Every Year Can - Life and Nature

So with it all said, I'm wrapping up my 2012 reflections with life and nature. As you can see from my previous topics - this year has truly been an amazing blessing. It's been a journey, it's been filled with growth, discovery and joy.

If you missed any of the recaps - you can catch them here:

Every Year Can Introduction
Health and Body
Relationships - Family and Friends
Work, Success and Money
Passions
Happiness and Love 

 I think life and nature might seem like an odd way to finish off my reflections for such a fabulous year, but I truly believe that this year I have come full circle with who I am as an individual and it does boil down to life and nature. 

For me, this year I had a lot of epiphanies about life, and what is truly important to me, what matters, what makes me happy and brings me happiness.

It wasn't until I decided to move back home that I realized how much was missing from my life. I had reached a point of my happiness that had peaked in my singularity and adventure, that I wanted to share my life with someone, and I also wanted to return to my roots.

I had moved away from home at the young age of 17, and honestly thought I would never leave Ottawa. I found myself having date after date with these city guys and boys that just didn't get what I was about, and valued things that just didn't make any sense to me. 

When I moved home and fell in love it all came so clear to me.

For me having grown up in a small town surrounded by nature and natural beauty, that to me was living. The things I value are outdoors, quality time, nature, realness. Not that I have anything against cities and city life (something I get a lot of joy from too), but there is a lot of fakeness in a city. You're surrounded by concrete, it's about consumerism, it's about things, it's about collecting, it's about status.

Source: maisonboheme.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

When I moved home, I returned to my roots and my true values. I would lay outside, I enjoyed the outdoors, I could see the beauty of the sky filled with shooting stars at night, an evening could be spent in a hammock starring into the abyss of the sky. The Saturday afternoons on hikes through the forest. Time is spent outside. Time is spent doing real things and focussed on your life. 

I found joy in cooking for myself (and others!), spending time reflecting, spending time doing. In the city I spent a lot of time alone, eating out, shopping and spending, watching television. 

That's not the life I wanted to live... and moving back home has changed that around so much. 

My life is about memories, moments and real time. Creating life. 

To me, that is the best change I have ever made for myself. This is what it's about for me, and with that I have such joy and happiness.

Source: contentinacottage.blogspot.com via Brandy on Pinterest

2013 is about continuing that, it's about growing it, more outdoor passions, finding a home here, spending time outside, adventures, life. 

So thank-you 2012, it's been a slice. I am so grateful for all of my growth, discoveries, changes, revolutions and love. My life has been an abundant blessing and I am excited to continue this adventure and journey in 2013.

And as I've said, I don't like resolutions. I made two goals for myself in 2012 - to get a tattoo and travel to Europe. Rocked and nailed. I also stated:

I am ready to rock 2012. I am ready for this year to be the best year of my life. I am ready to take what comes at me. I am ready to get even more healthy. To do even better at my job. To love myself even more. To grow more. To learn more. To laugh more. To smile more. To feel great. To travel more. To spend quality time with friends and family. To have fun. To date more. To fall in love? To do it all. It's a tall order, but it's nothing but achievable.

I did all of that. I have never been so proud of a year of my life. I accomplished and did so much, and now I sit here at the beginning of 2013 ready to do it again.

My goals for 2013 are to continue to be happy as ever, to continue to live a life of health and activity, to continue to be grateful, to find an amazing home, to collect as many moments as possible, to continue to rock and be awesome at my job, to continue to love with a full and happy heart with my main man, to grow together, to excel together, to be awesome at life together, and oh, get another tattoo or two ;)

I wish you all the warmest new year and hope that 2013 brings you everything you hope for and then some :)