What a year 2018 has been for me. One full of challenges, of new opportunities and full of exciting adventures. Full of close knit friendships, both with laughter and tears.

Many people are terrified of change, of new things and new developments in their life but this year has been filled to the brim with them for me from start to finish. I thrive myself on my adaptability and I have learnt this year that instead of juggling a number of positions, of people, of passions in my life, it is okay to let go and hone in on just a few. It is okay to be selfish and spend time exploring who you are, what you love to do and what you want to achieve. And it is totally okay to lose yourself in the moment and enjoy who you are with.

It is quite terrifying to comprehend just how much I have grown in one year, what I have achieved in one year and what I have learnt in one year.

Bucket List ticked off:

• Visited New Orleans
• Spent New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh
• Fly an aerobatic flight

Life:

• Started the year with a travel and unsigned music show on Women’s Radio Station, a show which highlights my passions and reached 10 episodes
• I’ve become a freelance workshop facilitator for two fantastic companies, Freshwater Theatre Company and Divergent Drama, different in ethos and style, but similar in design, whilst finishing my time at NCS The Challenge
• I left Eagle Radio and freelanced for Love Sport Radio and made connections with Talk Radio and Heart
• I started freelancing for BBC Essex, which then led me to become a full-time member of staff, complete with my own pigeon hole and everything!

• I began to report for BBC Essex as well as produce, reporting live at an event, creating packages and doing voice pieces for the news team
• I have been hosting a property podcast for the international company called Kyero, connecting with buyers all over the world
• I spent the summer attending festivals and dancing the night away
• I left my job as a traffic broadcaster at INRIX Media closing that door behind me
• I interviewed DJ’s I personally admire for Winkball at Southport Weekender and like minded professionals once again at the Audio Production Awards
• I became an Auntie to little Flynn!
• I joined a like minded club in London filled with networking opportunities and engaging events

Travel:

• I went to Miami and New Orleans with my Mum (and partied the night away)
• I witnessed one of my closest friends tie the knot in Montserrat and celebrate their love for one another with a wonderful bunch of people

• I set a new personal record of a party marathon in London and Berlin (I’ll save those stories for my book- watch this space!)
• I met up with an old friend of mine in Hamburg
• I finally, moved out of home and into London.

This year, I have spent time focusing on myself, my career and my friends and family and it has been fantastic. I have really begun to recognise what I am good at, what I enjoy doing and what I live for. I’ve begun to cut back on what doesn’t add value to my life and focus on what does.

I can’t thank my family enough for their loving support as ever, but also I feel this year I have really consolidated on my friendships. I wouldn’t be anywhere without my amazing friends literally, who are with me every step of the way, supporting me and listening to me moan too. I am so grateful for them because they have pushed me to recognise who I am and who I am meant to be.

I’ve taken some time out of dating, beating my own personal record of not being interested in ANYONE for 5 months, and ironically enough during those 5 months, the most dramatic changes occurred in my life. I guess sometimes you need to stand on your own two feet to recognise what you want in life and how to get there, to look forward rather than back. I am grateful for the two guys I have dated in 2018, one showed me that I need someone who can keep up with my eccentric, vast amount of energy, and the other highlighted to me that I need someone who is emotionally mature.

I feel like 2018 has been a huge stepping stone for my career, my network of loved ones, but also for my own personal growth. I stride into 2019 knowing full well what I want and how to get there.

I have a long list of goals that I want to achieve this year (of course I do, I am such a big list maker) but my resolutions this year are to make more me time; to try balance life just a little bit smoother, and finally to not settle for anything less then I deserve. A few days into 2019 (yes I know this is a tad bit late, I blame Edinburgh) and I feel like I am already doing just that.

Here’s to an exciting new year for me, but hopefully you too!

Feel free to highlight your new year goals or resolutions with me!

Want to look back to my 2016?

Or my 2017?