My 2022 Goals + Resolutions

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you are all happy, healthy, and staying safe. I also hope that you are feeling optimistic about what this new year will bring (I know I am)! I always look forward to a new year because it feels like a fresh start. I feel like it is a time when I can truly focus on me, my goals, and being productive. I even like to try forming new habits and making new goals in December; that way, I can go into January feeling like I already know what I am doing and need to do in order to become my dream woman. We are a few days into the new year, and I am feeling so good!

 Today, I simply wanted to share some of my 2022 goals and resolutions with you all. I take my goals and resolutions seriously, and although many people laugh at and/or shrug off the idea of doing these things, they really can have an impact on your life. I found a quote recently that says, “The secret to your future is hidden in your daily routine” – Mike Murdock. To me, this quote reminds me that habits are not formed  in one day. If you want to change your life and make a better future for yourself, you need to take a moment and reflect. Reflect on your habits, your lifestyle, and your daily routine. Then you can take action from here. I find this so empowering and inspirational because you ultimately get to choose how to live your life.

Here are some of my goals and resolutions for this year:

• Create a healthy morning routine

When you wake up in the morning, you make a choice. Your attitude will affect your day, whether you want it to or not. Choosing to be happy and excited for the day ahead will allow you to let light and hope into your heart. You are much more likely to enjoy the day, even if it isn’t perfect. I have been doing great with this so far, however on rainy or dark days, I tend to feel much more tired and not as happy. I think this is something that a lot of people struggle with, but we shouldn’t have to! Your mind is a very powerful thing, and smiling goes a long way. As soon as you open your eyes tomorrow, try to think of all that could go right and all that you are excited for, even if it is something small. I also use my 5 minute journal every morning and night. This gets you into the habit of expressing gratitude and it trains your mind to think positively. I highly recommend purchasing one, and it only takes (in total) 5 minutes out of your day. It is so worth it because the shift in your mindset will be noticeable to yourself and those around you. You can purchase a 5 Minute Journal here. Besides journaling, I also plan to stretch as soon as I get out of bed, as well as drink more water and say positive self-affirmations. I love waking up every day even more now!

• Elevate my style

I have found so much style inspiration lately, and it has made me want to completely elevate my style. Whenever I share fashion blog posts, I always mention that my style is “all over the place”, meaning that I tend to dress differently day-to-day (not to say that there is anything wrong with that).  After Christmas, I bought myself a few nice pieces of clothing that match my vision for my 2022 style. If there is one style that I always come back to I would describe it as: classy, elegant, feminine, and professional. I have always had a love for dresses, skirts, blazers, feminine trousers, etc. so I plan to incorporate these pieces into my wardrobe whenever I get the chance. Part of this new goal is also looking put together, neat, and clean each and every day, even if I am just staying home. Doing this always brings me confidence, so why not do it daily? I also plan to wear more neutrals, spend money on quality items, and focus less on trends and more on classic and timeless pieces.

• Keep a positive mindset

I’ve always described myself as a positive and optimistic person, however, toward the end of 2021, I began struggling with this a bit. I am not sure why, but my mindset was not at its best. Little things started to frustrate me and bring me stress, and overall, this brought me down. This year, I’ve made it a goal to continue keeping a positive mindset. Of course, not every day is going to be amazing; sometimes negative things will happen in life that we have absolutely no control over, and that is ok. It’s about seeing the good in everything, and staying positive despite setbacks, downfalls, and challenges. I want to wake up each and every day, and choose happiness. We all deserve to feel that, so I am going to make a habit to choose it daily. I’ve gotten better at recognizing negative thoughts, and stopping them in their tracks, so I want to work on doing this even more in order to prevent myself from going in a negative spiral. It is not healthy to dwell on negative or upsetting thoughts and feelings for too long, so I am doing my best to keep things light.

• Get organized

I am sure that this has made it to many people’s 2022 goals, but seriously, I do struggle with this! When I say I want to organize my life, I mean my clothing, my money, my work, my room, etc. I want to start doing this in small and simple ways, such as buying drawer organizers for my clothing, makeup, and hair care. Something as small as this would already make me feel more on top of things. I would like to budget my money better as well. I love shopping, but I don’t want to form any unnecessary or unhealthy habits, so I am working on being wise with my money. I also want to keep my space tidy and clean. I feel like I can be more productive and at peace in my space when it is clean, so this means putting things away after using them. For example, I struggle to put away laundry when it is done. On top of that, I will sometimes take off my clothes and add them to that pile, until it gets too big and I eventually have to put it all away. It would make things so much easier to simply put things back right after I use them.

• Live a healthier life

As many of you know, I have such a love for fitness and health. I have been working out for almost 6 years now, which is mind blowing to me! I have been struggling with living a healthy life lately, so I am making it a goal to prioritize my health more often. I am planning on going for daily walks (unless of course it is storming and/or pouring rain). There are many benefits to walking, and I think many people don’t see it as important. Fresh air is needed, and if you’re spending day after day indoors, a little walk will do you good. When it comes to other forms of exercise, I plan to continue weight lifting, doing HIIT and doing yoga. For weight training, I would like to do this 3-4 times a week. It may seem difficult to do cardio from home without any machines, but along with walking, I will do HIIT 4-5 times a week to get my heart rate up. And of course, I will continue to do yoga daily. I do this most evenings with my fiancé and a couple family members and I truly love it! Lastly, I will continue going on my monthly hikes with my uncle and fiancé. When it comes to food, I would really like to work on incorporating more fruits and vegetables in every meal. This may sound simple, but I believe that making small, attainable goals is wise.

• Work on building confidence + self-love

You must have seen this one coming! Confidence is what my blog is all about, and I am outspoken when it comes to this topic (online and in real life). Building confidence is such an important thing that not enough people prioritize. For myself personally, this is something I have been working on since I was a teenager, and truth be told, this is a never ending journey (this is how I came up with the name “Compass to Confidence”). Throughout our lives, we are all going to experience days, weeks, or even months when we may not be feeling super confident, and that is all part of the journey. However, it is not good to fall into a self-deprecating mindset or get too used to negative self-talk. Your mind will eventually start to believe what you tell it, so I am going to speak and think confidence into my life more frequently. I will think more about my strengths and positive attributes rather than what I think I may be “lacking”. I will do the things that bring me confidence, such as dressing up, writing, getting out of my comfort zone, working out, and continuing to surround myself with people who make me feel good.

• Expressing gratitude

This is something that I have been practicing lately, and I have to say, it truly has changed my life. Being thankful for what you have, rather than seeking more and more will bring you more joy than you could ever imagine. I always tell my fiancé how grateful I am for him as well as other aspects, people, and things in my life. I think it is so important to share these things with others, God, or even to write them down. Once again, my 5 Minute Journal really helps me with this because I get to start and end each day with gratitude. If we get into the mindset that we are constantly lacking or that we never have enough of the things we want, we will never feel at peace in our lives. This is why I believe it is so important to be grateful for the things we have while also praying for and working toward the things we desire. Good things will come to those who are patient, determined, motivated, and hard-working. Nothing in life will ever be handed to you simply because you want it. Focus on the good, and the good will get better.

Thank you all so much for reading today’s blog post! I am really proud of it, and I am very excited to continue reaching my goals this year. I have made some more goals that were not included in this blog post, however I really wanted to discuss a few in more depth. I would love to know what some of your goals and resolutions are, so please leave me a comment! Until next time…

2021 Year in Review + Thank You

I’ve always recognized the importance of reflection. When I stop and think back to all that happened in 2021, I feel grateful. I’ve learned a lot, stepped out of my comfort zone, grown as a person, and matured very quickly. Of course, this year and my life is not perfect, however I think it is important to focus on the good and to live a positive life. Today, I wanted to share my 2021 highlights! Some wonderful things have happened in my life this year; some you may know about, and others you may not. Please keep in mind that while I am only sharing the good, that doesn’t mean that every day was perfect.

• Went hiking once a month for twelve months

If you have been following my blog since my first “Year in Review” from 2019, you would know that earlier that year, my uncle and I decided that we wanted to hike at least once a month for the entire year. Since then, we have succeeded in doing exactly that. This year, I was away from home for a while, so I was doing my hiking elsewhere (I’ll get to that soon…). Other than the time I was away, we went back to some of our favorite hiking spots in our area. Our hikes aren’t always incredibly intense, but we really enjoy getting some fresh air. I especially love our hikes in spring and fall because I think the weather is just perfect; not too hot and not too cold. A couple other family members have also joined us on a hike or two this year! I am looking forward to continuing this tradition in 2022!

• Celebrated my five year fitness anniversary

Fitness has looked very different to me this year. Since we are still living in a pandemic and things seem to be very up and down, I decided not to go back to the gym this year. I really do miss the environment and feeling of working out in a gym. I find it to be much more motivating, and I think I work my hardest when in the gym. Although I am fully vaccinated and had my booster for COVID, I felt it was best to continue working out at home. I have been doing weight training, yoga, and some HIIT. As the year has gone on, I’ve found it difficult to do certain workouts. While I was away from home, I really did not do any weightlifting. I am trying to find a way to continue doing the workouts I love while traveling, but it is challenging. Despite this, I have been working out more often now that I am home again, and I truly do love the way it makes me feel! When I complete a workout, I feel strong, confident, and empowered. So, in the New Year, I will continue weight lifting, doing my daily yoga, and throwing some HIIT in there as well! Yoga is pretty much a part of my daily routine, and I’ve recognized some incredible benefits. It helps that it can be done anywhere and everywhere, so there are no excuses! I am hoping that 2022 will be the year when I can finally get back in the gym and feel on track again.

• Graduated from Queens University of Charlotte

I really can’t believe how fast my four years of college went by! I remember first stepping onto campus for a tour, and also for my first day. It was a lot of hard work, and I remember feeling stressed and overwhelmed as each new semester started. It got easier every year. In many ways, I really enjoyed my time at Queens. I really grew as a person, and I was able to do things that I don’t believe I would’ve had the opportunity to do had I chosen a different school. I met some great people, learned so much about my chosen career path, grew as a writer, and I traveled abroad. Most of all, Queens has given me the confidence and preparation to step out into the real world. I graduated in May with honors, and this is an achievement I will always be proud of. Also, I am SO thankful to be done with school!

• Traveled out West

My family has had plans to travel somewhere very special since 2020, but of course, that trip had to be canceled. It was canceled yet again this year, however we were still able to do some traveling around the country! It felt so nice to go on a vacation again! In June, we traveled out west to a few places we had never been to before. I won’t go into detail since I wrote an entire blog post about the trip (linked here), but I will say that it was incredible! I really enjoyed seeing Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons! Yellowstone has always been on my bucket list, and I was so excited that I was finally able to go and experience this magical place in person. I had never seen anything quite like it! If you have the opportunity to go, I highly recommend it. You will enjoy every moment, and there is SO much to see and do there. Also, Grand Teton National Park is the most beautiful place I have ever seen! I am not sure if I had ever even heard of it before, but it is now one of my favorite places. Being there felt like I was surrounded by one giant painting. It was surreal. It is also right next to Yellowstone, so if you are going in that direction, you can’t miss it! This trip allowed my family and me to travel to a few different states such as South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. It is a goal of mine to travel to all 50 states, and I am almost there!

• Started my career working in marketing

I remember so many people saying that once you graduate from college, it can be really difficult to find a job in the field you want. I was fully prepared to work in retail or in a similar job before actually working in the field I studied four years for. Earlier in the year, I applied to a few jobs, but they were not for me. Then, I happened to get an email in June that I was invited to an interview. The timing couldn’t have been any more perfect. I felt really confident about it, and I got the job! It is a remote job for a marketing company, and I am surrounded by skincare! I really enjoy what I do. My job involves: moderating our social media, creating content (photos, reels, tiktoks, captions etc.), and communicating with some of our partner skincare brands. I was also just given a new title with more responsibilities. I am now a Marketing Communications Specialist! I am looking forward to seeing where my career takes me in the New Year.

• Celebrated one year with Tom

On July 22, Tom and I celebrated one year of our relationship! Sadly, we were apart at that time, so our celebrations occurred over a video call. We made the best of it though, and very soon after that, we were finally together in person. I couldn’t believe that a year had gone by, but we were and are so thrilled and excited for many, many more years together!

• Traveled to England to see Tom (twice)

For the past couple years, I’ve made it a goal for myself to get out of my comfort zone more often. When making this goal, I wasn’t sure what I would end up doing down the line, but looking back, I am proud of my courage. For a start, I traveled with my university to France, which was a dream come true. And this year, I traveled completely on my own for the first time to go and see the love of my life. What I thought would be a terrifying and intimidating experience turned out to be amazing. Not everything went right (for example, my luggage was lost for a bit and my flight was changed), but I somehow got through it all and ended up in London to meet Tom in person for the first time after waiting for a little over a year! Since then, I traveled back to England once more. I had never spent so much time away from home or my own country. In 2022, I plan on doing some more traveling, and it is still a big goal of mine to do the things that scare me, because it is always worth it in the end.

• Celebrated two years of “Compass to Confidence”

I truly can’t believe that I have been blogging for two years now! I still love it as much as I did in the beginning, even though I have not been doing it as often. My life has been a bit busy lately, but I will always enjoy and love having this space to share whatever is on my heart. I am grateful to be able to share my passions, give tips, and inspire others to become confident through my words. It is my mission to guide my followers to confidence, and I will not give up on it. My blog has even allowed me to gain more confidence in myself, and I couldn’t be prouder of how far I and my blog have come. I am looking forward to the content I will make in 2022, and I hope you will continue to follow along on the journey!

• Got engaged

Last but not least, the biggest highlight of all: Tom and I got engaged! After speaking about engagement and marriage for a while, Tom proposed to me on November 24^th soon after we arrived in the US. I always imagined what that moment would be like in my life, and it couldn’t have been any more perfect. From the very beginning, even before we started dating, I never had a doubt in my mind. I knew that he was the one for me very early on. I have never felt anything quite like Tom’s love before, and it was and always will be so special and precious to me. I am grateful to have found my forever person. Now… who is going to help me plan the wedding?!

This year has taught me so much, and overall, it has been wonderful and very enjoyable. I am looking forward to accomplishing more of my goals in 2022, and I can’t wait to bring you along with me. I will be sharing more about fashion, beauty, fitness, travel, entertainment, and more about my personal life! I also wanted to say thank you to those of you who have read my blog posts this year. Whether you have been following along from the beginning, or you are new to Compass to Confidence, thank you. Writing and inspiring others has always been my biggest goal in life, and every time I upload a blog post, I feel like I am reaching that goal. I am forever grateful. Be on the lookout for a blog post in the New Year, and I wish you all the best in 2022! Until next time…

My 2021 Goals and Resolutions

Happy New Year everyone! I am very excited for 2021 and all that it has in store for us! I know that 2020 was a very difficult year for so many people, but I truly believe that things will be better this year, and that there is so much to look forward to!

I always get so excited when a new year begins because I feel so much hope for what’s to come. I also start thinking about goals I would like to reach and resolutions I would like to make. I know some people tend to laugh at the idea of “resolutions” because it is common for people to forget about them as the months go on, but I happen to be very determined, and I am not the kind of person who gives up easily on things that I really want. With that being said, I would really like to share some of my 2021 goals and resolutions with you all!

• Go hiking once a month for twelve months

If you have been following me for a while, you may recognize this goal. This is something that my uncle and I have been doing for two years now, and we plan to continue again this year! I have a love for nature, and going on hikes really helps me to stay present and even get some exercise outdoors! We don’t live in an area that has too many intense hikes, but in the past, we have been able to go to a few different places. While I love a gorgeous mountaintop view, there is something serene and beautiful about flatland hikes as well. I am looking forward to another year of monthly hikes!

• Stop procrastinating

I always knew that I was a bit of a procrastinator, but I didn’t realize just how much until recently. I noticed that I was putting off every little thing (even some things that I wanted to do). I started to get frustrated with myself! I recognized that if I keep making excuses for not doing these things, I will obviously never get them done. Whether it is cleaning or writing, I really want to stay focused and get on track to reach my goals. So, this year I want to stop making excuses and get things done, no matter how small.

• Stay organized

I was looking back at my goals and resolutions from last year and realized that I wrote the exact same resolution for 2020. I wouldn’t say that I am very messy or someone who is completely disorganized, but I could definitely work on it. I tend to be a bit more organized with my school work, but at times, I will forget to do something small. I am not so organized with my room, so I have a plan to clean and organize my space once a week (including my bathroom). If life is stressing me out, a messy room can add to that stress, so I would like to keep things as tidy as possible. I also really love to plan things out, so ever since I got to college in 2017, I’ve kept a planner. Even though I’ve mostly used it for school in the past, I decided that this year, I would use it for everything in life. I want to write down any and all plans for the day/week/month, and I feel that by doing this, it will keep me on track. I love crossing things off my list, and it can feel really great and satisfying after a productive day.

• Say positive affirmations daily

I have been on my self-love journey for quite some time now, and I am really proud of how far I’ve come. Of course, self-love can be difficult at times, but it is important to keep going. I feel like I stopped doing this for a while, so I decided it would be good to start saying positive affirmations again. It can be really beneficial to start your days off with positive thoughts about yourself or about how you want your day to go. You don’t have to say them out loud, but as long as you are thinking them, that is all that matters. Your mind is a very powerful thing, so what you believe, you will become. I’ve noticed that I will bring myself down at times by discussing the things I don’t like about myself. We’re all human though, and we all have things we may not necessarily love about ourselves, and that is ok. As long as you are working on loving yourself, then one day, those flaws will no longer negatively affect you. I hope to speak positively about myself more often, even if it is just in my own head. Remember: confidence is different than cockiness. Yes, it is amazing to love yourself, but you should never walk around thinking that you are better than anyone else.

• Prioritize my overall health

As many of you know, I am very much into fitness. I have a plan to try to stay on track this year. In 2020, I ended up losing my motivation, especially in the second half of the year. My gym was not open for most of the year, so I was stuck with at-home workouts (and I still am). So, my plan is to do weight training and HIIT at least four times a week, and to continue doing my daily yoga. I have set up a workout split and I am hoping to get my motivation back once again. Hopefully sometime soon, I can go back to my gym, but for now I think it’s best to stay safe and stay home. Healthy eating has always been a bit of a challenge for me. I first started eating healthier in 2018, but over the past couple of years I realized that I was getting so bored of my usual healthy meals and snacks that I slowly stopped thinking about eating healthier. This year, I want to try to change things up a little bit, and find new ways to eat better. Of course, I won’t be jumping into it too quickly, but I really want to put healthy and delicious foods into my body, because I have experienced the overall benefits. I am also going to continue focusing on my mental health. I’ve been in a really great place these past few years, so I will do my best to continue taking care of myself in all ways. Happiness looks beautiful on anyone and everyone!

• Weekly pamper nights

Sometimes we just need a little self-care. I recently bought a few new items to add to my pamper routine, and I am so excited to use them! I decided that I would have a pamper night at least once a week. While outer beauty isn’t everything, it is nice to keep up with my appearance, and it makes me feel beautiful and confident when I do. On this day, I can take my time, using things such as body scrubs, hair masks, and nail polish to make me feel pampered. Everyone deserves some time for themselves, and if you use that time to take care of yourself, it’s even better!

It is only the second day of 2021, and I have already learned quite a bit. I was speaking to my best friend and I was talking about New Year’s resolutions, and I questioned why we all wait until January 1^st to start forming these new habits. It can be difficult and nearly impossible to change your life overnight. If anything, we should start in December! If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed or upset because you are struggling to turn things around and do better this year, you aren’t alone. Take it day by day, and don’t be too hard on yourself. It is important to be motivated and inspired, but of course this can come and go. Take your time forming these new habits, but stay disciplined. You don’t have to have it together all the time, but you should do your best to accomplish your goals, and work on bettering yourself daily.

Thank you all so much for reading my first post of 2021! I am feeling very inspired to create some fun and interesting content for you all this year! Everything from beauty and fashion, to fitness and health, to travel and entertainment! If you haven’t already, I would really appreciate it if you would subscribe to my blog, and share it with friends and family! I am wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and safe New Year!

What are some of your goals and resolutions for 2021? Leave me a comment below!

2020 Year in Review + Thank You

As 2020 comes to a close, I have been reflecting on these past twelve months. This year, many unexpected events occurred; both good and bad. I know that many people around the world have struggled a lot this year due to COVID-19, and this was something that absolutely none of us saw coming.

For me personally, I was able to take a step back and relax, spend time with my loved ones, take care of my overall wellbeing, and start/continue some projects that I had been wanting to work on. I am so extremely grateful that I live with a big family, and they made being in quarantine so much easier. I feel lucky to have them because I recognize the fact that not everyone has been able to be with their families, and some people have had to spend this year completely isolated from everyone they love. This crazy pandemic has affected everyone differently, but one thought that has been helping me through is knowing that the entire world is going through this challenging time together, and that (for the most part) people have been doing their part to stay safe and end this pandemic.

Today, I wanted to share some important moments and milestones that occurred in my life this year. While these events are all positive and exciting, I want to say that I don’t want anyone to think that I am being insensitive to all of the sadness that occurred this year. My heart sincerely hurts for those of you who have experienced pain, loss, and grief this year, and I recognize that this has not been the best or easiest year for a large number of people. 2020 may not have been the year that we expected, but I truly do believe that a lot of good has come out of it. It can be really difficult to focus on the positives at a time like this, but we have to try. I often describe myself as a positive person, so with all of that being said, I would really like to share some of the good moments that I went through in 2020!

• Went hiking once a month for twelve months

In 2019, my uncle and I decided to try going on at least one hike a month for the year, and we completed that goal. I am happy to say that we reached that goal again for 2020! Every month we found a place to hike; some hikes were more intense than others, but we sadly do not have a ton of great hiking locations in our area. Still, there are some beautiful places to hike, and I really enjoy being out in nature from time to time. It always feels good to get up and get moving, and really anyone can go for a hike or walk! It was especially nice to do this when I felt like I was just in the house for too many days at a time. Some days, quarantining took a toll on me, so I was thrilled to spend some time outside!

• Celebrated my four year anniversary of weight training

On February 23rd, I celebrated my four year anniversary of weight training! I truly can’t believe that I have been on my fitness journey for over four years at this point, and now more than ever, I am feeling ready to get back in the gym and push myself! Of course, this year my fitness journey took a bit of a turn and my motivation dropped significantly. I persevered and I did my best to continue working out through at-home weight training, HIIT, and even yoga! I began doing yoga daily in April, and I am proud to say that I have not skipped a day since! Yoga really became my main form of exercise this year, and while I do enjoy it, I miss weight training. My gym opened back up in September, but I won’t be going back until I feel safe to do so! I am feeling ready to reach new fitness goals in 2021!

• Went on my dream trip to France

This was truly the trip of a lifetime for me! I had always dreamed of traveling to Paris, and in November of 2019, an opportunity came my way and I simply couldn’t refuse. On February 29^th, I left for a week-long trip to Paris and Lyon! I was hesitant and nervous to go on this trip for multiple reasons, but I am so happy that I decided to go, and I have zero regrets! I am very fortunate to attend a university that allows for students to travel through multiple study abroad programs, and I never imagined I would have the confidence to actually go on one! It was my first time being away from my family for that long, but once I was there, I realized just how ready I was for something like this. I learned to be more brave, confident, and independent. One of my biggest dreams came true, and I was able to check the biggest item off of my bucket list! Click here to read about my trip to France!

• Traveled locally

Sadly, our big family vacation was canceled this year due to COVID-19. We stayed hopeful, however things had not gotten much better by June (when we would have been leaving). I will not share exactly where we were going to travel just yet, but I am excited to share it with you when we reschedule the trip (hopefully for the summer of 2021)! Hint: it is a country in Western Europe! We safely booked a two week trip to the beach at the end of June, and we were able to get away from home for a bit! At that point, I was happy to go anywhere, because being at home all day everyday was getting frustrating. We stayed in a nice beach house at a private beach, staying as safe as possible. In November, my family and I also went on a weekend getaway to the mountains. Although our original travel plans were canceled, I was very grateful to be able to do some exploring this year!

• Celebrated my 21^st birthday

On July 14^th, I turned 21, surrounded by my family and my best friend! It felt really nice to simply dress up and feel special for the day! Every year for my birthday, I always choose to eat dinner at The Melting Pot, which is a delicious fondue restaurant! We hadn’t been out to eat since early March, but we decided to eat out on this day. We did this as safely as we possibly could by going a bit earlier in the day to avoid crowds, wearing our masks, and sitting in a private room. Later on, we had some cake and I opened a few thoughtful gifts. The years seem to go by faster and faster the older I get, but I was never one to be afraid of growing up. I was excited to turn 21, and I am happy to be in such a good place in my life, surrounded by some amazing people!

• Fell in love

They say that the best things happen when you least expect it, and I can say that this is 100% true. Over the past few years, I’ve really been taking the time to learn how to love myself. It hasn’t always been easy, and it is something I am working on each day. Little did I know that by starting my self-love journey, it would eventually attract the right people into my life. I ended up connecting with someone who now holds such a special place in my heart. I truly feel like the luckiest girl in the world, and I wake up every day feeling confident, happy, and grateful, and he is such a big reason why! He is patient, understanding, generous, loving, kind-hearted, funny, witty, and everything I could have ever wanted in a person and more! I have felt things this year that I didn’t even know a person could feel. At one point in time, July 22nd was just another day, and now it is the most special day!

• Celebrated one year of “Compass to Confidence”

On August 15th, I celebrated one year of blogging on Compass to Confidence! It is so crazy that I launched my website over a year ago now! I remember how nervous I was to put my personal writing out there, but now my words have a home in this world, and I am always very excited to share more content with you all! I have always had a love for writing, and I have big plans for my blog in the future! I want to continue to share my passions, give tips, and inspire anyone who reads my writing to be confident. I am very outspoken when it comes to self-love and self-care because I have directly seen the benefits in my life, and I think everyone deserves to feel this way. I have a lot planned for my second year of blogging, so I hope that you will stick around, or if you are new here, I would really appreciate it if you would subscribe, and share my blog with your friends and family! Thank you so much for the support! Click here to read about my first year of blogging!

• Started my senior year of college

My second semester of my junior year ended differently than I had planned. After I got back from my trip to France, everything changed and we very quickly switched to virtual learning. Although it was a little bit sad, stressful, and even confusing at times, I got through and completed my junior year! I truly can’t believe how fast my college experience is flying by! I’ve been working really hard, and I just recently finished up my first semester of my senior year, and I will be graduating in May of 2021! This is an accomplishment that I am already so proud of, and although I am nervous, I am also excited to see where life takes me after school!

I feel like I’ve learned so much this year about patience, self-care, love and relationships, and even myself. While of course this year was not perfect, I’ve been able to find so much beauty in it. If I’m being honest, I was a bit hesitant to share this blog post because I feared how others would perceive it. I don’t want anyone to think that absolutely nothing went wrong for me this year, or that I never had a bad day, because this wouldn’t be true. But I do believe in expressing gratitude and sharing positivity, so that is what I am doing.

I also wanted to share this blog post to say thank you so much to those of you who read my blog. It means the world to me to have your support! I know in my heart that helping others through my writing is my purpose in life, and I will never stop working toward that goal. Whether my writing reaches ten people or ten thousand people, I will be living my dream! I hope to grow my blog and the Compass to Confidence community. If you are a returning reader, I hope that you will continue to follow me along on this self-love journey, and I hope to help guide you through yours. If you’re new here, welcome! If you are curious as to what “Compass to Confidence” is all about, click here, and I hope you will stick around as well!

Thank you all so much again! I am feeling so positive and hopeful heading into 2021! I know beautiful things are coming our way. I am wishing you all a happy, healthy, and safe 2021, and I’ll be back with fresh and exciting content in the new year! Until next time!

My 2020 Goals and Resolutions

Happy New Year everyone! 2020 is already looking good, and I am so excited to share some new content with you all! Now, I know that people tend to laugh at the idea of “New Year’s resolutions” because sadly, a lot of the time people do not stick to them.  Well, I have always been very determined to reach my goals, and I am very easily motivated, so I am going to do my best.

First, I plan on continuing my once a month hikes but I want to do things just a little different this year. If you read my “2019 Year in Review” post, you would know that my uncle and I went hiking once a month for twelve months in 2019. This is something I plan on continuing, however I want to make it a bit more challenging. I am hoping to incorporate a few more intense hikes throughout the year. Last year, our hikes were not always incredibly challenging, but we did find new places every time we wanted to hike! If we are unable to find new places to do these intense hikes, that’s ok, as long as we get one hike in every month!

This next one may seem so simple, but it will be a bit of a challenge for me personally. I want to try to get more organized; this includes things such as my room and school work. I love to plan out my days and I like having a set schedule. I’ve already written down a schedule for this coming semester of college, and although I am going to have a lot on my plate, I think that I will be able to handle it. Making time for the things I need to get done is important, but I also want to make time to do things that I enjoy such as writing, relaxing, and going to the gym. When it comes to my room, I tend to get a bit lazy when it is time to clean. I am going to try to keep my clothes in order, and if I do not use or wear something, I want to give it away. I think many of you will be able to relate when I say that putting away clean clothes is NOT fun. I’ll usually leave it next to my closet until it piles up. I am going to make sure to keep my room neat because it makes me feel much happier when everything is where it should be. Plus, it’s aesthetically pleasing to walk into a clean room every day.

As many of you know, I am a total gym rat and I have been weight training for almost 4 years! I love everything about weight lifting and living a healthy life has made me incredibly happy and confident. In 2019, I did struggle with a loss of motivation when it came to the gym and with healthy eating, so this year things are going to change big time. I am still in college and managing my time has always been difficult for me, so I am going to come up with a schedule for myself that includes my college classes, the gym, work, and spending time with family, friends, and myself. I plan to try to get to the gym at least 3 times a week, but I will work out for a total of 5 (meaning that I will do 2 at-home workouts a week plus the 3 days in the gym). As for food, I am creating a list of healthy foods that I enjoy and I will try to incorporate them into my daily meals. This includes a lot of fruits, vegetables, protein, and water!

Toward the end of 2019, I woke up every morning and I would compliment myself and tell myself that it was going to be a great day. Doing this absolutely changed my mood and set good intentions for the day ahead. It made me feel happy and a bit more confident as well. I am going to continue doing this daily, because you get to choose how your days go. Yes, we all have bad days, but you can always start over the next day, and you can start it on a more positive note. I also noticed that I sometimes talk down about myself and lately when I notice myself doing this, I stop talking. Starting now, if I want to say something I don’t like about myself, I won’t say it. We all have flaws, but it is so important to accept them and love ourselves anyway. I have talked about the power of your mind on my blog before, and it is something that I truly believe in. Your mind is a very powerful thing. Feed it love and good thoughts, and it can change your life. Ever since I made the decision to be happy and to love myself, things started to change in the most amazing way.

I’ve always enjoyed staying in my comfort zone. The problem with this is that you won’t ever grow by staying comfortable. I am going to share some very exciting news with you all soon and it is about an opportunity that I said yes to. I am nervous about it because it is a big step for me, but I am proud of the decision I’ve made and I am so excited for the opportunity! In 2020, I am going to try to step out of my comfort zone a bit and do things that scare me (only if they are going to help me grow).

Lastly, in 2020, I am going to continue writing as much as I can because the only way to get better at something is to actually do it. Writing has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. Little did I know then that it would turn into my dream. I love being able to write about my passions and share it with the world. I want to be able to write and help others, so I am going to continue doing that this year and for all of the years ahead.

I am very focused on my own personal growth right now, and I am going to continue to love myself unconditionally, and I am going to do my best to gain as much confidence in myself as I can. Thank you again for coming on this journey with me. You don’t know what it means to me. I’ve said it before, and I will always say it: the purpose of my blog is to share my passions, to inspire others, and to help me as well as my readers  gain confidence in ourselves. So, if you’re new here, welcome to Compass to Confidence! 2020 is here and I want to continue to show myself and the world around me nothing but love. Leave me a comment below telling me some of your New Year’s resolutions!

2019 Year in Review + Thank You

Well, 2019 has come to an end. Another year has come and gone. It’s crazy, but the older I get, the faster the years seem to go by. It’s kind of scary to be honest, but I’m so excited for my future and to simply live my life that I don’t let it scare me too much. Today, I wanted to share my 2019 year in review with you all. I only created my website and started blogging in August of this year, so I didn’t get to share some other big moments that occurred earlier in 2019 with you.

Before I discuss my highlights for 2019, I wanted to mention that these are just my highlights. This year was not perfect, and I definitely had some bad moments, but overall this was a pretty great year for me. I always want to be 100% honest with you all, and I believe that vulnerability is what connects us. I don’t want those of you who had a difficult year to read this post and think that ONLY good things happened to me because this is not true. I am human after all, so my life is in no way perfect, but I wanted to share some moments that I am most proud of, as well as moments that simply made me happy. If this was not your best year, try to look back and celebrate your victories, no matter how small. Even if you didn’t accomplish every little thing you wanted to do, it is OK! Be proud of where you are today, and try to do better in 2020!

When 2019 first started, I had no idea what my life would look like when it ended, and although nothing absolutely insane happened, I feel different in the best way. I completed many of my goals, one of which was to go hiking once a month for twelve months. My uncle and I decided to do this together since we both enjoy hiking and he is very outdoorsy and adventurous so he was the perfect person to do this with. Our hikes were not always very strenuous (most of them were fairly easy), but being outdoors for a bit and using this time to exercise made me feel good and I always looked forward to those Sunday morning hikes.

Another thing that I have accomplished this year is something I am extremely proud of. On February 23^rd, I celebrated three years of weight lifting! I truly cannot believe that I have been weight lifting for almost four years now! Time is going by so fast, and honestly, when it comes to the gym, it hasn’t always been easy. If you’ve been keeping up with me for a while now, you would probably know that I got a bit off track with the gym and with eating healthy this year, but I refuse to let this stop me from continuing my fitness and health journey. I fell in love with weight training so quickly thanks to my dad who taught me everything when I was sixteen years old. I am now twenty and so much stronger and more confident than I ever have been and the gym has played such a major role in my life. I have learned so much about myself because of it, and I have realized how easily motivated I am as well as my loyalty and dedication to reaching a goal that I really wanted to reach. In January of this year, I also celebrated two years of (mostly) healthy eating. I changed up my diet in January of 2018, and even though it has been difficult this year, I’ve stuck with it pretty well.

This year, I got to cross quite a few items off of my bucket list, one of which was going to Nashville! I had been to Tennessee a couple times before, but I never got to see Nashville until this past spring! I loved walking down Broadway and hearing the live music everywhere we went. The food was great, and although it rained most of the time we were there, I didn’t let it ruin my time. I had so much fun and I was able to see The Grand Ole Opry and The Parthenon.

My family enjoys traveling often, and we usually go somewhere new every year. This year, we were surprised with a trip to Alaska! I had always wanted to go on a cruise, and I was able to check this off of my bucket list! In June, we spent one week on the Norwegian Jewel, and then we spent another week in Alaska traveling on our own. The cruise was so much fun, and Alaska was absolutely beautiful. We got to see Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Anchorage, Denali, and Fairbanks. I am incredibly grateful that I get to travel often and see such breathtaking places with the people I love most.

This year, I turned twenty which was very exciting for me. I am no longer a teenager, and I feel both excited and nervous for the next decade. It’s crazy to think that in ten years I am going to be thirty! My life could completely change in these next ten years. So much could happen. I am proud of who I am today, and I am really looking forward to blossoming into the woman I am becoming. I know she’s going to do amazing things.

I had been wanting to create my own blog/website for so long now, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure how or where to start. I wanted to find a way to get my writing out there, but the idea of other people reading my words made me anxious. I obviously got over that fear, and I absolutely love blogging and being able to write about my passions while helping others. I feel like I am already fulfilling my purpose in life, and I am so excited to continue blogging in 2020.

This year, I started my junior year of college. College is definitely not easy, but I feel that it is rewarding and exciting. As a junior, I am finally getting to take more classes related to my interests and I really feel like I am learning so much information that is going to be very useful to me and my future career. I am proud of what I have accomplished in college so far, and I am looking forward to finishing my junior year strong.

Another highlight of this year is something that I never thought I would have the guts to do, and that is get a tattoo. My best friend and I had been talking about getting tattoos together for a while, but we never ended up doing it. Finally, in September, we went to get our first tattoos together and I am still so in love with it. This was another item on my bucket list and I was really excited to check this off with my best friend by my side! I am already planning my next tattoo, but I don’t want to go crazy! I want my tattoos to be mostly dainty and feminine.

Lastly, I was able to attend another concert this year! I had been to a few concerts before, but I definitely think that this one was the best! One of my best friends and I went to see the Jonas Brothers in November. I grew up listening to their music and watching them on TV, so seeing them live was like a childhood dream come true! I am so glad that they are back together and their new music is amazing.

2019 was a really great year for me. I really wanted to focus on growth and self-love, and that is exactly what I did and plan on continuing not just in 2020, but for the rest of my life. The purpose of my blog is to share my passions and to help me gain confidence in myself, but it is also about you, my readers, because I hope to help you gain confidence in yourselves as well. I want us to walk this journey of self-love together, because it is not easy, and sometimes you need someone to help you along the way.

I also wanted to say thank you to those of you who come back to read my blog posts every week, and to those of you who have supported my website since my first post. I am very proud of what I have been able to do with my website so far. I get so excited when I see a like or a comment from you guys, and I hope to get to know you, my readers, a bit better as time goes on. I plan on sharing a bit more about myself with you all, and I have some exciting posts coming up in the new year. (If any of you have any recommendations or posts you would like to see me create, let me know in a comment below! I would really appreciate it if you shared my blog with your friends and family as well!)

I am so excited to head into 2020 feeling the way that I do. I am feeling more positive and confident than I ever have, and I want to share it all with you. Thank you so much again. You don’t know how happy writing makes me, and being able to share it with you feels like my dream is coming true. That little girl with her diary in hand would be thrilled to see her future self living her dream. I’ve always been scared to share my writing with the world, and maybe that’s why I held back from creating a blog, but I’m not scared anymore. Two of my biggest goals in life are to write and to help others. I truly feel that this is what I am meant to do in my life, so nothing is going to hold me back. I hope you all have a Happy New Year, and I’ll talk to you all soon! Thank you!

(I wanted to briefly share that in 2020, I plan on changing up the look of my website just a bit. This is going to be a gradual change. The whole concept of my site is going to stay the same, but the look of it may change a little. I wanted to let you all know so that there wouldn’t be any confusion!)