2013

Today is the first day of 2013. And it is the first day of the same year I am going to turn 30. And for some reason, that feels significant.

I started my year at a cabin a few hours away from Seattle with friends. It was absolutely beautiful - tucked away in snow covered mountains and overlooking the Columbia River. The cabin was in Hood River - a place that I had visited what seems to be 100 times (probably more like 20) - but it was in the far west end of Hood River - so it felt like I had never been there.

My friends and I played games and watched football and sat in the hot tub and talked. And the majority of the group drank beer. We got lost in conversations about changing the world and a few of us listed our new years resolutions and we told stories about our families.

Lisa said her new years resolution was to exude love and kindness no matter the situation. She said she wants to be a blessing to the people in her life. When she said that, I knew I wanted to do the same thing because I felt warm and fuzzy inside. I want to be a blessing. What a cool thing to be.  Erica said she wanted to change the world. Jackie said that, too. They are dating. They're a powerful couple. And they are already changing the world  - they are that cool and good and inspiring. They make people feel important and special.

My New Years resolution isn't anything as inspiring or awesome. But mine feels good to me. I want this year to be all about Chelsea. I want to do what makes me feel good and what makes me happy. I turn 30 this year - and I hear the 30's are the best of your life - and I am determined to make mine the best of my life - until my 40's of course - so this year is me.

I will be true to myself. And my heart. And my feelings. I will be honest with myself first so I can be honest with everyone else around me. I will stand up for me and who I am and who I love. I will eat what I want and drink what I want and go on hikes and bike rides because I love doing that. I won't try and be anyone else. I will be me. And I will love myself through mistakes and learn from them. I will love hard - I will love myself hard and if/when the opportunities arise, I will give my heart to others and love them hard, too. But I won't lose myself while loving others. I will make myself even more ready to be a mother - by working hard and experiencing life the best I know how to. I will write. Because I love to write and I know I have things to say that people should read. This year I will create new hobbies and read so I can learn about this amazing world I live in.

I am excited about this year. And I am excited for my 30's.

2013, I hope you're ready for me. I am certainly ready for you!