I was brave ... in my own way

In 2015, I jumped on the bandwagon of adopting a word. Throughout the year, I tried to embody that word the best I could.

My word was BRAVE.

I really hope you're singing the Sara Bareilles song in your head.

So, what did I do this past year that was brave?  Let's see what I can remember ...

-- I asked out not one but two different guys.
Both of them essentially said "thanks, but no thanks." So it wasn't a great outcome, but I still gained something from it -- confidence. And I didn't lose anything, really. One of the guys is still a great friend.

-- I went places alone. A lot of places.
I did 10 races in 2015, and I went to most of them alone. Last week, I went to three hockey games. For two of them, I was flying solo. And you know what? I had a great time.  Now, I've gone places alone for a long time, but I still see this as brave. Especially considering I'm new to hockey and am not completely in my comfort zone there like I am at a baseball game.

-- I took on a new job that fuels one of my interests.
Last February, I became a beertender at one of my favorite breweries. Since I started, I've learned a lot about the business of beer, the making of beer, and about customer service in general. I've also made some new friends, which has been a big bonus.

-- I drew the line with friends who proved to be anything but.
Cutting people out of my life is very difficult for me. I'm very loyal. Probably too loyal. It sometimes gets me hurt or walked all over. I will often put up with mistreatment for far longer than I should. But this year, I made some changes, eliminating toxic people and building walls between myself and people who maybe don't have my best interests at heart.

I still have a lot of room to grow in the realm of bravery, but I'm getting there. I'm getting better at looking out for me and taking care of myself.

What word would you use to describe your 2015?