Hello! It’s been a long time, folks. I admit, keeping up with this blog hasn’t been a priority lately, but since I got a schnazzy new laptop for Christmas I might as well give it a go.

I know these reflective posts pop up everywhere from Buzzfeed to the New Yorker, but even if no one reads this, I’ll know that it’s been said, expressed, put out into the universe.

So without further ado, here’s my obligatory 2014 reflective list.

1. Family really IS everything. I’ve been blessed with amazing parents and the ability for us to still live under the same roof and actually get along. We travel together at least twice each year and the last trip was to Punta Cana, DR. Little did I know that it might be our last. My dad got sick in October and I don’t know when we’ll get to do that again, if ever. But in the meantime, we still laugh and spend time together.

2. One day at a time is a real thing. When people say, “We are taking it one day at a time,” I never really understood what they meant. Once you meet cancer, you’ll know exactly what it means and why people say it.

3. (On a lighter note) Don’t give in to fear and anxiety – you are wonderful just as you are. I am grateful to work for a wonderful company and even better people. My yearly review last year only included one critique – be more confident – and I was. Where did that confidence get me? Into a new position, travelling more, contributing to the group, and managing some of my own projects. I let the fear and anxiety exist for just a moment and then cast it out. You can do anything you put your mind to with enough passion and positivity. This is not limited to your work life, but to your personal life too. I’ve cultivated some incredible relationships this year and have found myself surrounded with the love and support of beautiful people. I’ve never felt so lucky.

4. Keep moving! I started out the year with a pretty consistent yoga schedule that I’ve let lag over the last 6 months and now I’m paying for it. My back hurts, I feel achy, and my muscles are kaput. So, the moral of the story is, no matter how much of a hassle it seems like – KEEP ON MOVING! It’ll make you feel better, I promise 🙂

5. Kind words – USE THEM! Kind words make a difference. A simple good job, I’m proud of you, or thank you gives me motivation to keep going and definitely ups my happiness. Imagine what it can do for others!

6. Gratitude – GIVE IT! I know it’s awfully cliché, but be grateful for what you have and all the wonderful things in your life. Don’t wait for a tragedy to realize how great you really have it.

7. Keep in touch with acquaintances. You never know what they might do for you in the future and how they might touch your life. This comment from a friend my family and I met on vacation made my day. Special people come into your life everyday, in unexpected ways. 8. Don’t take loved ones for granted. This is an obvious one, but just don’t do it. Let them know you love them all the time.

9. Be positive. This is another self-explanatory one, but just do it. It’ll make you feel better, be happier, and more open to seeing the wonderful world we live in.

10. Pick your battles. It’s a scientific fact that you will not always agree with the opinions, actions, and thoughts of others. Is it worth fighting the good fight every time? No. Sometimes it’s better to keep your mouth shut and self-soothing like I do – I just tell myself they can’t help it, it’s just the way they are. Not always the easiest way to be, but sometimes it just has to be that way. Better yet, a friend taught me this mantra – They aren’t against you, they are just out for themselves. Sometimes the selfishness or thoughtlessness of others can feel like a full on assault of your character. That might not be the case. Perhaps their narcissism won’t let them see it any other way, and that’s okay. That’s the way they want to live their life and there isn’t anything I can do about it. They are who they are and I don’t have to like it.

That last one is a hard one, but I promise you it will make your life easier. I’m not suggesting passivity as a permanent practice, but know when your protestations will be effective and when they will fall on deaf ears. If you stuck around and read this entire post, thank you and I hope you leave with something positive. 2014 has been a year full of joy and heartache, but isn’t every year? Let’s just move into the future, with our faces to the sun, and concentrate on making ourselves better. Thanks for a wonderful year, blog reader.

BONUS: Life is scary and things make you panic and cry. My rule? I go off by myself and I let myself cry and panic for 30 minutes. THAT’S IT. No more, no less. This might not be the best advice, but if you let panic in, sometimes it’s hard to shake once it starts.