2019 Year in Review

I’m sitting here in my pajamas watching one of my favourite guilty pleasures, 90 Day Fiance. I’ve been procrastinating, but finally feel ready. I had the idea of starting a blog about a year ago and this post feels like it’s been months in the making. I’m pretty nervous, but also very excited. 

Why am I doing this? We are the narrators of our lives. Everyone has a story to tell and after the year that I’ve had, I have many stories to tell. 

2019 has been a roller coaster. Not just any roller coaster, but one that goes upside down, has many drops, hills that you ride out, and parts that are just straight-up fun. The best way to describe it is really a list of chronological events:

• Wedding planning – a big part of 2019 until I married the love of my life, Andrew, on August 3. 
• Working at a job I wasn’t happy in. 
• Mental health leave from the job I wasn’t happy in – it’s a long story and I’ll get into it eventually, but all I have to say is that mental illness is real. 
• A trip to Orlando including a couple of days spent at Disney World solo (Andrew joined me for one day at Animal Kingdom). 
• A hilarious friends trip to Portland that involved a tiki karaoke bar, strip clubs, domesticated goats, bowling, and cider. 
• Receiving and accepting a job offer as Digital Marketing Manager at the BC Women’s Health Foundation. 
• Starting my new job and absolutely loving it. 
• Attending Women Deliver, a week that was truly life-changing for me 
• Two bachelorette parties 
• One wedding shower 
• A golf work trip to Kelowna with my work bestie 
• Marrying my husband at our perfect wedding
• Many post-wedding events spent with family and friends from all over the world 
• Mini-moon in Tofino 
• Diving back into work feeling positive and purposeful. 
• Getting promoted. 
• Getting into the holiday spirit like it’s a full-time job. 
• Finding a life routine, but honestly, what is a routine? 

So the first half of the year was pretty shit. I went through a lot. I cried a lot. I was burnt out and everything felt a little impossible. But there was a point where I felt I hit rock bottom – my mental health leave. If you know me, you know that I put my everything in everything I do. I work hard and get shit done. For me, recognizing that I felt crippled by my anxiety was the first step in my journey to finding happiness, well-being, and positivity in 2019. 

With all of that being said, My Own Narrative, will be about my life, books I’m reading, and people who inspire me. In the coming weeks, I’ll be posting more about the experiences I’ve had and the experiences I will continue to have, while reflecting on what I am continuously learning.

I’m so excited to share all of this with you.