2016 In Review

So, woah! Here we are again at the end of another year. It’s been a crazy one for sure! 2015 was an awesome year: I got engaged, got a new job, and made leaps and bounds in my personal growth. (You can read all about 2015 HERE). 

2016 was shaping up to be an even better year: Stephen and I were getting MARRIED, I was excited for new opportunities at work, and I was looking forward to even more personal achievements and challenages. Here are some highlights from the past year and what I’ve learned from them:
1. The Wedding: June 18, 2016 was probably one of the best days of my life. The day went off without a hitch and I’m so glad Stephen and I got to commit our lives to each other in front of family and friends AND enjoy a big party afterwards 🙂 The wedding taught me that you can never have too many people that you love all in the same place. You can read about the wedding HERE plus some of my planning tips and tricks,

2. Being Married: Before getting married, so many people told me that marriage was hard because you have to make the constant desicion to love your spouse. For Stephen and I, we haven’t found that to be true (because we already did that!). Maybe that’ll come down the line, but we’ve found that marriage, for us, means we have to look internally and have a self-assessment before attempting to resolve whatever issue we’re having. Yes, this means compromise is a HUGE part of marriage. But, I love being married to Stephen. We have such a fun, silly, honest, and meaningful relationship. I’m so excited for our future.

3. Personal Growth: Ugh, 2016 was a hard year for me and my body image. If you spend time with me, you know that I’m constantly preaching that self-worth and value lies in God and your personal view of yourself. This means that no other person should determine how you feel about your body, goals, dreams, etc.  I preach this so heavily because I’m preaching to the choir! I have to remind myself almost daily that I am not who the world says I am. I’ve always dealt with insecurities: my acne might be flaring up, women have told me my body type isn’t “womanly” enough, or I might be comparing my achievements with those around me. But this past year brought an insecurity I’ve never dealt with: my weight. When I moved across the country for college, I think I weighed 85 lbs. Slowly, throughout the past 6 years, I’ve gained weight and was happy with where I was. I had finally “filled out” and was a healthy weight, but for some reason, one day I woke up and thought I weighed too much. For months before the wedding, I worked out 7 days a week, hoping that my image of myself would change. When I made comments in passing, everyone around me said things I wanted to hear “Juana, you look GREAT!” “Juana, you are a skinny Minnie!” “Work out?? You don’t need to lose weight!”. But, for some reason, my body still bothered me. I wasn’t sure where the disconnect was happening and this is still an area I’m trying to figure out. I’m still trying to overcome whatever insecurities come my way, but I’m remembering each step of the way that I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. I’m sticking with making positive and healthy descions for my body, mind, soul!

2016 was a wild ride! It’s not a year I’ll soon forget. But, there are some AWESOME things I’m looking forward to in 2017!

1. My sister’s WEDDING! It’s going to be off the chain and I can’t believe she’s getting married! #WillardYouBeMine

2. Stephen’s and my 1st wedding anniversary. We’re trying to plan a fun getaway! #BlessedToBeBrown

3. Improved self-image.

4.  Continued oppurtunities at work and in my personal life.

Here’s to 2017!

That’s YOU! ⬆️💋

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2015

2015 was an interesting year. Preceded by 2014; a year of travel and graduations, but also a year filled with a stifling anxiousness about it. I spent a majority of 2014 in a fearful mindset, one that’s hard to forget. I felt not only stuck in my job, but crushed by it. My goals in life seemed like they lived in a galaxy far away.  Still, I kept a brave face and tried to move above my situation. I was scared that 2015 would bring much of the same. A lot of my time was spent praying for growth the movement upward and out of what seemed like a never-ending nightmare. Funnily enough, God saw fit to change that situation exactly on January 1, 2015.

A slew of newness was brought into my life: a new, encouraging leader in my workplace, strong confidence in myself, confidence in my decision making and talents, and even new skills. The first few months of 2015 were odd for me because I felt free. I no longer felt the need to distress in impressing others. I worked as hard as I could for me and it paid off. Those around me recognized this and started to comment on it. I felt comfortable in my own skin again.  I wasn’t breaking my back trying to please people who couldn’t be pleased.

A few months into 2015, I began to look for new opportunities for work. I’d worked at the hotel for so long that I began to feel complacent. I needed to be challenged. As much positivity that had surrounded me at work in the recent months, I still knew I needed a change. God answered my prayers when I least expected it. I had just been given a promotion at work, when, the very next day, I got a call for a position I had applied for several weeks prior. I had put any new jobs out of my mind and it was a surprise. I was SO nervous and unsure of interviewing for the new position, but I knew I would be a fool not to try. I interviewed twice and waited for a call. Nothing. Weeks passed and I, once again, put the prospect of a new job on hold. At the hotel, I continued to be diligent in my work and cultivated more professional relationships. Stephen and I celebrated our 4th dating anniversary. Alex and I continued to have crazy sister adventures.  Life continued on.

Then, one day I got an email. The new job wanted to interview me again.  Nervousness settled in as I went in for a third round. And, I was hired. It was hard to believe what I had prayed for had finally come to pass.

Just when I thought life couldn’t get more interesting, just two days before starting my new job, during what a thought was a normal Saturday, Stephen got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Thus, a new season of our relationship began and wedding plans ensued. My new job started and life hasn’t been the same since.

Many other great things happened in 2015. My sister and I had misadventures traveling to California to surprise my parents. I learned how to change a thermostat in my car (thanks Stephen!).  Stephen and I went on a boat together for the first time. We also road-tripped to NY for Thanksgiving, making it the longest road trip we’ve taken together. And Stephen drove the entire trip by himself.  We also got our first parking ticket, but that’s a milestone we wish could’ve been skipped…

All in all, 2015 was a year of newness and growth. I have learned to find “the moral of the story” out of every season in my life. But, I am so thankful for the fresh season I experienced. I’m ready for 2016. The year I get married. The year I continue to make great strides at work and in my career. The year I continue to learn about myself and the people around me. The year I say “no” to things that stress me out. The year I continue to grow.