Dear 2012,
When we first met I was pretty sick, but you told me you'd take care of me and help me get better. You took me back to Germany for a fantastic month-long trip to see my friends, meet some new ones, explore places I've never been, and revisit some I love. I told you that 2011 “really messed me up” and that I wasn't really ready to trust a new year yet. You helped me through my surgery, another winter in Wisconsin, and boring-as-hell classes like macro-economics. I started working on the senior film and prepared to graduate. When I began to get cocky, thinking I could handle anything after writing my thesis and dealing with the rest of 2011, you put me in my place and reminded me what real challenges are like…and real victories for that matter. By helping me to complete my leadership certification, finish the senior film, and graduate from college, you showed me what I am capable of. Granted you got on my nerves at times. In fact you were 50 shades of really freaking annoying when you constantly reminded me I only live once. You were always there for me though, through countless hours of job applications and interviews by phone, Skype and in-person. Through multiple small internships and conferences I found my passion and connected with some amazing people. You brought many late night trips to taco bell after heartbreaking new episodes of How I Met Your Mother. Then, you didn’t judge me when I was sobbing, balled up in my Snuggie, dripping tears into my cheesy gordita crunch.
2012, you trusted me when I turned down job
offers to experience a (low paying & long commute) internship for something
I am passionate about. You believed in me that I would make my first loan
payment on time. You saw me get a job with creative freedom and great coworkers
and you helped me decide to officially move into my dad’s house (and steal my
brother's bed) to save money. You never really let me down 2012, and that means
a lot. You helped me get my beautiful smile and feel better about myself. You
guided me through my first steps into the "real world." You had faith
in me to stand up to those who hurt me in the past and get protection against
those who didn't listen. 2012, with you I've found apologies, forgiveness,
honesty and friendships. True friendships. You kept your promise 2012; you
helped me get better. Though I have to say, I will not “call you maybe” so
please stop asking.
2011 was rough but you got me through it and
I love you for that. Together we fought with Obama to win the election and care
about women, like myself, who care about their bodies and having the freedom of
choice regarding it, have a job, and relied on college loans to get through school.
However, the last few months we haven't talked much...in fact it barely felt
like you were there. Then when I realized it felt like things were coming to an
end, you started to get on my nerves. You’ve let Taylor Swift become even more
successful, “shine briiiight like a diiiamond” is on every radio station at the
same time, and your holiday commercials are a new form of torture. Oh, and
don’t even get me started on how disappointed I am in the Bears' recent losses.
It’s time for me to move on now and leave you
behind. We had fun together but that's not enough. Just like Twinkies, I didn’t
appreciate you on a regular basis, but it was just nice to know you were there.
You were comforting, like a soft, cream-filled cushion to fall back on. It’s
been nice having you around but when you brought a baby named “hashtag” into
the world, I knew the time had come. I had to move out of my college apartment;
Ted has to meet their mother; all things must come to an end. I learned a lot
from you, 2012. I learned sometimes “things have to fall apart to make way for
better things.” Speaking of better things, I’ve met someone else. I’ll never
forget you, 2012, but this is the end. And I think 2013 is going to be LEGEN… (wait
for it)
