2014 was a year of big change for me. I thought I was finished with change after my relocation to Boston in 2013 but I had no idea what I was in for in 2014. Here’s a wrap up of my year:

30th Birthday

I turned 30 in 2014 which was not as scared as previously anticipated. While I didn’t manage to check everything off my 30 by 30 list, I had a lot of fun, made some good decisions, and generally have it together…which is good enough for me.

Career Change

In 2014 I changed my career. After practicing law for the past 5 years, I threw caution to the wind and decided the potential for failure was worth more than wondering “what if”. I enrolled in a startup school called Startup Institute and in just 10 weeks went from working in an unfulfilling in a legal career to being challenged and valued as a content marketing specialist at a small technology startup. I now create content to help small business owners with their marketing so that they can grow their business.

Side Hustle

My writing career took off in 2014. While I’ve always been a writer (philosophy, law, blog ramblings) my career change has enabled me to write content for my company. I also got the chance to write for a website, Levo League, which focuses on womens’ professional development. I wrote an article on startup schools for this site which was picked up by Fast Company. I geeked out. Hard. Then the article was picked up by TIME and I geeked out again. Harder. And so my side hustle, writing on random things like New Years Resolutions and really cool things like startups, was born.

Yoga Love

I’m ringing in 2015 the same way I rang in 2014–on the yoga mat. Last New Year’s Eve I found myself slightly buzzed after some New Year’s cocktails with a friend and barefoot on a yoga mat for two hours with another friend. This seemingly insane and almost-literally out of body experience kicked off my love of yoga, which I have been practicing as much as I can. I have almost successfully turned myself into a pretzel while managing to zen out enough not go completely crazy at my very stressful last job. This summer I even wrangled some friends at Startup Institute to join me in morning yoga, combining my love of yoga, startups, and making people look like idiots in quasi-public.

Family

I got to spend time with family during 2014, which is always a good time. My niece and nephew have reached the ages when they realize how awesome I am, fully solidifying my position in “cool aunt” territory. I was able to travel to New Jersey a few time during the year for squeezes and cuddles and teaching the little ones how to take selfies.

New Friends

This year was a year for new friends. Between networking in the startup scene, blogging, and Twitter, I met more people than I thought possible. Some of those people turned out to be really great friends, some I even considered dating some of them but didn’t, and most of them were genuinely awesome people. #internetfriendsrule

Dating Stuff

I managed to stay single for most of 2014 but I did have my longest post-divorce relationship. That didn’t work out but it was a milestone for me. I dated a bit as well which always makes for funny stories, including the time one man accidentally stabbed me in the foot with a dart. For real, he didn’t mean it, but there’s nothing like a little blood to kill the mood.

Food & Drinks

If there was a year of food and drinks, 2014 would win. I managed to eat and drink by way through the city of Boston AND lose 10 pounds this year–double win! Check out my Instagram for a daily account of my caloric intake. If I created a word cloud of 2014, bacon, lobster, beer, and bourbon would be largely displayed. I also joined the exclusive Mug Club at Parish Cafe. The 125 beers I drank in 6 months (and caused me to gain the 10 pounds I lost) earned me a fancy 25 oz. mug with the words, “WILDLY INAPPROPRIATE” etched into them. My mother is so proud.

Boston Boston Boston

I barely traveled this past year, something that I will be changing in 2015. I spent most of my time in Boston and the surrounding areas including New Hampshire, Martha’s Vineyard, and Cape Cod. Boston and I became well acquainted through concerts, Red Sox games, the Pride Parade, and self-guided Boston beer tours.

2014 had its downs as well, but I’m choosing to highlight the good and start 2015 on a positive note!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!