Update: 23 to do before 24; how'd I fare?

Nearly a year ago, I made this.  It was a borrowed idea, but it was one I checked up on every month to see if I was accomplishing the little goals I set for myself.  How'd I do you ask?

1.  Go to Europe  Visited Paris and parts of Germany September-October 2012
2.  Document friends and family more (pictures, video, writing, etc.)  Definitely did more of this.  Still not enough though3.  Learn how to edit video in iMovie  Nope, did not accomplish4.  Take French III  Ayyy, it did not happen.  But I am planning to retake French II in February, as I don't feel quite ready for French III5.  Move (to another apartment or far, far away eeep!)  Again, this is happening next month!6.  Cook recipes from Maman's (my grandmother) Persian cookbook  I cooked about eight recipes from her book.  A good start, considering the difficulty and time it takes7.  Find a new job that I actually have passion for  Sadly, no, this did not happen.  But I'm working on having a better mindset about my job overall8.  Stop being such a seclude  Definitely accomplished9.  Watch more old films  Yes!10.  Rekindle my love with music  Yes, and discovered many new things I adore11.  Foster and nurture only positive relationships  YES YES!12.  Enjoy all the beauty California has to offer, by getting out doors more!  This definitely started this summer, and I haven't stopped13.  Meditate at least once a week  I have good weeks and not so good ones with this.14.  Learn to be more frugal in my personal spending  Yes!15.  Pay off one of my students loans  AHHH YES!  Accomplished this a few weeks ago16.  Stay healthy (continue eating better and drinking 3L of water a day)  DONE!  I lost about ten lbs this year and feel very healthy overall17.  Support organizations I love:  NPR, NYTimes, domestic violence shelters  Yes18.  Continue writing in my journal, religiously   Filled one journal this year and started a new19.  Work on letting my guard down more  This certainly happened once I let love back in20.  Show gratitude and love to my family each and every day  Yes, always a work in progress though21.  Join a book club  I did, but I never attended a meeting.  So, I guess that doesn't count!22.  Get organized (and stay that way!)  Yup!23.  Take a painting/drawing class  Again, I lacked in taking this class, but I hope to find time next year


Now, I am off to San Francisco with my love for four days, and when I'm back I hope I'll have lovely plans for my 24 before 25.
xo

So, the new year is upon us.  2012, what a whirlwind.  I know a lot of people like to recap their year and set sights on what will make the following year better.  And really, I am no different.  2011 was very tough on me, and 2012 was the best redemption I could have had.  It was one of my favorite years.  It even started off wonderful.  I had little to no expectation for New Year's Eve celebrations and it turned out to be one of my favorites, sipping drinks all night with some of my closest friends.  I was on an up and down for what seemed like all year as to whether I should move to NY or not, but after meeting a boy who I am now madly, deeply in love with I felt it a sign to stay put and explore Los Angeles just a bit longer!

And falling in love had to have been the best part of the year.  I had it as a resolution to let love into my heart again, whether it be in the form of friendship or kinship but it came in the best form possible.  I really couldn't be happier, and I am very excited to see what the future holds for us in the next year.  Hopefully more travels, laughs and plenty of kisses. 

One thing I learned this year is to enjoy life more and do my very best to subside stress.  When I was in Paris, I was in awe and marvel as to how at ease most people seemed.  Work was what everyone was doing in between living, not the other way around (the way I think Americans are).  Pleasure, life and enjoyment was a priority and I really want to make it a goal to incorporate that into my lifestyle.  Do more of what will make me happy and explore with enjoyment.  Yes, I will always be a responsible girl who analyzes things from every angle.  But one more cup of coffee, one more drink, one more pair of shoes and a spontaneous trip can do me good.  

My two resolutions for 2013 will be to move to a lovely apartment (something I think will happen in the first few months) and start taking French courses again.  And of course, work on being a better friend, girlfriend, daughter, sister and person.  My impatience can get the better of me in all of those very important roles I inhabit!

Well wishes to all resolutions! xo

recent realizations

1.  fresh juice can take me from lethargic to instant happiness.  but none of that fruit juice.  i like the green stuff everyone sticks their tongue out at. 

2.  this is going to sound mega lame or just super cheesy, but walking around DTLA with pizza in hand with the person you love past people waiting in line to get into a club/bar is so much better than being in said club/bar.  i realize this only adds to my grandma nature but i don't care.

3.  who the hell cares about twinkies anyway?

4.  just stay home on black friday.  you don't need any of that crap and you might get trampled to death!

it happened, deal with it

It's been a week since the election came to a close and I can honestly say I am ready for everyone to shut up.  I don't care who you voted for because, as bratty and rude as it sounds, my guy won and I jumped up with happiness when  I found out that as a woman and poor twenty something-year-old will still have someone in the White House who cares about my well being/future.  I'm ready for my co-workers to stop arguing about his reelection, and definitely ready for the person who sits within ear shot of me to me to stop saying "ah it's happening already!!" every time something bad happens (attributing it to President Obama's reelection).  Seriously, shut up and do some research outside of FoxNews before you start looking up to the heavens for signs that the end of the universe is coming.  Please and thank you, that's all I have to say. 

recent realizations

1.  Not so much a realization, but a wish that my best friend didn't live in across the country.  It's times like these where I'm looking for a place and she needs another roommate in her apartment that make me wish we weren't living happily so far away!
2.  Los Angeles is an idiot that cannot decide whether it wants to be cold or hot this Fall.
3.  The election has been the best way of determining who actually totally sucks on my Facebook feed.  Really guys, keep that opinionated nonsense to a minimum.
4.  I hate waiting.  Hate, hate, hate.

He. 

He makes me so happy.

so, things will never be just so

I think I've written about this before, but often times I feel in such a hurry to accomplish a lot.  I tend to feel like time is running out even though I'm only in my early twenties.  I am a very anxious person in this way.  But I'm really making a conscious effort to be better at going with the flow of things.  The flow of life.  That's not to say that I don't want to put effort or even throw myself into making positive changes (like a new job, apartment, etc.) but I guess to not let the fact that all those things aren't happening at once stress me out so much.  I get very stressed out.  When something wonderful is happening in my life I tend to not allow myself to fully enjoy it, but rather wonder why something that isn't going so well is not going as well as the thing that is.  Wow, that probably doesn't read right.  

For example, my relationship right now is the most wonderful, lovely, butterflies in my stomach fantastic thing right now.  But rather than doing backflips all the time and counting myself lucky for finding someone so wonderful me, I am racing in my mind wandering and thinking things like "Oh, but life would be so perfect if I also loved my job."  This is such a bad habit on my part.  Because really in life things will never be perfect.  One day, I will get a lovely job and then I'll be unsatisfied with the commute, or with my place of living, or something.  The point is, for an anxious person like me there is always something on the checklist.  The list of things that can be improved.  And that is both annoying for people around me and...for me!  It's not easy being anxious.  I know that's silly to say, but really.  This feeling of running out of time or not doing enough and just being all around inpatient with myself and my accomplishments is tough.  And when people tell you to "relax" or "take it easy, you're so young!" it doesn't help. Because learning to be relaxed is something I really can't add to this checklist.  But accepting that this is how I am and might always be and making a conscious effort to take breaks between the madness and just enjoy is something I can add.