New year, new me?

Hello blog world, 

I am no blogger. I'm not even any kind of writer, and I don't intend to pose as one. I am just looking for a place to share my thoughts and try to fulfill at least one resolution this year. I can't promise I'll have anything interesting to say most of the time - if ever - but I can guarantee that every post will be 100% me. So here I go. 

In the spirit of keeping my New Year's resolutions I am dedicating my first blog post to 2011. 

Some things I learned in 2011: 

1. Even if you're sick, ringing in the New Year with someone special is still the best way to do it. Caveat: that doesn't mean that's who you spend the rest of your year with.
2. Unplanned, short trips are usually the most fun and should be done more often.
3. Vancouver is a seriously awesome place to live. 
4. Whistler is the shit any time of year - but especially winter when it snows. 
5. In a relationship, communication is key. Without it, you've got nothing and will end up with nothing. 
6. NEVER take anyone for granted. You will surely regret it.
7. Your mom really is your best friend. Good times and bad. 
8. Breakups fucking suck.
9. Breakups can sometimes the best thing for you.
10. Breakups are different for everyone.
11. Breakups are best done when one of your girlfriends is also going through the same thing.
12. Exes CANNOT be friends in any way, shape or form.
13. Moving from your childhood home is not as tough as I thought it would be. Still emotional though.
14. People will always surprise you, in both good and bad ways. 
15. People you don't even think about being there, always seem to be.
16. You really can't please everyone. 
17. The only person you need to worry about sometimes is yourself. Sounds selfish, but it's necessary.
18. Just when you think a situation can't get any worse, it probably will.
19. It's not a bad thing to be a trusting person, I just need to learn who to trust and when.  
20. Sometimes you will fail. 
21. Second chances aren't always available so you need to make the most of them when they come around. 
22. My friends, old and new, are so awesome and I wouldn't be where I am today without them.
23. True love does exist.
24. My family is incredible.
25. I am stronger than I thought I was. 
26. I am weaker than I thought I was.
27. I don't always make the best choices, but I'll stand by them.
28. In the end, it is worth it to be nice to someone who doesn't necessarily deserve it. They are going through their own shit too and it's not their fault for the situation you're in. As easy as it is to blame everyone/anyone else, the only person that controls your life is you. The only person you can control is you. So make sure to take control of you and let people do their own thing. 
29. Karma works in mysterious ways - but it always works.
30. I need to take some more chances. 

There is so much more I learned but I like to keep things at a nice, round number so I'll leave it at that. 

Looking back, 2011 was a HUGE year for me in terms of my own personal growth. A lot of heartache allowed me to learn a lot about myself but also about the people that I surround myself with. I'm glad I was able to ring in the New Year with not one, but so many special people. People who've always been there. People who were there when I didn't expect them to be. People who I'm looking forward to getting to know more throughout the year. People who kept me around when it would have been so easy not to. People who are just all around awesome.

I cannot wait to see what 2012 has in store for me...a lot of leaps, I think. Big leaps. 

Here's to not being afraid to jump.