2016... What a year

Well 2016 has been all kinds of crazy, things have been bad and really good, but stepping into 2017, I feel really good. I'm happy and I'm grateful! I don't feel like I'm stuck in the middle of anything. I feel like I know what I'm doing (kind of).


The year kicked off with me being at home and coming to university to some exams, I had the best birthday I've ever had in my 20 years. I flew to Budapest, rattled around a coach for 24 hours to France to ski with some amazing people and of course had the funniest of times with my fab rommies.

I finished my second year of university, I almost got a placement at Intel and then had it pretty much taken away from me.... I went to Bali for 1 month with my best friend, I had my laptop breaking on me more times than in should have, preventing me from finding a placement (if you don't know, placement year counts for 10% of your final grade), so it was all super stressful and I balled my eyes out for the first 5 days of the trip (Sorry Eli). But minus that, I had the most amazing month of my life and all in all I wouldn't have anyone else by my side while all of that was happening than my bff.

Then come September, aka the hardest month of my life, which in hindsight I can laugh about now, but at the time it felt like I was trying to hike Mount Batur in heels, falling flat on my face every second step I took and that I will never make it. Turns out I was just wearing terrible tennis shoes and it all worked out in the end... (I actually did hike the Mount Batur, a volcano in Bali with tennis shoes, and yes my ankles were dead by the end of it).

I'm looking back and I can't help but smile, despite the very hard times 2016 came with, it was the year that I realised my strengths and my weakness, but most importantly I formed an even stronger bond with my mum. That is the most precious thing of all. Me and my mum have always been close but now she's my best friend. She tells me stuff, I tell her stuff, we talk about life and we laugh together. It's the most beautiful thing.

Life as I said has been super busy, but nothing a bit a lot of caffeine can't fix and get us through this whole adulting thing, right?!

This year, a lot of self growth has taken place. I feel so much more confident in my own skin and being myself. And no, I'm not talking appearance wise, I'm talking me as a person and everything that comes with it.

At the age of 20 I'm finally accepting who I am. I'm becoming confident to speak out in front of big crowds, despite mistakes I may make. People who know me now will probably find this as a surprise, but put me in front of a crowd I don't know, and see me shake like a leaf.

Of course, what do you do when you're afraid of something? You volunteer to do exactly the thing you're scared of. I feel like I've been doing exactly that since my first year of university e.g. putting myself for presentation assignments and I can see the change. So in 2016, I just hope to carry on saying yes to things, even if they petrify me!

2016 is also a year that I found out what I want, or more importantly what I don't want. I feel like this year, I'm stepping into 2017 truly happy within, knowing that I'm not leaving behind anyone who didn't want to be in my life. 

Take in the small things, enjoy the time you have, enjoy being with yourself, enjoy being with others, grow, learn, be interesting, reflect and develop. And for goodness sake, spread love and love.

Bali with my wonderful wonderluster.
 (This is an example of terrible attire I always seem to pick when climbing very rocky cliffs)
Exploring Cornish seascapes 
See you next year lovelies. I'm ready for adventure!
a.
xoxo

4 comments

  1. I absolutely love this girl! Well done for going through so much in 2016 and coming out with a positive outcome and mindset!

    Sophie xx | www.snippetofsophie.com

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    1. Thank you lovely! In hindsight, I haven't been through all that much compared to other and now I'm like so totally fine and happy... Like people should know that when it's crap, it's not crap forever! xoxoxo

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  2. Third time I'm trying to comment as Google decided not to publish my last ones �� Starting the year with such a positive mindset is something we should all be aiming for! And using challenges in life as motivation rather than setbacks is so healthy and inspirational! xxx

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    1. Awww Millie! Thank you for trying! I'm hopefully transitioning soon so hopefully it will all be ok when I do! Thank you for your comment, I agree we should use everything to push forward, after all, everything that happens you need to use to gain perspective and as I said to Soph, if it's crap it's not crap forever and we should remember that when going through breakups, work stuff etc etc. xoxoxo

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