This post is a day or two late, but better late than never, right? I think it’s so important to reflect on the previous month or year and really go into the new year/season with purpose and intention. Our experiences are what make us who we are, and so looking back and remembering the great times (and not-so-great!) is crucial for our own personal growth. So today, on the second day of the new year, I want to reflect on my many peaks and valleys of 2017. If you guys aren’t familiar with Peaks and Valleys, you basically reflect on the good (peaks) of the year and the not-so-good (valleys). I love reading posts like these because it shows a more personal side to people that you don’t always get to see, and can give you some good ideas for resolutions and goals for your own life! So, let’s get into my 2017 reflections shall we?

Peaks of 2017

2017 had a lot of great moments in it, for me, and I have to say that while the year didn’t end on the best note (see: the valleys section of this post) I still feel like 2017 was a good year. I specifically remember feeling very hopeful and positive for the future for most of the year, and overall feelings of success. Hands down, one of the best parts of 2017 was launching my blog, The Pretty Little Hustler. I had been toying with this idea in my head for SO long, you guys, and I am so grateful that I finally did it with the help and support of some incredible people! I think PLH truly changed my year and has given me purpose that I didn’t even realize I was missing. A few more of my favorite memories/moments from 2017:

-Losing (and maintaining) 25 lbs during the year!! This was huge for me because I’ve never successfully lost weight before. I haven’t hit my goal yet, but still feeling super accomplished 🙂
-The Women’s March in NYC
-Celebrating my 24th birthday in Atlantic City with my love
-Seeing my niece’s first ballet recital
-Going to Las Vegas for the first time to celebrate one of my best friend’s birthdays
-Spent Father’s Day in NYC with my dad
-The Mermaid Parade at Coney Island
-Getting to show my niece, nephew and cousin around NYC! It was their first time in the city and SO exciting to see their reactions to the big city ?
-First time at a winery for another one of my best friend’s birthdays
-Celebrating my 4 Year Anniversary with Craig ❤️
-First time apple picking in upstate NY! And made my first apple pie!
-New iPhone and new MacBook Pro which I 1000% needed! Thanks mom 🙂
-UM beating our rival FSU in the annual match-up! Go ‘Canes!
-Went to homecoming in Miami with my amazing sorority sisters
-Spent Thanksgiving with Craig’s family for the first time, so fun!

Valleys of 2017

And now onto the not-so-great stuff from 2017. I honestly can only remember one major thing from earlier in the year and then the (excuse my language) sh*t show that was December 2017. First things first, my family moved to Tampa, FL last May. This may not seem like a valley to most people but it was a really hard thing for me. My family has lived in Philly my entire life (and their entire lives for that matter!) and so when they announced the move, it didn’t feel real. But surely enough, it was real and it did happen. My mom, grandmother and two aunts picked up and moved to FL at the beginning of May and it was one of the most stressful/emotionally exhausting times of my life. Things are better now that they are all settled down there, and I was lucky enough to travel down to FL multiple times this year to see them all, but it’s definitely been tough adjusting to this “new normal” and not being a 2-hour bus ride away from them anymore.

Now, onto last month, and the reason for my absence/inconsistency lately. In case you didn’t know, Mercury was in retrograde last month and that just means that things may get kind of weird in your life and things that usually go one way, may go another because Mercury in retrograde tends to throw things off. Usually, this doesn’t really affect me all that much. One weird thing may happen but overall, it’s NBD. Not this year. I basically found myself in a serious rutt where pretty much all the things that could go wrong, were going wrong. Small things at first; and then bigger things. If you remember, I announced that I got a new job back in November. Well without getting too much into it, I am no longer at that job. *gasp* I know, WTH right? Let’s just say that unfortunately, things didn’t work out there and I was mislead into believing things that didn’t turn out to be true. This was an especially upsetting experience because I’d left a job that I’d loved for this “opportunity”, and for it not to work out was heartbreaking.  So yes, I am currently unemployed and back on the job market, which I can’t even believe but I’m taking it in stride.

Last but not least, Isabelle, my oldest dog out of four, passed away a couple of days after Christmas this year. She was pretty old (we got her when I was in 5th grade almost 15 years ago) but it was still very devastating for my mom and I. She was the sweetest pup and is dearly missed.

So obviously it’s been a rough month and I am so thankful that it is January and a new year to start fresh. In spite of all of those valleys though, I feel good. I feel like I’m ready to take on 2018 and I’m excited to see what is in store for me, and my career, and my blog. I am so grateful for life and love and family and friends. I’m grateful for you guys, reading this right now. I’m excited and hopeful for what’s to come and I hope that you’ll stick around with me and see what this year has in store for us. Happy New Year, let’s do this!

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