We went on an afternoon hike to Carpenter Peak--the highest point in the park. The 6-mile trip was not technically difficult, apart from the icy conditions left from the most recent deep freeze. Still, we took our time and enjoyed the sunny day and mild temperatures.
We eventually found our way to the summit and took in the panoramic views, pointing out the usual landmarks and snowy summits that we recognized.
As you might have guessed, Dana is the new special man in my life.
After sharing tea and good conversation, we began the descent, quickly noting the drop in temperature with the setting sun. Near the trailhead, we stumbled upon a surprised elk. I ventured that we were the last ones on Carpenter Peak for the year.
Back in Denver, Dana and I shared a night of cooking, champagne, Star Wars, and a stroll through Cheesman Park at midnight. I could not have asked for a more ideal way to start a new year.
In reflection of the past year, I feel incredibly lucky for having had so many wonderful opportunities and experiences. For a long time, I looked forward to 2016 as the year that I would finally finish my schooling and become a pharmacist. While this was indeed an enormous achievement, I have realized that this marker was just the beginning. The decisions that I have made since graduation--my move to Denver, a summer working at Whole Foods, taking on a pharmacist role when I felt ready--have helped me learn and grow in unthinkable ways. As a result, I feel more mature, complete, and happy than I have in any previous time of my life.
I anticipate many changes in the upcoming year. While many fear change, I yearn for it. There is something to be said for the ability to adapt to the dynamic twists and turns of life. And so it is my goal to take one day at a time as I unfold the layers of an optimistic future. Raising a glass to 2017!
