2014: In Review

“Stop worrying.”

“You’re overthinking.”

“What’s holding you back?”

When I was in college, my roommates used to tell me constantly to live in the moment. There were a number of days when I’d be too paranoid and too scared to do what I wanted out of fear of the consequences or even the thrill and enjoyment of whatever it was. Whether it was going to a football game, attend a club meeting, apply for an internship or just hangout with friends, I found myself paralyzed by something.  It’s not that I was shy or introverted, but I was held back by an unseen force, whispering “No” constantly.

Looking back, I can see that a lot of my barriers have been broken, and whatever was holding me back over four years ago has mostly left my side. At the end of last year, I made a list of resolutions for 2014 and while I’ve only fulfilled four out of 10 resolutions, I still feel accomplished. Compared to the person I was in high school, undergrad or recently graduated, I’ve gotten past a lot of obstacles, placed by myself or others close around me.

Just to quickly recap, my 2014 looked a little something like this (in no particular order):

1. Staged productions:

• The Phantom of the Opera at the Cadillac Palace Theatre with my mom,
• Rocky: The Musical at the Winter Garden Theater in NYC with my friend Eric (it was a beautiful production, don’t judge!),
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas at The Chicago Theater with my dad.

2. Concerts:

• HIM (Finnish rock band that doesn’t swear) at Irving Plaza in NYC,
• The Used and Taking Back Sunday at Concord Music Hall in Chicago,
• CHER at All State Arena in Rosemont (my Christmas present to Mom),
• Backstreet Boys at Northerly Island in Chicago,
• Fall Out Boy and Paramore during their MONUMENTOUR at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park,
• Panic! at the Disco at Northerly Island in Chicago,
• RIOT FEST (where I saw Rise Against, The Used, Taking Back Sunday, The Offspring, The Cure, Motion City Soundtrack, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Wu-Tang Clan, Patti Smith, NOFX, Billy Bragg…among many others) in Humboldt Park in Chicago,
• Anberlin, The Final Tour, at House of Blues Chicago,
• Justin Timberlake at United Center in Chicago (my Mother’s Day gift to Mom).

3. Trips

• New York City (twice),
• Princeton, NJ where I met Joyce Carol Oates (!!!),
• Atlanta, GA,
• Los Angeles, CA.

4. Notable places visited:

• Princeton University
• Bryant Park/flagship branch of the New York Public Library,
• The Strand Bookstore (if I could live there forever, I would) in NYC,
• Edgar Allan Poe’s cottage in the Bronx,
• Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta where MLK, Jr. preached,
• CNN Center in Atlanta,
• Printers Row Literary Festival in Chicago,
• The Field Museum in Chicago (my first time, shame on me, I know),
• The Art Institute of Chicago,
• Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont where I MET the entire cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation and went to their reunion Q&A panel,
• Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago,
• Dinner at The Walnut Room at Macy’s (Marshall Field’s) in Chicago,
• The concert venues mentioned above, especially HOB, The Chicago Theater and United Center.

5. Items knocked off my 2014 bucket list:

• #4: Go on literary adventures – Edgar Allan Poe’s cottage in the Bronx
• #5: Meet Joyce Carol Oates – DONE!
• #6: Go to a concert (or two) – …or 10.
• #7: Master the art of skateboarding – I didn’t fall or scrape open my hands this summer, so that’s considered “mastering,” right?

For 2015, I must master the goals that I set in place:

1. Blog regularly.
2. Read more books that I own. …except…
3. Finish reading the Pretty Little Liars series (a.k.a. find out who A really is).
4. Join and regularly attend a book club.
5. Catalog my books.
6. Bonus: Enjoy graduation.

I’ve enjoyed a number of moments this past year, those I’ve mentioned above and those I haven’t. Honestly, if 2015 looks anything like 2014, I’m not worried at all.

Happy New Year!