This was a big year for me… well, at least the second half of it was.

Endings and new beginnings

In April, I ended my relationship with my live-in boyfriend of almost 3 years.

Things really just hadn’t been working out between us anymore and after fighting it and going through the motions for a long time, we both decided it was time to end it.

It was a tearful ending but I knew I had made the right decision and I felt good about it.

Maybe not right away but after a few days, I wasn’t sad anymore.

I was now free to focus on taking care of myself and my needs.

I was working out and eating healthy every day. My sleep schedule improved massively (I used to wait up from my boyfriend to come home after his late work shifts).

Work was…well work, and I began thinking it was a good time to take a trip.

Time for a vacation

It had been at least 2 years or so since my last all-inclusive vacay (which was to the Dominican with my now ex) and I thought, what better time to go than now!

My birthday was coming up in June and I knew at least one friend who would be totally down to go away with me. As it turned out she had a friend that wanted to join us as well.

After some planning, we decided to go to Cuba as it was our cheapest and best option.

It wasn’t the fanciest hotel but hey, it was Cuba and there was a beach and all the margaritas and daiqeries we wanted.

Meeting my new…boo?

Hola Cuba and enter my new French hubby, Yann.

Now I know what you’re thinking, “Didn’t she just break up with her long term boyfriend?”

Yes, yes I did.

And believe me when I say I was not planning on meeting anyone new or starting anything new with anybody new, let alone in Cuba!?

But I was on vacation, it was my birthday and I decided I was going to live it up and whatever happened, happened.

And I can honestly say that I had the time of my life.

I was surrounded by great people, the beaches were beautiful, the ocean was amazing and the drinks were strong and plentiful!

After returning home, I kept in touch with Yann on a daily basis and after a couple of months, we planned I would visit him in France at the end of August.

Again, crazy right?! I know!

But hey, Carpe Diem!

The start of an amazing adventure

So in August I took my first trip ever to Europe and I was super excited and incredibly nervous at the same time.

We explored Amsterdam, Paris, and Rome and I had such surreal, amazing, pinch-me-now experiences.

I had to keep asking myself if this was real life.

I saw the most amazing places and got to experience it all with a great person, one who was showing me things I’d never seen or experienced before and it was truly awesome.

Adventure numero dos

The 2 weeks blazed by and sadly, I had to fly home… Where I was for literally one night because the next day I was flying out to Vancouver. 

I was to meet up with my friend who’s vacation I had taken the liberty of inviting myself on.

And super glad I did because Vancouver was absolutely beautiful.

I’d never been to the west side of Canada before and I’d only heard great things about it.

We did some hiking, a first for me, visiting the infamous Grouse Mountain and let me tell you it is not an easy hike.

Yet everyone in their mother, including new mothers, were out on the trail hiking it.

Shout out to them fit moms!

Vancouver has the most amazing views and you feel like you’re on top of the world.

There’s a great sense of accomplishment you get after hiking to the top (or to the lookout points) of some of their mountains.

Time to re-evaluate

It was a fun and rewarding 5 days but the time came where I had to come back to reality and the real world.

After returning home, I felt like something had shifted in me a little and I needed to do some serious thinking and re-evaluating of my life.

Believe me when I say this past year was crazy for me and it’s amazing to see how much had changed and how much I’d experienced in the span of only 8 months!

From breaking off a long term relationship, to being completely blindsided and meeting a new love interest.

One who lives in a totally different continent with a HUGE 6-hour difference between us- but it still working out somehow.

Let’s not forget to mention being able to visit several places that I’d only dreamt of going to.

Let just say it’s been over two years and I’m still trying to wrap my head around all of it.

I can honestly say that year was a real game-changer for me and I am now on this new path that I never thought I would be on.

I’m so excited (and a little nervous) to see what this new future of mine has in store for me.

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Tell me, have you had any incredible life-changing events happen to you that had you blindsided? How did you feel about it and how did you handle it?

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If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.

– Anatole France

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