2019.

For my new followers: so it’s extremely cheesy. Maybe you think it’s generic. It’s been tradition since 2017 that my bestfriend ben and I come up with an annual mantra. We said f*ck it to all these giant lists of sh*t you say you’re going to do this and that in the new year, and instead wind up losing track of said list or falling behind and feeling worse off. Don’t get me wrong— These moreso micro level, long-term list methods work very well for some people to reach each individual goal, but for us, we wanted something different.

We needed something simple: a word that we could seamlessly apply to the major aspects of our lives (think school/career, relationships, health). A word where, whenever times get hard and you suddenly fear yourself falling off the track you ideally imagined yourself to be on— you fall back to this one word. To instantly remind yourself “Oh damn. Right. I got this.”

2017 was #Savage17. Our post-abroad reckless hearts wanted more of that free spirited energy, more of that experience. We got it through taking what we wanted & being selfish, but also keeping ourselves accountable to an extent.

2018 was #Electric18. Taking a final lap around college—bringing good energy to yourself and to those around you because we wished for the end to be filled with only pure sweetness.

And now I bring you #Novel19.

To begin... novel.

Novel as defined from Merriam-Webster.

nov·​el | \ˈnä-vəl \

1: new and not resembling something formerly known or used

2: original or striking especially in conception or style

This was inspired by the strange jump I was forced upon by the college hourglass saying “time’s up! get out & good luck” and leaping into worlds that are bound to f*ck you over. Point blank. And then you’re floating in this new part of your life with no real structure, guidance or reassurance along the way. And we all know that a new beginning means old things have to come to an end. Post grad is everything about that— a fresh start with the freedom to do everything completely at your own pace, at your own will, with your own risks. Finding your own timeline for what’s right for you personally and professionally is so important; everyone will have an opinion about what you should do or what they think is right, but no one can give you an answer to what’s right for who you are.

So alas, novel 19: You create your damn story. You control your life. The words you write for your page aren’t going to be the same as someone else’s, just as your chapter can be written however fast or slow you want it to be.

Cheers to another year of self love and growth!

#lifestyle