"2013 was my character development year which means 2014 is strictly action and story progression"
So in just a few hours we will be ushering the new year here in New Zealand. I know I'm not alone in saying that the 31st of December is usually a time for reflecting on the year that's been. I think this is my favourite part of the holiday season - looking at the good, the bad, the ugly, and toasting to letting go of 2013. The best part is that you know 2014 is coming and with the new year comes a whole new adventure and life lessons to be experienced. So before I get all "new year, new me" on you guys, let me just end the year with the 13 great things that's happened in 2013 (in no particular order):
13. Nexus mag music features - Netsky interview, Netsky gig, and Six60 interview
The Netsky interview was my first "big artist" interview ever. I had a few days to prepare and when he called me from Belgium on a Friday morning, I really had no idea what to expect. The interview lasted for almost an hour and I had such a great time talking to him and asking him the most random questions I could think of (I asked him what makes him come alive based on his song "Come Alive". Pun intended). It wasn't until after a couple of hours later when I got a call from one of the staff organising the gig asking if I got through the interview that I found out I was only allowed 15 minutes. Oops.
The Six60 one was also a lot of fun. They were in New York and this time I had to ring them. It took a long time for me to get through and a lot of back and forth calling from Auckland to NY but we got there in the end and just hours later, I turned in my article. That might be the fastest record of getting work done for this procrastinator.
12. Fitness
I started getting into the whole #cleaneating #healthyliving and signed up for a gym, got a personal trainer, and lost a bit of weight. Then I stopped. Not a proud moment but it's incredible that my body is now craving for that exercise and getting sweaty. 2013 was a starting point.
11. Life lessons
This year I learned a few things the hard way. The downs were pretty down, and my heart was pretty broken. I learned that sometimes karma is all you've got to hold on to.
10. Friends
My best friend moved to a city 8 hours away and it was strange not having her with me all the time. I guess you could say I was out of my comfort zone for a bit. But it was the best thing that could ever happen to our friendship as we've grown a lot because of the distance.
Same goes to my beloved girlies - Angela, Danica, Lichelle, Suzanne, Eva, Tendy, Mel, Sarah, and Steph. We don't get to see each other as often but I know they're always there for me.
Then there's all the friends I've met and gotten to know this year. To name you all would be a whole blog entry but you know who you are. Thank you for keeping me sane this year.
9. Spark
Of course I have to put this here. Spark has taken over my life for months and I cannot thank Kat and the rest of the Wintec team for this opportunity. Spark has opened me up to a lot of great opportunities and it was great to have been involved every step of the way. Meeting people in the industry that I would never have had the chance to encounter like Nadia Saccardo of Smith Journal and Zara Mirkin. Spark has been a gateway to some pretty amazing ventures like. . .
8. Blacklisted
7. Scarlet
It's funny how we never talked in class and it only took us 3 years to be this close. Now I see this crazy mofo several times a day even! So grateful for this friendship.
6. Tutors and Mentors
One of my tutors jokingly said I was an overachiever, one asked me to do a star course for a high school class, and the other one headhunted me for a job. Then there are mentors. My former tutor Flick was someone I met this year that has impacted my life. I don't think I would have gotten through that semester without her guidance!
5. Fashion Week
4. Job
Goal in 2012 was to leave retail in time for boxing day. On my mid semester break I was offered a casual job Comms job. I've been so lucky to have had a full time job waiting for me before I finished.
3. Finishing Uni
I got through it - 3.5 years of my degree and a straight A last semester!
2. Marriage Equality
This. I still can't believe this happened. Seeing my words and face on the headline over on Stuff Nation for a letter I wrote to the MPs was bewildering. Then there's the comments and the people that have reached out to me on social media. This is probably one of the greatest things that I will ever do. My favourite comment from that was "It's because of people like you that people like me can finally have equal rights". I still get teary eyed.
1. Family
It always comes back to this. Family is always on top.
"2013 was my character development year which means 2014 is strictly action and story progression"
So in just a few hours we will be ushering the new year here in New Zealand. I know I'm not alone in saying that the 31st of December is usually a time for reflecting on the year that's been. I think this is my favourite part of the holiday season - looking at the good, the bad, the ugly, and toasting to letting go of 2013. The best part is that you know 2014 is coming and with the new year comes a whole new adventure and life lessons to be experienced. So before I get all "new year, new me" on you guys, let me just end the year with the 13 great things that's happened in 2013 (in no particular order):
13. Nexus mag music features - Netsky interview, Netsky gig, and Six60 interview
The Netsky interview was my first "big artist" interview ever. I had a few days to prepare and when he called me from Belgium on a Friday morning, I really had no idea what to expect. The interview lasted for almost an hour and I had such a great time talking to him and asking him the most random questions I could think of (I asked him what makes him come alive based on his song "Come Alive". Pun intended). It wasn't until after a couple of hours later when I got a call from one of the staff organising the gig asking if I got through the interview that I found out I was only allowed 15 minutes. Oops.
The Six60 one was also a lot of fun. They were in New York and this time I had to ring them. It took a long time for me to get through and a lot of back and forth calling from Auckland to NY but we got there in the end and just hours later, I turned in my article. That might be the fastest record of getting work done for this procrastinator.
12. Fitness
I started getting into the whole #cleaneating #healthyliving and signed up for a gym, got a personal trainer, and lost a bit of weight. Then I stopped. Not a proud moment but it's incredible that my body is now craving for that exercise and getting sweaty. 2013 was a starting point.
11. Life lessons
This year I learned a few things the hard way. The downs were pretty down, and my heart was pretty broken. I learned that sometimes karma is all you've got to hold on to.
10. Friends
My best friend moved to a city 8 hours away and it was strange not having her with me all the time. I guess you could say I was out of my comfort zone for a bit. But it was the best thing that could ever happen to our friendship as we've grown a lot because of the distance.
Same goes to my beloved girlies - Angela, Danica, Lichelle, Suzanne, Eva, Tendy, Mel, Sarah, and Steph. We don't get to see each other as often but I know they're always there for me.
Then there's all the friends I've met and gotten to know this year. To name you all would be a whole blog entry but you know who you are. Thank you for keeping me sane this year.
9. Spark
Of course I have to put this here. Spark has taken over my life for months and I cannot thank Kat and the rest of the Wintec team for this opportunity. Spark has opened me up to a lot of great opportunities and it was great to have been involved every step of the way. Meeting people in the industry that I would never have had the chance to encounter like Nadia Saccardo of Smith Journal and Zara Mirkin. Spark has been a gateway to some pretty amazing ventures like. . .
8. Blacklisted
7. Scarlet
It's funny how we never talked in class and it only took us 3 years to be this close. Now I see this crazy mofo several times a day even! So grateful for this friendship.
6. Tutors and Mentors
One of my tutors jokingly said I was an overachiever, one asked me to do a star course for a high school class, and the other one headhunted me for a job. Then there are mentors. My former tutor Flick was someone I met this year that has impacted my life. I don't think I would have gotten through that semester without her guidance!
5. Fashion Week
4. Job
Goal in 2012 was to leave retail in time for boxing day. On my mid semester break I was offered a casual job Comms job. I've been so lucky to have had a full time job waiting for me before I finished.
3. Finishing Uni
I got through it - 3.5 years of my degree and a straight A last semester!
2. Marriage Equality
This. I still can't believe this happened. Seeing my words and face on the headline over on Stuff Nation for a letter I wrote to the MPs was bewildering. Then there's the comments and the people that have reached out to me on social media. This is probably one of the greatest things that I will ever do. My favourite comment from that was "It's because of people like you that people like me can finally have equal rights". I still get teary eyed.
1. Family
It always comes back to this. Family is always on top.
<3
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