2022 was a year to remember forever.
It is January 2nd, 2023 and this is the first time I get a chance to sit down and write out my thoughts. 2022 was such an incredible year; I cannot believe all the things that happened, all the things we accomplished, the challenges we overcame, and just how much fun we had this year. I actually wish 2022 could go on forever. It taught me that anything and everything is possible if we just, persevere.
Here’s all that went on during the year:
January – Started the year off in Ecuador with family! Who knew that was going to be the last time I saw my grandma before she passed away. I enjoyed spending New Years with her and her asking me a million times when the wedding was and when I was going to have kids haha.
End of January was my bachelorette and we went to Knoxville, Tennessee! random place but it was beautiful and so much fun.
February – Took a quick trip to Colorado for our annual ski trip!
February 22, 2022 we had our civil wedding!
March 4th, 2022 we got married in Guatemala! It was the most beautiful couple of days filled with fun, laughs, love, and our closest people!
Right after we got married we went to California for a work client for one of clients! so that was like a mini honeymoon? haha
April – Went to Mexico for my cousin’s wedding!
May – Went to Mexico again for one of Luis’s friend’s wedding!
June – Went to the Dominican Republic for my sister’s wedding!!
End of June we embarked in a crazy adventure! We headed to Europe for 3 months. We did not do a conventional honeymoon and we LOVED it. It was the most amazing trip I have ever been on. Just the 2 of us, traveling across Europe. Doing touristy things during the day and working at night! It was so much fun and at the time time very very tiring haha towards the end, we were a bit tired of doing touristy things but it will be a trip we will never forget and something we want to do again. The cities we visited were: Rome, Santorini, Naxos, Latina, Florence, Sienna, Sorrento, Agerola, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Amsterdam, The Hague, Delft, Rotterdam, Lille, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Segovia. Intense but so worth it.
September 14th, we came back to the states and I was sooo sick! I was sick for about 2 weeks but life kept on going haha. I had to travel a couple of days after I arrived in the States and went to San Diego for a conference.
Then, back to Miami – packed up and embarked on a another adventure!
October 1st, 2022 we moved to Colorado! We bought the house back in September 2021 and it was ready while we were in Europe so when we got back to USA it was go-time.
November – Flew back to the East Coast for my cousin’s wedding in New Jersey! It was so much fun to see and spend time with family even if it was just for a weekend.
December – I had to travel to Miami for a couple of days because I had to go to the doctor (a story for another time) and then came back to Colorado.
My parents and sister came and we did an early Christmas dinner. I really hate not spending holidays with my family and that’s how it was this year… Although Luis’s mom and brother were here and it was so much fun and beautiful, I felt like something was missing… hopefully next year we’ll be able to spend time Christmas and New Year’s together!
And that was pretty much our year! As I wrote out everything, I realized I traveled every month of 2022! How amazing is that?! I love LOVE LOVE to travel. I love being on a plane, I love being on a train.. just everything about it. It really gives me life.
I’m not sure we will travel THAT much in 2023 but I still want to go places. I think 2023 will be the year we explore Colorado, our new home. There’s SO much to do here.
So, as 2022 ends and 2023 starts, here are some things I will take with me and I hope to pass on to you:
- Continue to have an adventurous heart
- Say yes and then figure it out
- Don’t spend too money on things that don’t add value – TRAVEL!!
- You can make things work – get creative
- You can travel and work at the same time
- You can most definitely do hard things
- Sacrifice is worth it
- Don’t stop dreaming
- Dream – Plan – Execute
- Take care of yourself. Health is the most important thing
- Do not cap yourself. Although this is cheesy… the sky is the limit
- Just. Be. You!
With every nice, fun, fancy thing, there always comes some sort of chaos – it’s just bound to happen. Whatever happened in 2022 for you, I hope you found the grit to keep pushing forward. I hope you found moments to smile and even moments to laugh at yourself… this is life. Beautiful and messy at the same time.
I hope 2023 brings you MORE moments of joy and happiness and YESSSSes!
You can do it.
Let’s go!!
-Belen
