This is becoming a yearly tradition...

It's the 29th June again which means tomorrow is my birthday. Not just any birthday- the big 21. 

I read over my blog post from this time last year, covering my achievements of that year. It's fair to say that I've come so far since then. I don't think I could have predicted how my year in Paris was going to turn out but when people told me it would be the best year of my life so far, I didn't believe them for a long time. Now I realise how true that is. Here's what I did this year: I went completely and utterly alone to live and work in Paris; I built a life for myself out there from nothing. 

I look over my diary entries from those first couple of days which were filled with nerves, fear and uncertainty and I am so proud of myself because I've just come such a long, long way. I'm still me, I'm still Rachel but I'm a better version of myself, and that version thrived in Paris. I am already starting to find that I'm slipping all too easily back into my old, easy life. Paris was so far out of my comfort zone when I moved there and I dreaded everything that I had to do because of that. But by the end of the year, being out of my comfort zone was exciting. That's a feeling I don't want to lose, but being back home makes it easy to slip back into a comfortable lifestyle again. I love home but I need to keep challenging myself, and I do believe that the older I become, and over the next years, I will welcome those challenges and know with confidence that I can face them.

Having left Paris now, I know it will always hold a place in my heart, and will always be a part of my life. Never did I think I would be able to love a city so much since I am a real country girl. But I'm going to have to find the perfect balance of both because I can already see myself booking a weekend away back to Paris before the year is up.

Being abroad gave me a confidence which I never thought I'd find and has made me feel like a young woman ready to take on the world. That is something I'll never lose. So when I look back at my life in 10, 20 or even 50 years time, I'll remember that when I was 20, I had the most incredible year living in Paris which helped me develop into the person I want to be.

I took advantage of every opportunity thrown my way this year and have loved every minute of it. I've said yes when all I wanted to do was say no, and I've jumped when I've wanted to stop. That's a fantastic feeling and that's how I know I've made the most of this year.

I am so lucky to have had such an incredible year, and even luckier to have my lovely home and family waiting for me when I returned. So here's to another wonderful year... I'm going to make sure it's a good'un.