My Favorite Memories of My 24th Year

Even though my 24th year didn’t exactly come to the end that I was expecting (i.e. we are currently on lockdown here in California for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19), this past year was a pretty good one overall. There definitely were some low-points, but there were also a lot of really high highs, and I know that those moments are the ones I will remember. I can’t wait to see what 25 has in store and since we spent my birthday in lockdown, it’s definitely made me take stock and feel a lot of gratitude for what I have at this moment in time.

Going Climbing Outside for the First Time ~ 24 was the year that Brad and I got really into climbing. I had climbed a little bit in high school and it was something I was always exposed to since I have quite a few family members who are really into rock climbing, but I had never taken a huge interest in it till this last year. Brad and I started going to the gym about 3-4 times per week and started to get really antsy to finally climb outside a bit. Luckily my uncle, who is a really experienced climber, took us out one afternoon to a local crag and I had my first go at climbing outside. To say it’s more difficult than climbing in a gym would be an understatement, but the rush you get being 30+ feet off the ground, standing on the tiniest footholds, and crimping like there’s no tomorrow is absolutely unmatched. More than anything, it’s felt really rewarding to find a lifelong sport in climbing, which is something I honestly never guessed would happen at this age.

Dinner Parties with Friends ~ We really leaned into having a lot of dinner parties with friends this year. I’ve definitely reached an age, along with my friends, that going over to each other’s houses, drinking wine, and cooking dinner is so much more fun than going out to the club. My group of friends decided that we would do both Friendsgiving and Friendsmas, which were so much fun and I think we will continue this tradition for years to come. I absolutely love hosting and cooking and it’s so much more fun when you get to share it with your best friends.

Our Trip to Alaska ~ This past September we took a cruise through the Inside Passage in Alaska with Brad’s family and it was an incredible trip! I’ve been to Alaska twice prior to this past trip, however I had never been to that part of Alaska. The scenery was absolutely incredible and we were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights, which is pretty rare for the time of year we were visiting and how far south we were. Brad and I also got a lot of great quality time together and we were both able to really switch off from work (which is rare for us) because our cell service was so minimal throughout the trip.

Getting Engaged! ~ I think this is pretty obvious, but getting engaged was the highlight of my 24th year. The day that Brad proposed was easily the best and happiest day of my life thus far. The proposal itself was such a surprise and I am so happy he involved my sister and her boyfriend to document the whole thing so we can look back on the video and the photos year after year. Brad and I have been together for 3.5 years and lived together for almost two years and honestly I didn’t think being engaged would change our relationship too much, but it definitely has for the better. I definitely feel a whole new level of commitment, even though we were obviously very committed before he proposed, and having our wedding to look forward to is so fun and exciting.