5 Firsts in 2015

This is probably the first time in my adult life that I’ve said this, but this year was a long one. I remember last New Year’s Eve I was reminiscing, and just couldn’t believe how quickly the year had flown by. And the year before that I had recently readjusted to moving back from France, so that year seemed to vanish as well.

But 2015 wanted to linger a little, and I’m ok with that. It was a very eventful year for me, and although I didn’t cross tons of major milestones, I’m still happy with what I’ve accomplished.

Instead of reflecting on the resolutions I kept, or the goals I met, I thought I’d share with you 5 “Firsts” I had in 2015. That’s way more exciting! I am always motivated by trying new things, and have big expectations for next year…

5 Firsts in 2015

1. First 5K RaceI wouldn’t say I’m an athletic person, and I’d always rather choose the couch than any sort of physical activity. I refuse to spend a significant amount of money on running shoes (what’s the point? There are so many pretty shoes out there!!) and I just can’t invest my time in joining a sports team.But this year, I ran my first 5K! It wasn’t anything hardcore, I mean 5K isn’t really hardcore to begin with, but I completed the “Santa Shuffle” this past December. It was a fun and friendly “Ugly Christmas Sweater” run :) and I was so lucky that the day I raced it was 12 degrees!! Would I do it again? Probably not. But it gave me a little motivational boost, and I’ll definitely be setting more challenging fitness goals for 2016.
2. First time going topless on the beachI’ve lived in France a couple of times in my life, and I’ve grown used to seeing European women lounging topless on the beach. I’ve never had the guts to join in…until this past summer!When I went to Spain in June, I had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful beaches in Malaga. Just as I’d seen hundreds of times before, many women were walking around confidently sans bikini top. I was with my good friend Linda, who basically said YOLO and encouraged me to embrace my European side - if only for ten minutes.I wandered into the waves and felt totally free!! Swimming (almost) naked is way more fun! People weren’t pointing and staring, no one really cared at all. It’s funny how such a small act can feel so liberating :)
3. First time using “No.” as a complete sentenceThis one comes as a bit of a surprise for me, because I’ve always seen myself as decisive and self-assured. And although I do possess those qualities, I’ve always had trouble refusing requests or rebuffing proposals I didn’t agree with. In the past, if I was ever in a situation where I disagreed with the idea at hand, I would always find it necessary to over-explain myself and sometimes just acquiesce.Maybe this comes from my need to be polite, always. Or maybe I just enjoy being a people pleaser. But this past year I’ve learned that it’s ok, and in some cases necessary, to just say “No.”I’ve wasted a lot of time caring about how others might react to the choices I make, and 2015 was the year I grew out of that. The first time I said “No.” felt SO awesome - and the person I was addressing didn’t throw a fit, or judge me, or threaten me with voodoo magic. We had a respectful conversation, which ended with both parties realizing which expectations were realistic and which were unfair. Win!  
4. First time in the driver’s seat during a long roadtripThose of you who know me well, know that I’m not the BEST driver around. On long-haul trips I’m usually sitting shotgun and navigating or controlling the music. But when I took a road trip to Montreal this year, I took my turn as driver! For a lot of you this isn’t a big deal because you’ve all had your licenses for like a decade or more at this point. But for me, I was peeing my pants a little because I’d never driven for so long and beside so many trucks!!We drove on the Thousand Islands Parkway, which was lovely and scenic and after I relaxed a little I actually found myself enjoying it. Would I do it again? Yes! I probably should do it more often actually, to become more comfortable and to give Azim a break ;)
5. First time putting myself out there, following my passion, and starting Jocelyn CaithnessStarting my blog has been by far the most rewarding experience of 2015. I can’t even begin to find the words to explain how much joy Jocelyn Caithness brings me. When I first started, I was worried that all of you would think that this was some sort of vanity project - that I just enjoyed taking tons of pictures of myself, and that all I cared about was pretty clothes.From the beginning I’ve tried to express myself authentically. This blog is a place for me to express my love of styling outfits, for creating content, for discovering new places around my city and around the globe. I like writing about things that my readers will find useful, and to perhaps make someone smile once in awhile. Thank you all so much for reading along and encouraging me every step of the way! I love all your suggestions and helpful advice, and cherish the friendships I’ve made in the blogging community :)Azim and I have lots of new posts planned for 2016, and I’m looking forward to what’s to come!

Sending lots of love and warm wishes to you and your loved ones for the New Year <3 xoxox