Growing old is required. Growing up is optional.

The last week of my life has been CRAZY! I finished up work a week and a half ago, and then decided I needed to visit my sisters before leaving the country. Two days in Salt Lake and two days in Fruita left me three and a half days to finish my preparations for moving abroad. Needless to say, the last three days have been killer. First off, let me just say that trying to fit your entire life for the next year into 2 fifty-pound checked bags, a carry-on, and a backpack -- not easy. In fact, I failed. (FYI, $39 upgrade to first class for my LAS to LAX flight = free overweight luggage + an item checked off my bucket list. Totally worth it.) Luckily, I have awesome parents who are willing to pay the overweight luggage (upgrade) fee. Today I spent all morning running around. Last minute shopping, desperate repacking, cleaning, and panicking when the zipper on my carry-on bag broke. It was great. Not to mention, the nerves have started to set in. It was bound to happen. I mean, the girl ...

Last week I spent some time skyping with a good friend I haven't talked to in a while. During our conversation, she said that she thought it would be interesting (and kind of creepy) to be able to put her current mind in her 5-year old body -- how she would see the world differently, what choices she would make differently. This got me thinking, what would I do differently if I knew when I was younger what I know now? In all honesty, I don't think I would change any choices I have made up to this point in my life, because those are the choices (the good and the bad) that have brought me to where I am -- and I'm pretty happy with that. But, I still like to think about what advice I would give to a younger me... Be confident in yourself. You are beautiful and strong and more capable than you give yourself credit for. Don't be afraid to take chances. Not everything works out, but that's ok. You'll never know unless you try. Don't let your fear of doing some...