1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before? I reached complete independence. It’s strange. I’m 25 and for the first time in my life, I am 100% in control of my life and finances.  It is a great feeling.  Also, for the first time ever, I’ve started a career rather than another job. 
   
   2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
2. Zero out of four for 2014:
   1. Get below 190 pounds. [Failed Miserably but at least I didn’t gain weight]
   2. Keep in better contact with friends and family [Failed. Moving to NY made this extremely difficult.]
   3. Write Novel Number Five [Not even close. However, I’m more excited about my current writing project than any project in the past two years].
   4. Continue writing a daily diary [I stopped as soon as I got back to the US].
3. 2015
   1. Run more than 1.5 miles 180 days.
   2. Contact the people I love at least weekly
   3. Start a serious writing project.
   4. Do the best I can at work.
   5. Become financially stable.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Cousins are having kids. Other than that, no.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Thank God.

5. What countries did you visit? Technically I hit Morocco, France, England, and the US in one day. Other than that, nothing. We’ve explored a lot of New York though.

6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?   I want to take advantage of this random life we have in NY and explore a part of the country I only partly know about.

7. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

February 8th: The flight back home from the Peace Corps
May 1st: Getting the Job offer in Newburgh.
June 3rd: The day Sofia arrived in New York.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?Starting a lasting career and relationship simultaneously.

9. What was your biggest failure? My inability to continue running. My inability to stay in contact with loved ones.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?I never got sick in the Peace Corps. And the only time I’ve been sick in New York is now (an annoying cold). The last time I puked was January 10th, 2013…so I got a nice two year streak going.  However my knee is starting to suck.
11. What was the best thing you bought? I’ve loved going to random Restaurants up and down the Hudson Valley with Sofia.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Sofia for being so strong. My parents for being so helpful and understanding as I jump around the world like a crazy person.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

14. Where did most of your money go? Rent and Food. Extra money? Coffee, restaurants, and NYC trips.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Seeing Sofia again and moving to NY.

16. What song will always remind you of 2014? Take Me to Church by Hozier. It’s just an addictive song.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
    1. happier or sadder? I was incredibly lonely this time last year. Peace Corps was a great experience but a lonely one. My decision to come home was one of the best decisions of my life.  In the months since I returned, I’ve built my life up the way I really want it to be.  I am a better person because of it.
    2. Richer or poorer? As I start to honestly pay off my student loans, I am starting to understand wealth and the idea of money.  This is the first time I’ve had a good paying full time job.  It’s a strange feeling to be so financially independent.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Read and Write. I already regret not reading enough. I always have a book on me but I need to default to it more often.  Writing is always a difficult game…I just need to find the balance where I force myself to write daily.  That’s the only way to do it.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?Time on the computer. The older I get, the more I wanting to separate myself from  my electronics.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? I actually have no idea.

21. How will you be spending New Years? No idea here Either. We’ve talked about going to Time Square.

22. Did you fall in love in 2014? Every day.

23. How many one-night stands?

24. What was your favorite TV program? We watched the entirety of Friends in 2014 and not much else, so that’ll probably be the winner.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

26. What was the Best book you read? Unfortunately, I didn’t get to read that much this year. Nothing great really stands out.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? I am addicted to the variety available on 8Track. I love picking a new mix every evening.

28. What did you want and get? Honestly? The life I have right now was only a dream of mine a year ago…I got everything I wanted. The girl of my dreams. The job I love. The life I can call my own.

29. What was your favorite film of this year? Great movie.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 25….and I don’t honestly remember it. The 80 days in Greeley were a sheer whirlwind.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Having more time to spend with my nieces.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014? “I’m an adult now? ..ok.  Time to buy some button down shirts, nice shoes, and nice pants.”

33. What kept you sane? This was an unexpected part of my year. With the full time job, I’m taking on a very different stress in my life. I started running randomly….and got addicted so quickly.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? With the lack of a TV….not many. The closer we get to 2016, the more I like Hickenlooper. He would be a great VP for Hillary

35. What political issue stirred you the most? Income Inequality and Automations effects on unemployment. I’ve become fascinated with economics and find myself terrified by the way the world works.  It all boils down to one stat for me: The Richest 85 people in the world have the same wealth as the poorest 3.5 billion.

36. Who did you miss? My family. My friend in Morocco. Alan.  It’s hard to start completely anew.

37. Who was the best new person you met? Honestly, this is a tie between many people at work.  The positive attitude of my new office is the best part of the job.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014? It’s important for the soul to be able to make a living for yourself.