2018 honestly started out with a bang. I had my first phone interview for my dream job on January 11th, 2018, a Thursday and also my 29th Birthday. I officially landed said dream job and began a new chapter of my life on March 19, 2018. This dream job was years in the making and proved to myself it was worth making goals, regardless of how long they take or the path it takes to get there.
In 2018 I read more. I come from a long line of family members that are non-readers. Not to say that is a bad thing, but for some reason, my parents didn’t enjoy reading, thus in turn they raised a bunch of non-readers. Well my husband on the other hand is a lover of books. He is actually reading a new book right now, as I am typing this in bed. Anyway, I am happy to say I read 4 books in 2018, that is 4 more than I have read in the last 4 years! 
One of those books happened to be Rachel Hollis’ Girl Wash Your Face. The book was recommended by a few Instagram influencers, so I figured I would give it a whirl, I had no idea, what I was in for. I have never read a “self help book”other than a magazine. I have never read a book from a christian publisher and I have never read a book that wasn’t by a popular author. But regardless, this book sucked me in and hit me where it mattered. It pulled at every muscle fiber and really made me take a deep look at myself. This book made me question my ability to be a good spouse, friend, sister, daughter, and I really took a hard look at me and the person I had become vs. the person I wanted to be. So I did the thing, I started to change myself to become the best version of myself. I stopped comparing myself others, and started to compare myself to who I was yesterday.
In 2018 I started running again, so much so, that I have made a pact with my 2 brothers to run a half marathon the summer of 2019. Running has been an amazing outlet for me to challenge myself as well as an activity I can do with my husband.
In 2018 I started to give more grace to the people that mattered most to me. I took the the time to stop being so judgmental and just love on those people more. In turn, my relationships have grown stronger and I feel more at peace being a support system rather than being negative Nancy.
In 2018, I took a leap of faith outside my comfort zone and started Darboy Kate. A dream I had talked about for YEARS, but never fully attempted to follow through on. Through Darboy Kate I have met a new tribe of people that challenge me and make me a better person. I treasure these relationships and can’t wait for the future.
In 2018, we officially are student loan debt FREE! This has been a huge goal of Romy and I’s. In 2017 we were able to pay my students loans off, and as of December 31, 2018 we paid Romy’s last student loan payment. To say we are ecstatic for accomplishing this goal would be an understatement. We are so excited to be done with our student loans that we are throwing a party with our closest friends. More to come in 2019 on this event.
2018 was a good year, actually scratch that, 2018 was an AMAZING year. A year that will honestly go down in my history book of life. 2018 finally put me back together. I am the happiest I have been in such a long time and proud of the good, the bad, and the ugly that it took to get here.
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