But classy girls don't kiss in bars, you fool.

Alright, 2012, looks like this is it. We rode it out for 365 days and now it's time for you to hit the road. Never to be seen again; bittersweet. Mostly, I think you and I had fun and lots and lots of learning.

In the beginning of the year I was set on creating the best year possible. I felt like the energy surrounding me was so thick with positivity. This was truly "my year".

In the spring I turned twenty-six and started to really panic. I was no longer in my "early to mid twenties". I can now be referred to as "late twenties" and I'm four years away from thirty. Which wouldn't be so terrifying if I felt like I had some direction to my life. Ha. We also needed to find ourselves a third room mate as the current one decided she was on her way to the big apple to move in with friends of our's that already lived there.

Summer came and it couldn't have been a rougher time for me. In the beginning of the year, I had decided I was at a point to let an old boyfriend back into my life as a good friend. Things got complicated when he asked me to move in with him (across country mind you) and then it unraveled and I realized I wasn't sure we knew how to be "just friends". Ever.  Shit was not fun to say the least. I learned a lot about myself though. We also said goodbye to our third room mate and welcomed a new friend into our home. I got more serious with a close friend about a fun little business adventure. Oh, and I took a new job position at work that made me feel less "stuck" within my company.

At the end of the summer, I finally said goodbye to that boy. I wasn't sure it would ever happen. It's been four years and a very, intimate deep seeded history with us. But I stood up for myself! Things even got a little  LOT crazy.  I learned to just let go. Not everyone is going to be open and honest in life, and sometimes people are going to believe lies, and that's gotta be OK with me. I know the truth. I know who I am. I learned not to attempt to overstep our good friend, Karma. Not everything is in my control nor should it be. Sometimes people don't work out. Not even as friends. Everything is OK.

I also learned about the passing of my Dad. That was a hard one. Learning to accept that I'll never get the chance to re-connect. This was huge for me. I learned that I can't keep thinking, "I have time". Because, well, I don't. We don't always have time. That is still a hard one to swallow. I miss him, but I feel him so strongly around me now. And that comforts me. It made me put a lot of things into perspective. I don't sweat the small things as much, and that little lesson about letting go from earlier really hit home. I felt like I was losing a lot this year. But gaining so much at the same time.

Fall came and went so quickly. I anticipated Ana's arrival back home. I felt like I was finally starting to get my groove back (hey, Stella). Life was great, I was loving it. Sunday Funday was a new tradition I started with Jackie and anticipated it every week. For the first time in my life I experienced Buyer's Remorse . And then Ana came home unexpectedly and tragically. While grieving for and with my best friend, I finally got news I had been searching for regarding my Dad and his passing.

With all the sadness returning and refusing to let it swallow me up, I went to my happy place. I also allowed myself to just be in the moment. Not thinking about before or after, but now. I stopped caring so much about what other's thought or may think about me, what I liked or wanted and just did it because I wanted to. I even let a boy in!

I truly did a lot of learning. I can honestly say I am leaving this year a lot lighter feeling. I am thankful and grateful for my experiences. I take something from it all. As I walk through 2012's door I'm not resentful or regretful. I had a lot of goodbye's this year I think it's because I have a lot of "hello"s waiting for me when I knock on 2013's door. And if I hadn't done all that learning and shedding, I wouldn't be able to.

2012, it's been an experience. But it's a block party after all, so it's time to move on over to 2013. I can drink to that.

Happy Hearts, 

Alex