The Year of Opportunity

Happy 2024 y’all! I will always be in awe of just how quickly time passes by. In the blink of an eye, another year has passed. I hope 2023 treated you well, but if not, then I am so glad you are still here to start fresh in this new year. I am an open door for anyone who ever needs a listening and trustful ear!

2023 was a whirlwind, and by far the busiest years of my entire life. I called 2023 my Year of Opportunity. I travelled the world and was on multiple plane rides every single month excluding March and May. My flight miles are racking up, which is a plus – LOL! There was a lot I shared on my blog about my year and travel adventures, but also a lot that was not shared due to the hustle and bustle of my schedule.

My favorite highlights from each month of 2023 include:

January:

• Kicking off the year on New Year’s Day by having a beautiful walk along the beach and dip in the ocean with the 324 girlies (It has been my dream to live away from the cold weather, and getting to experience warmth and sunshine year round always has me feeling grateful)

• Making it a priority to play pickleball consistently with 324 and Hannah & Mike (If you haven’t played, please try it! It is my new favorite form of exercise)

• Attending my friend and coworker Hilary’s winter wonderland wedding in New Hampshire

• Completing the 30-day New Year Yoga by Adriene challenge with Abby

February:

• Visiting my bestie Christina and meeting her now husband Seb in North Carolina for the first time the weekend of their first ultrasound for their son Grayson

• Having Michelle spontaneously drive from Virginia to North Carolina to meet up with Christina and I

• Meeting up with my friends Jesiree and MaeLynn in Orlando, Florida for a day at Disney Springs, and then staying over my cousin Alex’s house for Super Bowl weekend on the east coast of Florida (getting to live in the same state as Alex again is beyond special)

• Meeting a group of SoFlo ladies where our friendship has continued to grow and our adventures are endless

• Hitting the 2 year milestone of this blog!!!

March:

• Seeing the sunrise at the beach for Abby’s birthday with Care, and Cara (who was visiting us)

• Hosting my parents, brother, and his girlfriend, and being an epic south Florida tour guide for them

• Going on a swamp boat tour in the Everglades with my family and seeing alligators in the wild

• Going out in Miami, Florida with my friend Kathleen and her coworker as they were in Florida on vacation

April:

• Meeting Christina and her now sister-in-law Wiktoria in Walt Disney World for a fun long-weekend

• Attending my bestie Erin’s bachelorette trip in New Orleans, Louisiana, which is now one of my new favorite U.S. cities

• Having Anna come visit 324 and having a fun Miami day trip

May:

• Hosting my bestie Jess in south Florida for the first time

• Celebrating Barbara’s birthday south Florida style

June:

• Travelling to Roswell, Georgia with my besties and roomies Ab & Care to celebrate Care’s birthday, and so I could see the area where they are hoping to move to someday (I will forever say Canton Street in downtown Roswell reminds me of a Hallmark movie in the best way)

• Attending a Digital Marketing Conference in Miami, Florida with Jesiree

July:

• Embarking on the most incredible European vacation post-pandemic with my favorite travelling crew to:

-Ibiza, Spain

-Barcelona, Spain

-Hvar, Croatia

-Split, Croatia

-Sinj, Croatia

-Dubrovnik, Croatia

-Honorary layover mentions: Lisbon, Portugal & Dublin, Ireland (two countries I would love to go back to and fully explore)

• A pinch-me moment was seeing Calvin Harris perform in Ibiza, Spain

August:

• Attending Christina and Seb’s baby shower in North Carolina for baby Grayson

• Expanding my marketing mentoring skills

September:

• Being a bridesmaid for the first time in Erin & Travis’ wedding in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and reuniting with my Core Crew (Brendan, Carly, & Erin)

• Attending Ashley Cooke’s headlining tour at her Boston, Massachusetts show with my mom and being front row having the time of our lives (I’ve followed her since quarantine, and it was so surreal to engage with her as an audience member and see her perform live)

• Finishing my final Master’s degree course

• Spontaneously having Jess fly down to Florida so we could meet Kathleen and her friend Maddie and have a weekend out in Miami, Florida

• Waking up Simon (Carol’s youngest brother) with Abby and Carol and bringing him to Walt Disney World for his first time (such a core memory seeing the magic in his eyes)

October:

• Attending my cousin Alex’s wedding and assisting behind the scenes and throughout the wedding day (we’ve talked about our weddings our entire lives and growing up as nearly sisters was so surreal seeing her marry her best friend. She was such a beautiful and glowing bride, and I cannot wait to see where life takes her and Angel next!)

• Going to Walt Disney World with my parents

• Taking my parents to Polite Pig in Disney Springs (If you know me well, you know how much I love this restaurant)

• Turning 28 and thrilled for what awaits during my next trip around the sun

• Taking my mom out to a newly discovered happy hour spot and my favorite sushi restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

• Attending my friend Anna’s wedding in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico with my mom, Abby, Carol, Hannah, and Mike, & reuniting with Abbey and Molly who I haven’t seen in so long (Anna was the most stunning bride, and it was such a memorable wedding and trip! Cheers to her next chapter as a wife! I also highly recommend staying at Secrets Moxché in Playa del Carmen on your next trip to Mexico. I felt like royalty staying there!)

• Dressing up as different Barbies on Halloween with my friends and Barbara hosting a Barbieween themed get together)

November:

• Spontaneously driving to Roswell, Georgia with Ab and Care for a nice long weekend getaway

• Going to the Georgia Aquarium and eating at the Atlanta Breakfast Club in Atlanta, Georgia – a Food Network recognized restaurant

• Flying up to New Hampshire to walk across the stage at commencement with my friend Liz and earn our Master’s degrees together (hands down my proudest moment of 2023 as I earned straight A’s and landed a 4.0 GPA after 4 long years)

• Spending time with my loved ones celebrating my commencement, and rekindling with family and friends while being home in New Hampshire for Thanksgiving that week (honorable mention is Thanksgiving Eve, which always leaves my bestie Michelle and I with plenty of happenings to unpack from that night each year)

• Going on the Christmas lights walking tour with my parents, brother, and his girlfriend at LaBelle Winery in New Hampshire

December:

• Watching a Christmas parade while discovering our new favorite happy hour spot, The Wine Garden, and seeing the giant Christmas tree lit up in Delray, Florida with Ab and Care

• Seeing A Christmas Carol at The Palace Theater in New Hampshire with Haley, her family, and my mom

• Reuniting with so many wonderful friends, family, and coworkers while being home during the Christmas season and sharing many traditions, smiles, and laughs

• Eating Chinese food and driving around to see Christmas lights on Christmas Day

• Wrapping up the year by hosting a New Year’s Eve game night at 324 with Ab and Care, & our south Florida crew

2023 was unforgettable. It was jam-packed, and I was always on the go while balancing so much on my plate. The memories created were truly memorable, and I embraced every opportunity that came my way. I never pass up an opportunity to travel. So much more happened throughout the year that was not highlighted, and even some not-so-good moments. Social media sees the best parts of someone’s life and rarely the bumpy parts.

I got really sick a couple times this year, which put such a strain on me physically. I was emotionally drained from receiving countless rejections from jobs that peaked my interest, as I am looking to pursue a role that pertains to my Master’s degree. I was also extremely stressed during the last few classes of master’s program because every point mattered towards achieving my goal of a 4.0 GPA. I put a lot of heavy stress on myself in striving for perfection, but putting my best foot forward in my education has always mattered to me, so it is a double-edged sword. I also miss my grandparents so much, and it has been a difficult transition with them moving back to Uruguay last year, and not having them close by for holidays and milestones. Thank goodness for technology, so I can stay in touch with them over video chat and social media. I also experienced the loss of a close family friend who was always such a joy to be around whenever I saw him, especially around the holidays, so unexpectedly not having him around this year was sad. Change and uncertainty for what the future holds is inevitable. It is ok to not be ok with where your life is at in certain areas. It is also extremely important to seek out and have a strong support system to support you during the rollercoaster of life. I lean on God, my family, and friends, who are such strong supporters. I have allowed space for myself to express my emotions while also maintaining a bright outlook for what is in store for 2024, and choosing to be a light every day.

I feel like less is more for 2024. Stressing and worrying less, and not exuding any extra energy to those who do not return it. I am so confident in who I am, the close people I have in my life, and where my journey is headed. God is so great, and I just know He is guiding me towards a year that is perfectly intended for me. I am ready to openly receive all that is being offered in all areas of my life in this new year. My year is filling up fast with so many exciting plans, and I am hopeful for curating an even better life for myself in this next year. The best is always yet to come! Sometimes resolutions don’t always stick, so instead, come up with a positive affirmation to repeat to yourself every day. Mine is: I am led by my dreams, open to all opportunities, and driven by my future!

2024, let's see what you have in store! Wishing you all a prosperous, joyous, and healthy year to come! Cheers to always looking ahead! See below for some never-before-seen photos of 2023. Stay tuned for continuous blog posts in 2024! Thank you to my readers for your endless support! I love you all endlessly!

Remember to stay humble and kind, always!

Follow me on my personal social media platforms to stay up-to-date with my every day life:

Instagram: jess_puch

TikTok: jesspuch

xo –Jess