With the promise of a New Year ahead, let me take a moment to look back and count my blessings from 2014. From the places I’ve traveled, the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had it has been a year of growth. As I sit here reflecting on the past 12 months, let me think back to when I set out to start The Pin the Map Project.
It was this time last year that this blog was born from nothing more than a simple desire to see the world and a realization that life passes quickly. I still remember the feeling of receiving a beautiful pushpin map for Christmas and eagerly pinning all the countries I had flown to in my 26 years of existence, only to step back and be acutely aware of all the places I had yet to visit. It was in that moment-with the whole world at my feet-did I come up with The Pin the Map Project and created a promise to live my life to its fullest now with a wish for my readers to find the inspiration to do the same.
When I had started this blog I didn’t know what to expect; how could I ever have imagined that a simple WordPress site would grow to take me around the world to Argentina, Uruguay, England, France and other countries? How could I have ever anticipated that a side hobby would ignite into a passion that would overpower my corporate job and eventually pull me into its embrace? How could I have antcipated that travel writing would lead me to meet incredible people with a passion for creativity? Let the past year be a testament to how the only predictable thing about life is how unpredictable it can be.
2014 was a year of revelations and lessons, the type of year that takes you far from where you started yet closer to who you are. I am utterly grateful for the experiences I’ve had—from finding perspective in the Panamanian jungle to solo traveling in Argentina to feeling romance on the streets of Paris to learning the strength to place all bets on myself and give my writing a chance. I count my blessings from my family, friends, love, readers and the people who continue to inspire me.
As I get ready to lift my champagne flute, brush confetti off my hair and snag a midnight kiss, I look forward to 2015 and starting the year as a full-time writer, having recently stepped out of the corporate world. I hope to continue traveling, continue growing The Pin the Map Project and to see where the next year will take me.
Happy New Year!
What are you looking forward to in 2015?
