Year in Review: Abundant Good Things Edition

Hi everyone,

This year has been easily the best of my life, filled with milestones and once-per-lifetime moments and achievements.

In reflecting on the past year, again and again I come to the terms of gratitude and abundance.  I want to write a dedicated post not to gloat about all the good things that have happened in my life in the last twelve months, but to fully hold and honor them before 2014 is gone.

The last five years that have tested me and ground me down with successively more severity, as evidenced by the significant proportional increase of TYSG posts to other actual content in this blog over the years.  I am therefore beyond-words, breathlessly relieved and grateful to have so many things for which to be uncomplicatedly joyful.  It's a change so abrupt it's a bit difficult to process.  Mapping out the last year with each happy thing as my trail marker might help me more fully grasp this shift in my life.

In generally chronological order:

• I successfully defended my dissertation--a whole month early, no less!

I never got to share this detail but meant to: The first song I listened to after returning home from my defense that really nailed how exhilarating it was to finally, finally be defended was this one.  Imagine lots of laughing, crying, and gasping at the same time.  It was awesome.  None of the misery and toil that remained to be endured in internship can take that moment away.

Also! Before I defended, I got to spend a few days hanging out with my brother while he visited us, which was absolutely excellent.  

And because I had the at-first dubious luck of having my defense moved a week earlier, I also had ample time for post-defense celebrations with some very dear friends.  Including!:

• Very shortly thereafter, I had the immense pleasure of visiting a dear friend in her fair city, where we snuggled, ate homemade chili, and binge-watched "True Detective."

We also consumed some delightfully elaborate concoctions.

• In March, Then-Fiancé and Now-Husband and I spent a weekend together in the countryside in a beautiful, bright little cabin so we could have a few days away from life-stress and focus on planning our wedding.

• In April I got to celebrate the bridal shower of a glorious and precious friend, and in May Then-Fiancé Now-Husband and I spent an incredible long weekend celebrating her marriage.

As if a gorgeous, thoughtful, moving wedding wasn't enough, my amazing friend turned her wedding weekend into an extravaganza of fun and delights.  A humble sampling:

Bonfire!

Chickens (and rooster)!

Horseback riding!!!

• Also in April, my generous and incredible family held a wonderful, exuberant engagement party for Then-Fiancé Now-Husband and me.

There was a taco truck.  There were mariachis.  It was OUT OF CONTROL.

• Also in May, at long long last, I formally graduated from my program.

It was basically the surrealist.  But this wonderful gif captures some of my excitement.

Also my fabulous cousin graduated with her Master's degree like right before!

• This year was a World Cup year!!

This obviously didn't happen to me personally, but it was just-as-obviously fantastic.

Also this is funny (and we all know I feel humor is important):

• In July, after a much briefer application process than I had any right whatsoever to expect, I got a really excellent job. 

I took this as evidence for the subtle kindness of the Universe, since I was previously so goddamned exhausted that commencing my job search earlier would have honestly been impossible.

• In August, I ACTUALLY REALLY FOR REAL finished all the things in graduate school ever and was DONEEEEEE.

No more internship everrrrr.  No more graduate school everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

It was the massivest relief I may have ever experienced to date.  To celebrate, I had a delicious margarita.

• A scant few days later, I had the universe's most amazing bachelorette party because my Maid of Honor is the best thing that ever happened.

GUYS IT WAS SO FUN.

• Then, in September, I turned 30 and married Husband.

ACTUAL wedding-to-Husband footage!

Marrying Husband so immediately after stepping into the next decade of my life seems so immensely fortuitous it's almost like we explicitly planned it this way.  I can't wait to see what the years ahead of us hold.  With so many difficult years behind us, it seems like there's actually abundant good reason for optimism.

• Husband and I then went on our honeymoon.

We got to eat this:

And drink this:

And have dinner in a place that was decorated like this:

It was absolutely beautiful.

• When we returned from our trip, we had a day or two to transition before Husband went back to work and I commenced my new job, after a pretty incredible (for many reasons) two months off.

As I've adjusted to my new job, I've found the primary adjustment is the shifting into a workplace where I feel more respected, valued, and comfortable in my professional skin, finally free of so many of the burdens that have accompanied my previous positions.  I'm no longer only a trainee.  My patients greet me with the title of "Doctor," which makes me incredibly proud.

• Finally, Husband and I have been fortunate to spend the last two major national holidays with each of our families, who are loving and welcoming and who bring us immense comfort and happiness.

It has truly been an incredible year.  I'm so humbled with gratitude at the blessings heaped upon me this year, and so looking forward to sharing future years with you.  I wish each of you joy exceeding mine this year and in the years to come.

{Heart}