25 Questions // 01

I had bookmarked an article about recapping 2013 a while back and am finally getting around to actually answering the questions. I plan to do five posts of 5 questions each. I know it's a little late, but if nothing else, this will be a great way to track my personal and professional progress over the course of the year. Feel free to join in!

01. What am I most proud of this year?

I had a few major moments in 2013. The first was graduating college in May. Two degrees, an ample amount of experience in a variety of fields and industries, and confidence in my education was definitely something I am proud of. 

The second was accepting a job ( in my field ) and moving to a new city without knowing anyone. I'm proud of myself for being brave and not letting fear or anxiety get the best of me. I now know that I am capable of surviving on my own, have the ability to make new friends, and gained confidence in myself knowing that change can be exciting.

02. How can I become a better version of myself?

By maintaining an active lifestyle – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Even though I enjoy sticking to a routine, I find I am most happy when I am trying new things. Reading an exciting book, finding a new workout class, trying out a new happy hour spot...I think keeping it fresh keeps me feeling refreshed.

Though I'm all for lazy days on the couch with Netflix, I'm not one who enjoys prolonged periods of stillness. I prefer to be on the move, so I think my biggest challenge to becoming a better version of myself will be motivating myself to keep at it.

03. Where am I feeling stuck?

Physically, I feel stuck in the Midwest. I feel stuck that in this big, wonderful world, I'm in the middle of the map. And while I don't necessarily want to go live off the land with whatever I can fit in a backpack, I definitely don't want to get too comfortable in one place.

04. Where do I need to allow myself grace?

I need to allow myself grace about how I choose to live my life. Too often it's easy to let the opinions and influences of others get to my head. If I feel confident in my decisions, it's unfair for anyone but me to question my motives. Not jumping on the bandwagon is 100% acceptable.

05. Am I passionate about my career?

I am passionate about the potential my career has to offer. At the moment, there are definitely areas I feel are lacking ( feeling fulfilled, creating meaningful work, client interaction ). However, I also understand there's much more to learn and much more experience to gain before I'm in the position to seek out exactly what I want from my career. For now, I love learning, being challenged, and interacting with those who have been working in the field for many years.