Looking back at 2016, I can’t help but think about how much I’ve learned. I don’t know if 2016 was my most successful year personally and professionally, but I’ve grown from it. These are the big life lessons that I learned last year.
Self-care isn’t wasting time
This year I really learned to listen to my body and take care of myself. In college, I used to think I wasn’t being productive if I allowed myself a break or took a nap. Now I understand self care is really about taking the time to help improve myself for the future. I’ve dealt with anxiety and depression during my lifetime and especially through college. This year I finally feel like I’m more in control because I made more time for self-care in 2016. I tried different things like avoiding coffee, learning tai chi and eating healthier. It’s one lesson that I will continue to work on through 2017 as well.
Make time for relationships
When I took a year off from college I really distanced myself from friends and family. In the end, it wasn’t the most healthy thing to do. I put myself in a position where I needed to rebuild relationships with many people in my life. This year I learned to put myself out there and reach out to friends and family. I moved back to the east coast to be closer to family. I visited extended family in Bolivia that I hadn’t seen in 8 years. I made sure to reach out to friends I hadn’t seen in a long time. I made time for more spontaneous invitations for boba and coffee with friends. In the past, I was worried that reaching out to someone may appear needy or insecure. However my worries and fears are what kept that relationship from growing. Being vulnerable and available to friends and family isn’t being needy; it’s being a good friend or family member. I’m so grateful for a beautiful 2016 of friends and family.
Never stop dreaming big
I was a big dreamer in high school. I knew what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go and how I was going to get there. College really knocked me down and made me stop dreaming big. I felt like I was always in survival mode until last year. Maybe it was the graduation jitters, the support from my boyfriend or finally figuring out what I am passionate about in life, but I am so grateful to be inspired to dream big again. Now I don’t have my entire life planned out in detail, but what I have are big goals and dreams for myself now, in the near future and many years from now. I want them to inspire me but there is always the possibility that they can grow and change. I have exciting plans for 2017 including what I want to see happen with this blog. Let the dreams begin.
Get out of your comfort zone
I lived in California for the past 6 years and I absolutely adored it. I was comfortable there and I could see myself living there forever. However, I’m still young and I didn’t want to settle down just yet. I realized that now is the best time to move to the east coast again. My boyfriend and I wanted to try a new city and challenge ourselves to explore the east coast. So I moved to Boston during the end of 2016. It was the best decision I could have ever made. It’s been difficult to move my life from one coast to another, but I’m glad I got out of my comfort zone. I am trying new things and meeting new people in a city where I don’t know anyone. I can’t wait to feel at home in Boston and experience another chapter in my life. This 2017 will be full of new adventures and experiences.
Live consciously
I’ve been interested in natural, non-toxic beauty for years now. It was one of the first big steps towards a conscious lifestyle that I made a while back. This year I took this journey a few steps forward. I self-reflected on my lifestyle: consumption habits, diet and more. I learned about growing and eating food that is sustainable and ethically grown. I educated myself on the conventional fashion industry and shared my findings on this blog. I finally made my first big ethical fashion purchases and even consider myself an ethical fashion blogger. In 2016, I learned so much about living a conscious lifestyle that I made the commitment to live one myself. I will continue to share this journey with you through this blog. There will be food, beauty, fashion, lifestyle tips and more. This might have been the biggest lesson I’ve learned this year, but the education only continues.
Hope you enjoyed reading about the lessons I have learned in 2016. What has 2016 taught you? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
‘Til next time.
