this blog and wish you all the best.

Happy New Year!

Xoxo

Rosie

PostGrad

Ending The Year On A Bad Note

The last few months have just not been my time to shine. I’ve had a lot of disappointments and a lot of things I was interested in have let me down. I’m extremely stressed and feel like I can’t catch a break. Unfortunately, this week my family dog passed away. And now the holidays just seem rough.

Maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world to end the year on a bad note. The new year is supposed to allow us to start new – right?

While I enjoyed 2017, it presented me with a lot of challenges that I assume just come with being in your twenties, being in a relationship, and working full time. It makes me miss the simpler times of living at home or in college and just being care free. But I’m sure those times presented challenges too, I just can’t remember them right now.

2017 also allowed me to see a whole lot of the world, it allowed me to form more relationships, and transition into a new part of my life.

I’m not happy about ending the year on such a sour note, but at least I have big plans in 2018 to look forward to and have the opportunity to really clear my head and make a path for a great new year. I’m ending the year on a bad note in hopes of a happier future.

Photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bahadorjn/

PostGrad

My Word For 2017

Although I am huge on making goals and resolutions, a new idea was brought to my attention this year and I’d love to try it out. On top of my resolutions for 2017, I also chose a word to live by this year.

Essentially, this is to help you bypass the large load of things you want to change about yourself and just choose one to work on. You can read more about this concept at http://myoneword.org/, this website will also help you find your own word!

The word I have chosen for 2017 is enough.

I am enough. I don’t have to change myself or push myself or drain myself of everything just to please other people. The ones who accept me are the ones who can stick around, the ones who don’t just aren’t necessary.

I don’t want to worry endlessly anymore if I’m good enough, if I deserve something. If I’m pretty enough, what I can do to get there. Because I need to be enough for me. I need to stop striving for things that are outside the realm of my possibility.

But I also want to focus on if I am doing enough and being mindful. Is my lazy day in bed a day well spent. Are there other things, better things, that I could be doing? Am I putting enough effort into things that truly matter? When I get out of bed in the morning, drive to work, and come home – are those things enough or can I do more? Can I stretch myself a little further to be a better version of myself?

Even if you don’t choose a word this year or make goals, I hope you have time to do what you need to do in order to be happy. If you do choose a word, leave it in the comments!

photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/marcus_hansson/

PostGrad

Happy Belated New Year!

Happy New Year all! I hope you had a great time during the holidays and had a chance to sit down and relax for once – I know those moments are hard to come by.

My 2017 will include a lot of goals, positivity, and an overall look at my mental and physical health. I hope you all get a chance to make a list of your goals, as well. Take some time to reflect, make plans, and prioritize. I wish you all the best 2017 possible!

xoxo

Rosie

PostGrad

How I Made 2016 My Best Year Yet

In 2015, I graduated college and my life changed. And no matter who you are or how old you are, there is usually something that happens during the year that changes you and forces you to adjust.

I was going on Bumble dates and hating it. Living with my parents and hating it. Becoming a loner and hating it. I was slipping back to a place that I thought I had left behind, a dark place that had taken me a while just to see some cracks of light.

And that’s when I decided I was going to make 2016 my best year ever.

I made a list of things that had to change. I needed to manage my anxiety better. I had to stop letting people who barely meant anything to me (like my one time Bumble dates) affect my well being. I had to cut people out. I had to add people in. I needed to find adventure, a better job, a place to live, and I needed to find happiness.

I found happiness in 2016 just by working on myself. And I worked hard.

I got in better shape. I bought a journal and began managing my anxiety by writing in it, as well as taking time to decompress, color, and listen to new music. I stopped going on shitty Bumble dates and deleted my dating apps that only gave me a fake sense of satisfaction for a short amount of time. I worked hard and found a job I love. I saved up and found a place to live. I booked trip after trip and made time for only the friends and family that counted.

For the first time in two years, I was genuinely happy and proud of myself. And with my self satisfaction came everything else that I felt I had been missing. Like a relationship, adventures, and just an overall glow of positivity.

I made 2016 my best year yet by putting myself first and letting everything else follow. I dove head first with a positive attitude, the will to change, and the eagerness to succeed. I have no doubts in my mind that if I continue into 2017 with this same mindset, it will be just as great.

Set goals and smash them. Seek positivity and hold on to it. Better yourself and the rest will follow. You will truly have a happy new year.

photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/amandasphotographs/