Nineteen 19 – It's Me Emily

In previous years, I’ve chosen a quote for the year to reflect on and subsequently, would write about it at the end of the year to share my progress. For three years I did this. In 2019, however, I decided I needed to stop living by others’ words and live by mine. I changed my tune and reflected on that which comes from me. My lock screen, instead, changed a few times throughout the year, before I settled on this image. My heart, my Christ, my faith, my family, my life.

Nineteen, as a number, I found holds some small significance/coincidence in my life. It is important to me. It’s a word, a number, that reflects my life. And that is the sentiment of which I somewhat selfishly wanted this year to be about. My life.

Both my younger siblings were born on the 19th day of their respective birth months—Allison: June 19, Jonathan: April 19. Nineteen is also the age that my older brother passed away and subsequently, the age at which I surpassed him of time on this earth. To my siblings and I, nineteen connects us. But this is just a small tangent. A small coincidence that I find God willed for me and my siblings to share.

I didn’t completely succeed at refocusing this year on that which is important to me. In my opinion, I gave a lot of my energy and time to things that I found no satisfaction and happiness in. This is why, in 2020, I’ve made a goal to spend even more time on me! Of course, that means I still give to that which is for and with others. But I’m done spending time living off others’ words, actions, and wishes of me. Nineteen I found should be of my life. Twenty can be even better!

But here’s 19 things this year of and for me and my heart, my Christ, my faith, my family, my life.

I visited Warner Brothers Studios and got to sit on the Friends couch!! (I’m obsessed with Friends)

2. I got a second ear piercing!

3. My friends and I dressed up as Teletubbies for a date night!

4. I hit a reset button and absolutely thrived in Turks and Caicos!!

5. During a visit, I thought to myself, you should move to NYC (watch out 2020, I just might)

6. Found peace again in South Carolina (which you can read about here)

7. Sat in my backyard and listened to a lot of country music!

8. Spent a lot of summer as a tourist of LA

9. Sat in the back of a music video! (for Cody Ko and Noel)

10. CELEBRATED MY 21 BDAY WITH SHAWN MENDES (at his concert with my roomies)

11. Met the men of Hannah’s season of the Bachelorette (Garrett, I’m still waiting for a response to my Insta dm) (also ty to Megan for celebrating her bday or this moment never would have happened)