hbd itsjaneslife!

Happy 1st birthday to my favorite passion project!

I am grateful, honored, and undeserving of the support I have gotten on this little blog of mine. Friends, family, acquaintances, silent supporters, and of course, my mom's friends - who may be my biggest fans; I am so glad this blog found you.

I started this blog as an escape. A place to share what I write, to relate to people, and to be vulnerable. I was mid-panic about my upcoming LSAT and decided there was no better time than to create something I always wanted to have. A blog!

As you all may know by now, I am a chronic yearner, over-thinker, the epitome of an eldest daughter, and will cry about nostalgia every so often in true cancer fashion. This blog has been a safe space for me to do what I love best - write, process, feel, and share. Maybe even overshare at times.

Throughout the year I hope you all got a glimpse at how I feel and whether it is used to know me better, or to not feel alone in this world, I am grateful you found the time to read and reflect on my words.

What a year!

October 2024 - October 2025 look so drastically different it feels entirely black and white.

A year ago I was still finding myself. Searching for a needle in a haystack, and hanging onto people and things that did not serve me. Not only that, but I was blissfully unaware of the trials and tribulations of law school and post-grad.

A year ago my biggest battle was handing a near-full class schedule with the LSAT. Looking ahead - law school is so much harder I can't express into words and the differences between my life styles would be incomprehensible to October 2024 me.

I used to be fun! I went out all the time, I never said no, I was living in the state of Georgia and attending the best school in the world with all my best friends. Responsibility was in the rear-view and appeared closer than it was, yet it felt like it would never hit us.

Now that it has, life is just so different. And let me be clear - life is not worse. But, let me break it down.

This October, I hardly go out, spend hours at school, the library, and hardly have an ounce of free time to myself.

I cannot name the last time I called some of my friends/family. That may not seem crazy, but if you know me, you know that I am constantly on the other end of a phone call. That was my original name for this podcast/blog by the way. "OMG Call Me." Yeah, I also like ItsJanesLife better.

But, while my social life is less crowded and my academic workload is more severe, I love who I am, who I choose to surround myself with, and I am proud to be where I am.

I am actively fulfilling a dream I never thought I would reach. I am academically challenged in a way college could have never challenged me. I am healthy, surrounded by love, and grateful for it all.

While it is so painfully hard at times, I know eight year old me who dreamed of living in Boston is behind me each step and in awe of the woman I am. Suddenly, it is all worth it. For the family members like my Nana and Pops who cannot see me now - I know they are smiling and had a large hand to play in this.

Guardian angels and gut feelings continue to bring me peace and I am proud to have felt such peace this year.

This year I broke habits I was proud to break, I set boundaries, I opened up to new friends, and built a stable and supportive community in Boston.

My heart, as an eldest daughter, feels so content and secure being close to family.

The safest place in the world will forever be within the walls of home and with my family.

This year my love for my family deepened in a way I can't comprehend. While we have all experienced grief of my mom's mom (Nana), my dad's dad (Pop-Pops), and family/friends, we dealt with immense heartbreak in our household.

It feels utterly dramatic to continue reflecting on the death of my dog - but the meaning behind his death is so shifting to me.

Through the blurriest of tear-filled vision, all six of us stood tall for each other. For that unconditional love, I am forever grateful.

To my parents who believe in me when I cannot find the words to believe in myself - thank you. Your support throughout the last year is immeasurable and I would quite literally be nowhere without you both. My siblings whom I love more than words can show - I am so proud of you all this past year as well.

I get teary-eyed at the thought of getting older - my parents aging, my siblings being a year older in school, and my sweet sweet Mickey who is no longer with us.

This blog holds the deep, raw emotions to everything I felt as I mourned Mickey and his informal obituary/tribute he so certainly deserved.

It holds graduation tears, sadness, confusion, and one of the biggest adjustments of my life.

It processes the words of heartbreak I could only express through words itself.

I miss my college friends, and hate that I refer to you all as "my friends from college", because it means I am not just old, but also so far away from you all.

Your support has been endless, and your love stretches through states. I feel blessed and honored to have you all in my life. When I think of us a year ago - I can't help but feel my heart swell with how much love we have poured into each other and how proud I am of everyone.

It takes a serious village and for a second I do not doubt on how stable mine is.

To breaking bad habits, healing wounds, finding peace, learning about ourselves, and letting walls down to open up love in our lives - so much happens in a year.

The saddest, happiest, most grateful and proud days of my life have stretched across this year.

I am not only proud of this blog, but of the dreams I am chasing, who I am becoming, and the village that surrounds me.

Remember, so much can - and does - change in a year.

You may not have met the love of your life yet, your favorite movie could not be created yet, your new favorite song may be written as we speak (a 13th Taylor Swift album?!), and you have not traveled to your new favorite place.

There is so much out there to discover. We are continuing to evolve into the best versions of ourselves. Trust the process.

I am thankful for this community, this blog, and for the power of writing that transpires hope and love.

To another year of writing, I promise to never stop!

Thank you for being here.

Endlessly grateful,

Jane