day 28- a picture of you from last year and now, how have you changed since then?

September 2009

August 2010

I tried to take 2 pictures that were as close as a year apart as possible. Besides my long hair being buzzed off (and now growing back out), and broken ribs not being broken anymore, not too much has changed. When I broke my ribs I gained some weight but I am back down to a smaller size then I was before I broke my ribs and stronger than I have ever been! I buzzed my hair off in Dec and then again in May which was one of the most liberating things. To have barley any hair is so amazing. I didn't realize how much time I would spend each day on trying to "fix" my wavy/curly hair and to really not have any was so freeing (I HIGHLY recommend all women try it! Free yourself from your hair!) umm..I moved to a great apartment. I have Finally allowed myself to commit to a relationship. And I am still a work-aholoic! I think the thing that has changed the most over the past year though is my sense of time. I never use to take time. I always wanted to go, go go, push hard and never rest. Recently I realized how unhealthy that was for me and through the year I have really started to allow myself to relax, to enjoy a social life and to not work myself into the ground. While my rib injury at the time was one of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with, this past year has been a year full of learning, growth, and improvement. I feel stronger, healthier and happier then I thought was possible. The negative of the year, I miss home. I love living in California but moments like last night when I had to spend $420 for a plane ticket home for Christmas, kinda killed me. The astronomical cost to go see my loved ones breaks my heart and I so badly crave weekends home with the folks, and the longer I'm away, the more I miss them and desire them to be near. Who knows when I'll end back in Chicago, I am sure someday, but until then I just have to be thankful for all the technology I have at my fingertips to keep me in close contact with everyone and be grateful for the ongoing love and support they give me!