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It’s the last day of the year! I have never been so excited to stay home and do nothing but hang out with Caroline and Ava, watch movies, eat pizza, and drink wine. And since I am the only one the crew that is of legal drinking age, all the wine will be mine (not sure if that’s a good thing). I’ve already thought about my goals for next year, mainly to get my private pilot’s license. I know I can do it, and I’m so excited to do it! I will be more proud of that than any test I’ve passed, or degree, license or certificate I’ve ever earned. I also plan to streamline my life by eliminating every-other-day trips to the grocery store / Target, and being better about tackling mail, laundry and dishes immediately. But there’s one more resolution for next year, and it is to listen to music, lots of music, every day. 

I have always known that I love music. But it wasn’t until last week I realized how much music makes me happy. The day I got back from Virginia last week I picked up a couple of Sonos speakers, a little present to myself. Sonos works with your iphone or android phone, and lets you control what’s playing in which room. Everything goes through your wifi, and it is so easy to set up. In the last week, I have listened to a lot more music than I normally do. Everything from George Strait and Jerrod Niemann to Blink 182 and Ariana Grande. And of course Taylor Swift! Along with my Sirius XM, and playlists on my phone, I have a Pandora One membership, which is a great way to discover new music. Music is on while making breakfast, cleaning the house, working, studying for my flight lessons at night, and packing for my move next month. And I’ve realized that music, makes me happy. The Sonos speakers are awesome, but it’s not the speakers that make me happy, it’s the sound of the beat of the music and the way it makes me feel.

On New Year’s Eve, and the day before my birthday, I always reflect on the year before, and the year ahead. My birthday is at the beginning of June, so this type of reflection happens twice a year. A lot of good things have happened in the past 12 months, and some not-so-good things. I am definitely not the same person I was last year. I am a lot stronger, less anxious, more confident, and a better communicator. And, thanks to my flying lessons, I am learning to stay calm in stressful situations, and not let one distraction be enough to throw me off the flight plan (or life). I know the feeling of pointing an airplane straight towards the sun in the middle of the day and being blinded by it. I’ve experienced the falling feeling and that split-second panic, followed by a smooth recovery, that only happened because I stayed the course and did what I had to do. There are stressful times, but if you stay calm, you can recover!

Cheers to a happy and prosperous 2015!!