With the stroke of midnight, the calendar year of 2017 is now officially behind us. Welcome to 2018, where anything is possible. None of us can know what the new year is going to bring, but we can focus our energies on looking ahead, while still reflecting on what’s behind us.

Looking at the year behind us, there were certainly some incredible moments, and I definitely grew on several personal levels. After many long years, I finally got my driver’s license, something I’d been working on (and on, and off) for seven and a half years. On a personal level, my husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary. These were the two biggest moments of the year for me, and they weren’t insignificant.

My family expanded, as my sister-in-law got married, and that will continue into this year as they’re expecting their first child, which is so incredibly exciting. I also got to do some traveling, including one new state (West Virginia) and had some wonderful time by the Finger Lakes.

On a professional level, I got to keep writing, covering hockey and even found a few new opportunities to do so. I also seriously did NaNoWriMo for the first time, and although I didn’t finish it, it was a start – a start on a novel I hope to finish and publish, in 2018.

So what will 2018 bring? I don’t know, but I’m okay with that. I’m hopeful.

I definitely have some goals for the year ahead – including my aforementioned novel, provided I don’t totally dump it – but overall, I’m just trying to stay open-minded and open to what the year brings.