I don’t like to make resolutions, but I do like to celebrate any accomplishments the year and I come across. 2011 was filled with celebrations, obstacles, hardships and growth. Here’s a look back at just a few of the major and minor things last year threw at me…

I turned 27-years-old, which was a good time.   I think aging is a great thing, I don’t mind getting older.  But I do often get down on myself for not achieving as much as other people my age, this year was the first time I didn’t do that.  I don’t want to let milestones get in my way, I’ll grow up when I’m good and ready.

I realized that Terrence is constantly there to push me towards my goals, no matter how small.  He always tells me to go for it, even if it means failing.  He gives me the confidence to try new things…  and in cases like the cello, he gives me the tools.

I had a lot of fun nights with Terrence and his family.  Having them as our neighbors is seriously awesome.  Sometimes watching Terrence with his sister makes me a little jealous, because I don’t think I’ll ever have a bond like they do with any of my siblings.  But its cool, I get to sit in and be a part of it sometimes, like the night we made sushi. And what a delicious bond you were indeed.

The biggest error in judgement last year was that damn day in May when I told my now ex hair stylist that I trusted her.  I’ll never do that again.  Although growing it out and sharing that progress with all of you peoples on the interwebs has been fun.

The day Terrence and I learned that no matter how big the argument or the scene you make on the streets of Boston, a drink at Cheers will always fix it.  We have so much fun together and every year when we cut ourselves off from routine we remind each other just how strong our relationship is.

This last Summer I found the love of my life, and that love is… Maine lobster.  I plan on going back this Summer to rekindle the old flame, I’m sure, as always, it will be magical.

When I first got my bicycle I thought it was just another check on my life list, I was that much closer to my rail trail goal.  But since biking around Staten Island throughout the year  I met some pretty awesome people.  I also had several really fun days out with Terrence.  He pushed me to the limit on that bike, he made jello of my legs.  Whenever  I said I couldn’t do something he made me do it or he left me in his dust.  I thought he was being a jerk for a while, until I was finally able to reach the tops of those hills and I was really proud of myself.  I can’t wait for winter to go away so we can get back out there.

We had to say goodbye to a very important family member.  It was harder than I had ever thought and I was really grateful to have had such an amazing support system in my friends and family.

I embraced being a girl and grew up a little more in my style.  I took chances and I stopped letting the mall dictate my wardrobe, or lack thereof.  I found tons of different places online to help me feel a hell of a lot more confident in walking out my door.  I think I may actually be growing up.  Crazy.

Just as I was giving up on myself I sold out my etsy store.  It was a much needed confidence boost.  One of my goals I’m hoping to achieve is being able to start my own business and survive.  I would love to be able to quit my stressful and often miserable day job and open my own shop.  I’ve always wanted to find something to be passionate about enough to make it my life’s work and I feel like I’ve got it, now I just need to get it started.  Being able to sell my first item has given me more drive to set those wheels in motion.

My childhood friend Stephanie had a baby.  This is Izzy, to me she represents the start of so much change to come.  The good type of change though.  I’ve known Stephanie since the 6th grade, we’ve been best friends and roommates, she is like my sister.  The day she told me she was pregnant I cried and cried.  I had never been more happy for someone about to have a child.  And then the holy shit moment happened, the its time to grow up moment.  No matter how old I get I’ve never felt like an adult, that is until I watched Stephanie hold her daughter.  I can not wait to embrace this whole aging thing, I’m super excited to watch baby Izzy grow up, but in order to do that I have to let go and acknowledge that we are adults now.  It’s really scary.

This last year with Terrence has been, in my opinion, the best year of our relationship.  Last December we hit a wall and made the decision to work on ourselves as individuals in order to be able to work as a couple.  We have both evolved so much since then.  I feel like a much stronger person now.  I still fudge up from time to time, but I find it a lot easier to learn from my actions and make things right.  With all the things that this year threw at me, I can’t imagine having gone through any of that without him there.  He always asks me why I love him and I never give him an answer, I promise that by the end of 2012 I’ll give him 30.

Shit, I think I just made a resolution.  Ah well.