bienvenido a 2014!

Ecuador was big. Strike that, Ecuador was huge. It was a trip that got into my bones. It was exhausting to my bones, too; I swear it's the loudest country I've ever explored. We were woken up at all hours of the night, every night, by everything from dogs (dogs, always always dogs!), roosters, cock fights (for real), car alarms, explosions of an indistinguishable nature -- you name it, it woke us up. 18 days is a long time. I never even realized it. It's enough time to fall in and out of love with a destination and then back in love, enough time to feel like you almost live there, enough time to feel like you're a real nomad, enough time to do laundry twice at the local laundromat, and enough time to burn and peel and burn and peel and finally tan. It's enough time to experience reverse culture shock when you get home. It's enough time that I still, almost a week after returning, feel homesick for the places we saw and the people we met. It's a long time.

But I'm back! And I'm ready for 2014, even as I'm still trying to catch up on sleep, kick a lingering stomach bug or food poisoning that Zan and I both have, submit my graduate school applications, and meet freelance deadlines that I've already pushed back a little too much. 2014 has me starting off running, and that's fitting - because it's a great challenge with time constraints to do it all to the very best of my ability. This year, to use every cliche in the book, I want to start from the ground up, go back to basics, fix the cracks in my foundation, etc. 2013 was a year in motion. 2014, I hope, will be a year in being the best version of myself.

I have so many stories, pictures, and memories to share over the next few weeks (who am I kidding? probably months), and I can't wait to do that. But first, here are my goals for 2014, in all their messy, broad, hopeful candor.

"Leave off from wrath and let go displeasure" - I'm reading A Prayer for Owen Meany, and this quote - a Bible verse - is often mentioned. Even though I'm not religious really at all, it got to me. Over the past few years, I've lost some of my, "everything bad that happens isn't bad it's just a great story in the making" mentality and let the little things get to me. I get angrier faster, my temper is more heated, and I have a harder time just letting it all go. I want to remember that happiness is a choice, and it's far more fun and enriching to choose it than getting lost in the muck.

Treat Zan well. I remember learning in church as a kid (I was once religious!) that we treat those we love the most the worst. I think because we trust them the most and we trust their steadfastness, it's easier to take things out on them. Whatever the reason, I don't want that to be the case. Not with Zan or in any of my relationships with the people who mean the most to me. I want to love more intentionally this year.

Be more organized at home and at work!

Pause before reacting. Oh, this is so big for me! I am my mother's daughter, which is to say - emotion rules all. It can be good - we're passionate and fiery. But it can also be bad - anger and negative emotions wear so transparent on me. I want to keep my emotions in check, take time for breaths, and take a moment to chill out before I decide how to respond to negative situations.

Find an activity I love to do. I'm thinking salsa dance lessons. And a slow, slow start back to running. I want to eventually achieve my goal of a half-marathon, but this year - I want to stay injury free.

Drink more water. We have pint glasses at my offices. I want to drink at least 5 of them a day.

Learn Spanish. It's time, y'all. I loved needing Spanish in Ecuador, and I hated that I wasn't better - that I wasn't fluent. I will hire a tutor this year, join a class, really dedicate time and energy to taking on this language that I love.

Eat fresher. I'm not horrible about this, but I can be better. I can be much, much better.

What are your goals and hopes and dreams for 2014?