Things I learned in 2013

2013 was a weird year. It wasn't awesome, it wasn't shitty, it was just really bizarre. So here are some things that I learned:

1. Think before you speak 
I've never really had a filter. I usually say what's on my mind, and its a big joke with my family because physically I also have a huge mouth (like it shocks dental health professionals because its gigantic) so it never surprises anyone when I say something ridiculous. I've never had anyone really get mad at me for something that I said until this year. I said something very dumb, and it ruined a relationship I had with someone I cared about a lot as both a lover (God I hate that word, but what else do you call it?) and as a friend. That sucks, but it taught me a lot. So in 2014 I will think before I speak.

2. I am a terrible listener. 
I don't know if its because I'm not in school anymore or what, but holy shit I suck at listening. Its gotten really bad. Like people will be talking to me and I will actively stop listening to them. Then they walk away and I'm like "shit. I hope that wasn't important because I have no idea what they were talking about". I'm no career expert, but I'm going to say that being a good listener is a pretty important life skill, so in 2014 I will work on being a better listener.

3. I am super adaptable. 
Seriously, I'm like a fucking chameleon. You put me into any situation and I will be friends with everyone in about 45 seconds. Ok, that's not true. You put me into any situation and I spend 2-3 days feeling everyone out, then by the end of day 3 I have BFFs. This is an incredibly helpful skill in a work environment, so in 2014 I am not going to be changing a damn thing, and I will try to carry this over into South Dakota. 

4. I am very easy to talk to. 
I realize that this goes against #2, but the majority of the people who talk to me don't know that I stopped listening 5 minutes ago. I don't know what it is about me, but strangers always think that I am the person that they need to tell their stories to. This happened way more often in Hawaii, but it also carried over to work. I've always worked places with a really small staff, and have always been a manager favorite so it never really surprised me when I knew all the work gossip. However, P.F. Chang's has a giant staff and i still knew all the gossip, so in 2014 I will accept the fact that people are always going to want to share things with me, and I will try to be a better listener. 

5. I am not very good at planning. 
This one doesn't really need much of an explanation. Real life, I don't plan shit. When I am asked about my future, my most common answers are "I don't know" and "I'll figure it out". So in 2014 I will try to set some goals for myself. Then possibly achieve them, but really that might be left for 2015. 

6. I am TERRIBLE at being a grown up. 
I'm bad at remembering to call people, I'm bad at remembering to set up appointments, I'm bad at feeding myself…….you get the idea. In college it was always sort of a joke, but 2013 was the year I figured out that I'm like the definition of a lady-child. So in 2014, I will try to be better at being a grownup. 

7. I am bad at taking care of myself. 
Hawaii is an athletic person's paradise (ocean activities, hiking, etc) and I didn't do shit. I mean I swam a lot, but nothing too exciting. So in 2014, I will get my shit together and get back into fighting shape. I mean, I'm in Spearfish, South Dakota. What else am I going to do with my life?

Yikes.

I don't know what to say about this. For my age (23), I have known a shocking amount of people whose siblings have died. They've lost them to everything from suicide to cancer and accidental deaths. Now though, I have a friend whose younger brother is missing.  Ben and I fell out of touch about a year ago, and it has been a hot minute since I talked to Tom, but it still absolutely breaks my heart. 

If you have a sibling, hug them a little tighter tonight and tell them you love them. Also, please send a prayer to whatever god you believe in or a good thought to the universe for Tom and his safe return. 

UGH.

Hot damn, sorry that I suck at updating this thing, but my life has been a little bit of a hot mess. Just call me Hannah, captain of the struggle bus. What's been happening? 

1. I don't live in Hawaii anymore. Yeah I know, its really depressing. You have no idea. So why did I leave paradise? Well, turns out its incredibly expensive to live in Honolulu, and while I knew this going in, I sort of ignored it. Long story short, I thought I was a baller and spent all my money. Whomp whomp. I was also missing my family a lot, so when my lease ended I quit my job, packed up all my shit and came back to good old Flagstaff. At some point I'll fill in the little bits of what it means to move from an island to the mainland, because it fucking sucks. Seriously, it was a hot mess. Not a fan. It involved a stupid roommate, spilling the entire liquid contents of the swiffer wipes on my work clothes, being homeless for five days, breaking a lamp, selling my moped, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Also I cried on the airplane, so that was embarrassing. Anyway, Flagstaff is not actually the end of this crazy train. Are you ready? 

2. I am going to be spending an as-of-now-unknown amount of time hanging out with my dad, because I haven't seen him in over a year. So where does Pops live? Wait for it……………….SPEARFISH, SOUTH DAKOTA. No, you didn't read that wrong. I have left the paradise that is Oahu to live in the midwest United States. If that is not the greatest argument for learning to manage your money better, I don't know what is. I am excited to see my dad and his family, but I am not excited to go to South Dakota. The state sucks, but it is what it is. My grandparents own a car dealership, and I think the plan is that I'm going to be working there. So that could be exciting. Hahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaa I don't know anything about cars other then if you don't remember to get your oil changed your radiator will explode in Butthole, Phoenix. Yeah, that was a thing. 

So. How am I handling being on the mainland? 

Obviously not so well. I went down 70 degrees and up from sea level to 7,000 ft, and my body is handling it with all the grace of an angry toddler. I am really cold, cranky, and I have a terrible cold. Also I am having to get used to things like actually wearing clothes and cold toilet seats. 

So yeah. That's my life. I'm cold.