My 2014

I guess now is the time of year when we all think back to the year behind us. I had this feeling that I didn't do as much as I could in 2014, determined to change this in 2015. But then I started thinking about the milestones that I achieved. I handed in a 12000 word dissertation which out of everything I have ever produced I am currently most proud of. I graduated from my undergraduate degree with first class honours and then moved to London and started a masters at the Natural History Museum. Career wise 2014 was a pretty good year.  

I also had a lot of fun, spending quality time with my lovely friends and family.

So what about my goals for 2015? Well I am hoping that come the autumn I will have a masters degree and will be starting a PhD which is incredibly exciting. I am also hoping that I will have time to travel to a new country, something which I regret not doing in  2014. I think these big goals are more exciting and interesting than the usual 'loose a stone and drink less' or whatever. And honestly, in 10 years time I'm not going to look back and remember that boring stuff, I'm going to look back and reminisce over the happy memories of getting out there and making the most of life.

Welcome to 2014

We are now over a week into the new year, and we have been bombarded by the usual 'New Years resolutions' telling us we all suddenly need to loose a stone and stop drinking. Normally I just tell myself halfheartedly that I should probably get in shape and help myself to another chocolate, but this year is a pretty important year for me. In the summer I will graduate from university (as long as I finish this dissertation by next Friday, shh...), and then hopefully move to a new city to start the next step in my life. It doesn't really feel right to set resolutions I know I won't keep when I have no idea what the future holds. Instead here are my positive ideas to make sure I live this year to the full:

1. Be healthy. I am never going to be an exercise freak, its just not my thing. But maybe going to the pool more regularly is a good idea and I should stop making excuses. I already eat really healthily (tonight excluded because I ate a huge bowl of pasta), and I need to remember that and not feel guilty about treating myself.
2. Have fun. I am nearly 22, life is pretty awesome. Sometimes I get so bogged down in working hard and worrying about the future that I forget to live in the moment. 
3. Love myself. I was a terrible teenager for having zero confidence with the way I looked, but it gets old and there comes a stage in your life where you have to realise you are never going to become a swimwear model. I actually love the way I look and I think its time to look in the mirror and admit that in my own way I'm pretty beautiful. 
4. Embrace the opportunities. This is a big one this year, because I have no idea what is coming. I want to travel, I want to work really hard on the subject I love and I want to explore a new home, wherever that may be.

This year is going to be awesome.