In 2013, I did over two-dozen things for the first time. I also dreamed and prayed and meditated and wanderlusted. I made lifetime friends and learned science-y things and asked a lot of questions. I trusted others and got a little nervous and had many new, different and sometimes scary experiences. I had difficult conversations and cried and felt human. I forgave and bonded and charmed and blessed. I fell in many more ways than one and allowed myself and others to help pick me up. I loved and laughed a lot. I learned how to give thanks and I learned how to take my time.
Last January, I decided to write down every new experience and drop it in a jar to read at the end of the year. When I began this, I never thought I’d be so grateful to reflect upon a few random things I’d done in the past year. I’m grateful to have shared these experiences with so many brilliantly inspiring, free-spirited, loving and quirky people.
This year, I plan on starting a new jar – a jar of courage. Sometimes it can be really scary to take a chance, trust someone, try a new thing, put ourselves out there, tell someone how we feel, be honest. Sometimes things don’t go as planned and sometimes they are better than any deepest desire or crazy dream. Every incredible experience we’ve ever had is born from taking a chance, trusting someone, trying a new thing, putting ourselves out there, being honest. My wish for all of my friends and loved ones in the new year is that we all do things that terrify us, no matter how uncomfortable or inconvenient. Cheers to 2014 and may our jars of courage overflow!
In no particular order, here are the contents of my jar of firsts – well most of them.
Walked a Los Angeles red carpet
Drove on a Los Angeles freeway
Dove and swam with hammerhead sharks
Went inside Buckingham Palace
Waded across a flooded causeway in the middle of the night
Touched a California sea otter
Held a baby… a HUMAN baby (yes, for the first time)
Danced at a block party half-way around the world
Drove on the left-hand side of the road
Crossed a US border alone
Made 18 trips (9 international) in one year
Blazed a trail in the dark
Rang in the new year watching fireworks steps away from Big Ben
Travelled for 39 hours continuously
Visited the country in which I was born
Looked at Cape Town from the top of Table Mountain
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discoholicmusic
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dailybridgerton
vaporwave
origamiaround
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