Everything that transpired in 2015 ties back to my mission of being more focused on and involved in shaping who I want to be and steering myself closer towards where I want to go.

By challenging myself to Make it Happen – to lean in, live in the here and now, and bypass my fears by taking progressive risks – I strengthened my confidence, initiative, productivity, and overall well-being. Nothing is a better example of the positive benefits of daring greatly than my solo trip to London in April. It was audaciously outside of my comfort zone, but man, was it ever worth it! Make it happen? I made it happen in 2015!

Many of my actions this year were inspired by Brené Brown and her ideas on how being courageously vulnerable and authentic can transform your life. I whole-heartedly embraced being an imperfect human by sharing the Real and Honest Truth, and as a result, I became more deeply connected with others throughout the following months. By tapping into the full spectrum of my emotions (thank you, Inside Out), getting personal, and showing my true self to others, I’ve gained a stronger sense of humanity.

“With the help of others” is a key phrase – I wouldn’t have gotten through 2015 without the presence of the incredible people in my life. I’m used to getting by on my own, but this year, more than ever before, I sought out the company of and connection with others. I trusted myself to trust in others and develop stronger, One on One relationships with new and old friends alike. As a result, I learned that I am not alone. WE are not alone.

There are a lot more life lessons gathered up in my blog post entitled Just for Now, but that’s enough from me right here. I don’t know how 2016 is going to top the wild, transformative journey that was 2015, but I’m sure as hell excited to see it try!

2015 was the year that I finally got into The Office (the Steve Carrell version), and I think that this quotation from the series finale (delivered by Pam Halpert) best encapsulates my current mindset:

“Be strong, trust yourself, love yourself, conquer your fears, just go after what you want.
And act fast, because life just isn’t that long.”

Throughout the year, I’ve been compiling a page of memories from 2015 – including notable experiences I had, concerts I attended, music I listened to, movies I watched, television shows I  followed, and books I read – and now the time capsule is complete! Check it out here at Scrapbook 2015.

Image by Mike Petrucci