Oh the nostalgia. The end of the year presents the perfect time to reflect on all the moments of 2017. It’s been a year filled with many highs and more lows than I would have liked. But I’ve survived it. And I’ve definitely learned from it. So while I’m taking this week as a bit of a holiday and time to catch up on a few things, I thought I’d leave you with my thoughts on 2017.

It’s Enough To Be Me

With social media playing such a major role in my life, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea of what things should be. And there are days where I’ve had to step away. Playing the comparison game is dangerous. But at the end of the day, it’s enough to just be me. No one else can do it for me. And learning to love myself and be okay with where I’m at in the journey is the best thing I’ve done for myself.

Sometimes You Just Have To Step Away

I quietly wrote a post last month about grieving through the holidays. And honestly, losing a parent has been a major factor in shaping my year. I’ve learned to set emotional boundaries for myself I didn’t know I needed with others. There have been times where I’ve had to recognize that I need to step back and acknowledge where I was emotionally before I could help someone else. If you’re feeling overwhelmed emotionally this holiday season, I’d encourage you to do the same. Sometimes you just have to be able to get yourself through something and you don’t have any extra emotional energy to give. And it’s more than okay to give yourself the space to do that.

I Really Love Yoga

I’ve been a yoga fan for years but it’s never been a regular part of my life until the last few months. And yes, I’m sure I sound like everyone else who raves about it. But I honestly love the clarity and quiet it gives me. I don’t go to a class. I’m a fan of the Sweat app. But I use it as a time to completely quite my mind. No music. No one talking. It’s just me and the quite for 30 minutes. It keeps me centered and has become a go to when I feel stressed. I love it!

I Don’t Want To Settle

Over the last few years, I’ve read several interviews with women talking about what they’ve learn as they’ve turned 30. And more often than not, they feel like they’ve started to settle into themselves a bit more. And I’d have to agree. The older I get the more I realize what I do and don’t want. And the more things I lose or find changing in my life, the more I realize that I don’t want to settle. While I’m not the most patient person on the planet, my desire to not settle for things that I don’t want is stronger. Learning to have patience when it means waiting for the things I know I want has taken time but has definitely changed me over 2017.

Failure Doesn’t Mean It’s Over

I’m a big believer in perspective and how it effects us. It’s the difference in whether or not you think life is happening to you or with you. I also believe that everything happens for a reason. Do I know, understand and agree with every reason? Probably not. So when it comes to failing at something, I’ve learned that it doesn’t always mean it’s over. I’m a bit stubborn when it comes to learning things. And I’ve come to believe that sometimes God has to use big ways to get me to see the small messages. Failure is more of a realignment in my eyes. Am I on the right path? Am I taking the right approach? Is this where I should be or am I missing something? It gets you asking questions and those questions may very well be the reason you succeed.

Overall, the last year has been it’s own rollercoaster. And despite the losses, I’m truly more thankful for the people in my life than I’ve ever been. I’m looking forward to 2018. And I can’t wait to take you guys along with me. Let me know below what you’ve been learning this past year. I’d love to hear from you!