2012 was a very good year

Today, I turned 30 after a year of incredible growth and change. This post is my review of 2012 using the reflection process I shared on the blog earlier this week: Review 2012: Ten Journaling Questions to Help You Reflect on the Past Year

And just like that, the new year is upon us. I was having drinks with a friend recently who was asking me how I feel about reaching this milestone age. I actually don’t feel like I’m getting older or even that it’s such a big deal to be in my 30s now. I just feel happy for all that I’ve accomplished thus far and grateful for the experiences I’ve had over the past year. I’ve also benefited greatly from my monthly reviews as a reflection process. This month, I present my annual review for 2012.

See My Previous Monthly Reviews Here:

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What I Want to Remember About 2012

What was the most valuable lesson you learned this year?

How to date without expectations. I realized that most of the stress in my love life has been caused by a need for the other person to be a certain way or for us to experience a certain outcome in our relationship. I noticed that when I attach my relationship needs to outcomes, I feel unhappy when the desired outcome doesn’t come about. But in 2012, I have been able to shift my mindset about romantic relationships to date without expecting that anything other than friendship and fun would result. And I’ve been able to have much better experiences with the interesting men I’ve allowed to come into my life.

What was the biggest personal milestone you reached this year in your relationships, health, finances, education and/or lifestyle?

Cooking class in Florence, Italy

I accomplished a huge travel goal of mine when I took a solo, month-long trip to Europe over the summer! My time in Greece, Italy and Spain was unforgettable and now I can’t wait to do more international exploration. (See my entire Travel Diary for more detailed posts about my trip!) I was also able to live as a nomad in several different cities after giving up my apartment last year.

What professional accomplishments (at work or in your business) were you most proud of this year?

Group photo at our HBW Atlanta Happy Hour!

2012 was the biggest year for me in terms in my speaking career. I gave over 20 PAID speeches in 20 cities around the country! I published my popular month-long personal development program, 31 Days to Reset Your Life: A Practial Guide to Personal Transformation as an ebook and on Kindle. I also hosted FIVE Happy Black Woman Happy Hours in DC, NYC, Charlotte and Atlanta. It was amazing to meet so many of you, hear your stories and connect around our shared passions. Thank you to all the ladies who made time to attend! And look out for more in-person events in 2013

What was your favorite family/friends moment from 2012?

Traveling to Ohio to visit my grandmother in Ohio for her 64th birthday. Me and mom flew out to celebrate our favorite girl and it was a lovely trip, including a fantastic brunch at Pier W!

What was the best book/blog/song/movie/restaurant/city/country/etc. you discovered this year?

On the beach in Perissa on the island of Santorini

I finally read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and loved it. My favorite album was Robert Glasper’s Black Radio. And the best city I discovered in 2012 is a tie between Florence, Italy and the town of Perissa on the island of Santorini, Greece!

What I Want to Leave Behind As I Enter 2013

Which personal development area(s) did you make the LEAST progress on this year: health, finances, education, relationships, family, work and/or lifestyle?

Finances. Grr. This was on my list for 2011, too. Definitely not my strong suit and I plan to educate myself more about how to better manage my income, expenses and debt in 2013.

What promises (to yourself or others) did you break in 2012?

I can’t think of any promises I broke this year. I tried very hard to be honest about what I was willing and able to do.

What arguments/gossip/hurtful comments, if any, did you participate in or make this year that you wish you could take back and/or apologize for?

I can’t think of anything here, either. I probably could have communicated some things better in some of my conversations with my sister this year, but nothing that reached the level of an argument.

What opportunities, if any, did you miss out on in 2012 because of fear or procrastination?

I missed out on several outside writing opportunities that would have allowed me to showcase my work to new audiences. I focused mostly on my own platforms this year and didn’t carve out much time for other marketing options.

What did you do in 2012, if anything, that was out of alignment with your values?

I entered into a monogamous romantic relationship for a few months this year, even though in my gut I knew it wasn’t something I truly desired to do.

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Overall, 2012 was a very good year for me, especially in the areas of work, family, romance and travel. All critical components to my ideal life!

Thank you so much for being a part of my journey. I hope that at least one post here on the blog has inspired you to live the life you want and deserve. But most importantly, I want you to know that through your comments, emails, Facebook messages and tweets, you have constantly inspired ME to show up more powerfully than I ever have.

May your 2013 be filled with infinite possibility and the courage to take advantage of it.

Have you completed your review of 2012 yet? If so, feel free to share all or part of your review with us in the comments! If you blogged about it, go ahead and post the link so we can read it.

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