137 DAYS IN. HAPPY 2020.

Oop, there it is. Happy New Year! I’ve been doing some reminiscing, and with that sentiment, I return to this blog. Hello, empty void! Now buckle up, I’m feeling word-y.

I just returned from a family Christmas vacation to Kauai, HI. My family is still there, celebrating my sister’s 21st birthday today. Although I am sad to not still be with them, I’m definitely looking forward to my first Austin NYE. A whole decade is ending, and there’s - in the words of Billy Ray Cyrus - “much to think about”.

I will have lived in Austin 137 days of 2019’s 365. Just a little under 40% of the year. Yes, I did just open a new tab to Google that. In the past 136 days, I’ve done a lot that right now doesn’t seem like much, but in the future I’ll look back and think “Hey, self, remember that one time you and your friend Ashley had a very confused Uber driver who got lost in your apartment complex, and when he finally found you, took you to throw hatchets and drink free rosé with a weird app called Nudge?” - which, true, is a super fun memory. Future me will smile when she thinks about it.

In 2019’s 365 days, I graduated college, started my first salaried position at an off-the-wall company, and moved to a new city. I know that’s worth remembering.

When I graduated from the University of Oklahoma, all my family who could make it crammed into a big and beautiful house in OKC, we all cooked a big meal together, and they got to meet my boyfriend for the first time. I walked the stage with some really good Human Relations major friends I had made only months before, but felt like I’d known for years because of all the before-class margaritas and capstone procrastination (skipping class because no one cares about discussion groups, campus corner shopping sprees, piercings?) . I spent my senior year living with two of my best friends in my adult life, and we had wine nights where we watched Sex and the City, gave each other some of the best love-life tips, and worked through some of the tough feelings that come with growing up. I guess I went to class, too? When I graduated from OU, it felt like a “final step” towards something. It was a big feeling. Okay, so I walked a stage. I have no debt (which I am endlessly thankful for), a new piece of paper in a crimson presentation folder, and had recently changed my mind about going to law school. If it was a final step, where did I go? What was my destination?

Around April, I came across the company I currently work for while getting lost in a flurry of LinkedIn instant applies and cover letters. I had just crushed a first interview at a career fair for a sales position in Dallas, and had already scheduled my second interview. I wanted to have a job right out of college and have an answer to people asking me what I was doing next, but after an awesome call from my Mema, I decided I needed to jump into something that felt more like “me”. I cancelled that second interview. Shooting for the stars, I told Bumble HQ I was interested. Bumble was in Austin - I’d gone there before for ACL Fest, and loved it. A split decision was made and I then changed my location of interest to ATX. Truly, I happened upon where I am now (that’s becoming my life philosophy). I enjoyed the interview process and realized I have a love for great company culture. I still had no idea what my metaphorical final destination was, but at least I had an idea: I’m moving to Austin, I’m working a job that has room for growth, and my boyfriend wants to come, too. I’ve been here six months now and my job has already stretched me in so many ways that I needed to be stretched in. I have a few new occupational and interpersonal skills. I’m looking forward to the next six months, and the opportunities that come with growth. Woo!

Packing up and getting to Austin was a journey. I moved home to Fort Worth and trained in Dallas for two months before I eventually curled up into a tiny, tiny ball and catapulted myself three hours down I-35, only to land off the Slaughter exit, which is also known as the farthest place you could ever live if you are going to work in the city. I woke up, battled some traffic, went to work, battled some more traffic, came home, made a meal from my vegan subscription box, watched Live PD, and went to bed. Rinse, repeat. That’s what I like to refer to as ‘getting used to being a slave to the man’. After two and a half months or so, I noticed I was getting used to balancing work and being a real person. I started going to yoga three times a week (didn’t last long), went to concerts, I started this blog. My boyfriend and I found a cute apartment and moved East. I call my mom and talk her ear off for 20 minutes at a time, catching her up on all that’s going on at work, and she offers me some of the best advice and has even coached me through how to write a few emails (shh). I’ve been to the bars along ATX’s dirty sixth, had a wild time, and feel safe saying I will never return. I’ve gone to a farmer’s market and a speakeasy. I did do that hatchet throwing thing with Ashley on one of our many adventures. I jumped back into therapy. I read six books in the past three months (brag, also add me on Goodreads). I’ve picked up a few new hobbies here and there, and whenever I’m at a certain location for work, I still feed Henry the squirrel a diverse meal of peanuts and apple slices.

Now the montage fades to black and I re-appear in front of you as I am today, sitting on this comfy leather chair, writing a stupid blog post for my blog on New Year’s Eve. 2019 was a big one for me. When I graduated high school in 2015, I also had this big feeling. Graduating high school, moving into my dorm in Norman, and starting my freshman year at OU felt a lot like graduating college, starting an 8-to-5, and beginning this clumsy journey as an adult. This big feeling is going to pass starting tomorrow, but I am ready for it. A door closed, a final step taken. When I took that step, I left high school Maddie and college Jewel behind to discover who clueless-and-in-her-twenties Jewel might be. So far, I think she wants to keep bees. That’s weird.

Did you read all this? Woah. +10 points. Wait, -5 if you’re a family member. Actually, then +10 because you’re a family member. Thanks for thumbing through my thoughts as I overthink 2019. Thanks for saving my mom a three-hour, one-sided phone conversation. If you can relate, or if you have a comment, keep it to yourself. Kidding. Have a very happy New Year! Here’s to 2020 + the new decade!

Yours,
Jewel