Qualities I Admire

I am one of those people that try to bring out the good in others, and good in myself (even if I am a shy one). There are many qualities I admire in others, including:

• Kindness
• Honesty (even if it hurts)
• Confidence/self-confident
• Knowing who one's self is
• Warm
• Friendly
• Unselfish
• Courteous
• Helpful
• Patient
• Sympathetic
• Humble
• Down-to-earth
• Compassionate
• Genuine
• Encouraging
• Hard-working
• Imaginative
• Creative
• Accepting of others

**Thanks to Sarah Jo Burch for the idea for this post!!!

Moments That Have Shaped Me

There have definitely been moments in my life, that have changed and shaped me. They have made me who I am today, and to be honest, I am thankful for these moments.

• My maternal grandpa's death in April 1999. That was the first death I remember, and it scared me. I had nightmares for a month, and sometimes couldn't even sleep in my own room.
• My mom's death in November 2010, and that was the hardest thing I have gone through.
• My high school graduation. It made me realize that I am growing up, becoming an adult, and that I will be doing more things for myself.
• My current job at the library. It means that I can be independent, that I don't have to rely on others for everything, that I am able to do things for myself.
• Starting/going to college. It means that I get to go after something that I want, instead of something that others think I need or want (yes, this is something that I want).

**Thanks to Sarah Jo Burch for the idea for this post!!!

Things That Made Me Happy in January 2018

The things that made me happy this month are:

• Seeing Paddington 2 in theaters
• Seeing The Greatest Showman in theaters
• Getting the Valentine's Day leggings I ordered from a friend (who is a fashion consultant)
• Getting the popsocket that I ordered (yes, this made me happy!!)
• Having an internship interview at a local bakery
• A friend calling me a few times, just to talk

Not a whole lot happened this month, but at least I have these few things to be happy about this month.

Things That Always Cheer Me Up

When I'm not feeling well, feeling down, or just need a pick-me-up, there are several things that cheer me up, which include:

• Snuggling with my cats
• Reading
• Taking a nap
• Taking a bath or shower
• A long talk with friends
• My favorite music
• My favorite movies
• My favorite TV shows
• Watching my favorite YouTubers
• Nature
• Journaling
• Blogging
• Crocheting
• Knitting
• Baking
• Hot chocolate
• Bike riding
• Outings with friends, family

**Thanks to Sarah Jo Burch for the idea for this post!!

Things That Make Me Feel Peaceful

I am one of those people that tend to get stressed out a lot, so I have things that I love to do, to relax and feel peaceful.

And that includes:

• Reading a book
• Journaling/blogging
• Writing (pen and paper style)
• Taking a long nap
• Warm baths/showers
• Walks through nature
• Watching my favorite YouTubers
• My favorite music
• Snuggling up under a warm blanket
• Baking
• Photography
• Snuggling with my cats
• Making lists (yes, I am one of those people; I LOVE making lists!!!)
• Lots of laughter
• A weekend getaway somewhere

***Thanks to Sarah Jo Burch for the idea for this post!!!

Things I Want to Be Known For

I don't want to be known for fame or fortune, or any of that. There are are things that I would much rather be known for, such as:

• My kindness
• My friendliness
• My love of family
• My love of children
• My love of animals
• My caring side
• My sense of fun
• My artistic side (photography, baking, writing)
• My generosity
• My child-at-heart side of me
• Being a good listener
• My love of reading
• My love of writing
• My love of photography
• My love of baking
• My love of travel/visiting new places
• Just being an overall good person

I just want to have as good a life as possible, and make a good life for my future family.

***Thanks to Sarah Jo Burch for the idea for this post!!!

My Wyoming Bucket List

• Yellowstone National Park
• Grand Teton National Park
• Devils Tower
• Old Faithful
• Hot Springs
• Buffalo Bill Center of the West
• Rocky Mountains
• Old Trail Town
• Teton Range
• Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
• Wind River Range
• Flaming Gorge River
• Jenny Lake
• Cheyenne
• Grand Prismatic Spring
• Wyoming State Capitol
• West Thumb Geyser Basin
• Morning Glory
• Upper Yellowstone Falls
• Lamar Valley
• Tower Fall
• Hidden Falls
• Castle Geyser
• George Washington Memorial Park
• Gibbon Falls
• Excelsior Geyser
• Teton Pass
• Bighorn Medicine Wheel
• Hole-in-the-Wall Outlaw Hideout
• Hell's Half Acre
• Intermittent Spring
• Isa Lake
• Lone Star Geyser
• Register Cliff
• Tree in the Rock
• Ames Brothers Pyramid
• Independence Rock
• Lincoln Highway Monument
• Pronghorn of F.E. Warren Air Force Base

My Wisconsin Bucket List

• Madison
• Devil's Lake
• Cave of the Mounds
• Circus World Museum
• Harley-Davidson Museum
• Olbrich Botanical Gardens
• Noah's Ark Water Park
• Wisconsin State Park
• Mirror Lake State Park
• Milwaukee
• Henry Vilas Zoo
• Milwaukee County Zoo
• Amnicon Falls State Park
• Apostle Islands
• Wildcat Mountain
• Knuckleheads Trampoline Park
• Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians
• Northeastern Wisconsin Zoo
• Green Bay
• Green Bay Botanical Garden
• Cave Point County Park
• Rotary Botanical Gardens
• Boerner Botanical Gardens
• Lake Superior Zoo
• Timbavati Wildlife Park
• Bigfoot Zipline Tours
• Dr. Evermor's Forevertron
• FAST Fiberglass Mold Graveyard
• Lost City Forest
• Washington Island Stave Church
• Schoolhouse Beach
• Kenosha
• Mary Nohl House
• Jurustic Park
• Lake Michigan Triangle
• Yerkes Observatory
• The Dickeyville Grotto
• The Rock in the House
• Wegner Grotto
• Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
• The Bronze Fonz
• La Crosse
• Man Mound
• Mount Horeb Trollway
• Ladybug Building
• Fred Smith's Wisconsin Concrete Park
• Rudolph Grotto Gardens
• Prairie Moon
• Orson Welles Birthplace
• Grandview
• Chippewa Falls Christmas Village
• 45th Parallel Marker
• Toad House
• Wequiock Falls
• The Chair That Grew
• Camp 5 Museum
• Chatty Belle
• Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum
• Shrine to Anglers
• Annie Stewart Memorial Fountain
• Pabst Mansion
• World's Largest Soup Kettle

My West Virginia Bucket List

• West Virginia State Penitentiary
• New River Gorge Bridge
• Seneca Caverns
• The Greenbrier
• Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
• Seneca Rocks
• Prickett's Fort State Park
• West Virginia State Capitol
• West Virginia State Wildlife Center
• Heritage Farm Museum and Village
• West Virginia Zoo
• Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
• Blackwater Falls
• Spruce Knob
• Coopers Rock State Forest
• Bluestone State Park
• Lost World Caverns
• Good Zoo & Benedum Theater
• Valley Falls
• Herrington Manor State Park
• Little Beaver State Park
• Cathedral Falls
• West Virginia Botanic Garden
• Mothman Statue
• White Park
• Nuttallburg
• Congressional Fallout Shelter at the Greenbrier Resort
• New Vrindaban Palace of Gold
• Curious Rock
• Cass Scenic Railroad
• Berkeley Springs Castle
• John Brown's Fort
• Kenova's Pumpkin House
• Green Bank Telescope
• World's Largest Teapot
• Birthplace of the Steamboat
• Charleston
• Mortar Man
• Whipple Company Store
• Our Lady of the Pines
• Upper Big Branch Miners Memorial
• Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
• Dolly Sods
• The John Henry Statue
• Babcock State Park
• Greenbrier River Trail
• Helvetia

My Word for 2018: Confident

Last year, I decided to have a "word" for the year, and settled on RESPONSIBLE.

I got a pretty good start on that, as I got a job at the end of February, and have missed only 3 days at this point. Which is saying something, as it means I like my job, and am not wanting to miss many days.

I also got my first ever credit card in September, and have not gone too crazy with it. I am not in debt yet (even though it's only been a few months), so that is saying something.

This year, I have decided on CONFIDENT as my word for 2018.

I am a very shy person, and very self-concious about myself, which has prevented me from doing things that I really want to do.

I am one of those people who overthinks things, worrying about what others would think or do if I say or do something, and who doesn't love her body, and I really want to work on that. I have been like this for years, and that really needs to change.

I want to:

• Accept and love myself for who I am
• Not worry so much about what others think of me
• Do more things out of my comfort zone
• Do more of the things I really want to do
• Become more comfortable with speaking up, and with public speaking
• Make more friends
• Think more positive thoughts about myself
• Live the life I want to live (more positive, more adventurous, more loving, more outgoimg, more confident)

Do you have a word for 2018? If so, what is it?