A few years ago I started a tradition on Facebook; I made the conscious effort to reflect and highlight some of the positive things that I experienced throughout the year. When I started the post, I did so because it seemed that the internet (and almost everyone on it) was having a pretty shitty year. Rather than feed into the negativity, I decided to combat it because even though misery loves company, happiness is contagious! Now I make sure to reflect every year…
As I reminisce about 2018, I recognize that I am quite fortunate. 2018 was truly a marvellous year filled with love, happiness, and important moments and milestones. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for everything that I have experienced this year, and for all the people in my life whom I experienced it with. I won’t touch on everything, but here are some highlights:
I had the opportunity to travel to Panama with 7 of my closest friends at the beginning of 2018, and it was really a trip of a lifetime! A week in the sun, poolside with some of your best friends was bliss. While in Panama we got to venture into Panama City and travel to a National Park Waterfall. Many laughs were had and the trip was a symbol of the bonds we have built over time, but also as a way to relax and unwind before the business of 2018 would kick into full gear; three of the people in this photo were getting married later on in the year.
Speaking of weddings, I had the utmost privilege to be the Matron of Honour and Best Woman in two of my friends’ weddings this year. Being chosen as the Matron of Honour in our friends’ wedding was extra special because my husband was asked to be the Best Man. For us, the love we have for the couple who got married is hard to summarize into words, thus being asked to be in their wedding was truly heartwarming. We wanted nothing but the best for those two, so we made it our mission to ensure their wedding day (and every event related to it) was everything they wanted and more. Planning a Tea-Party bridal shower was quite fun, especially because High Tea is something special the bride and I started doing together a few years ago. We added an extra dash of fun by making it a Mad Hatter Tea Party Theme…
Spring 2018 also included road tripping to Myrtle Beach with some fabulous friends. We partook in some golf at Myrtlewood Golf Club, celebrated Cinco de Mayo at one of the best Mexican Restaurants, enjoyed the beach and pool (maybe a little too much), and experienced a very sweet Wine Tour! If you can think about the cliche phrase, “it’s the journey, not the destination” – that basically sums up the road trip to Myrtle Beach. Such an amazing time! I seriously recommend road trips at least once a year…
Celebrations in 2018 were not just about getting hitched, many of my friends also turned 30 this year. Birthdays have always been important to me, and I honestly believe that every birthday is worth celebrating because you never know what birthday might be your last. Sorry to be a downer here, but birthdays should be celebrated, whether that means treating yourself to something small or throwing a huge bash; whatever you wish! 2018 was filled with many fun-themed birthdays including Medieval Times, Old School Dances, Carnivals, and Road Trips to Ottawa!
Medieval Birthdays 
30th Birthday Dances
Life’s a Circus – Birthday Bash
Turning 30 was memorable for me because it gave me the chance to really appreciate everything that I have accomplished in my life so far. Apart from having an amazing husband, a wonderfully supportive family, and a supreme squad of friends, I am thankful for the continued opportunity to work with my family in Real Estate, while also being able to continue influencing young minds through my academic mentoring and tutoring. I’ve been working since I was 12, so knowing that I wake up every day and enjoy going to work is satisfying. I want my work to be meaningful and fulfilling but I don’t ever want it to make me miserable. Thus, I often reflect on how lucky I am to have work that is low-stress.
I will now touch upon the three weddings that I attended this year. As I mentioned above, I had the honour of being the Matron of Honour and Best Woman in two of the weddings, but the third wedding was also very important to me. Someone very special in my life was getting married, and he decided to do so on his birthday- what madness! It was an extra special day, and I was privileged to attend as a guest. I don’t know how to put into words how much I love all the people who got married in 2018, so I can only hope that they really do know how much I care for them. Being able to be with all of them on their wedding days and create new memories on is really priceless. Especially when you get to be in a room with so many people who love them too! I don’t think I ever danced or laughed or smiled as much as I did at these 2018 weddings…
July 21st, 2018
September 29th, 2018
Overall, 2018 was a fantastic year. It was filled with laughter, love, adventure and memories. 2018 made some of my friends new parents, or parents again, and getting to witness these people take on these new roles is exciting. 2018 granted me the honour of being a 3x Auntie, as a new nephew was born into the family. 2018 reminded me why it is so important to be your truest self, to tell those who are important to you when they’ve upset, hurt or disappointed you, but to also tell those same people that you love them and why you do. 2018 taught me how adulting can really be fun, as my husband and I were able to do some additional renovations to our home, like completely finishing our basement!
2018 was a very good year, and I am glad that so many positive things happened in my life. Thanks for the memories! 2019, if you’re even half as good as 2018 was, I can’t wait to write about it.
Five Feet High Thoughts 