This time last year I was, like most people, wishing the following year would bring good fortune. I was hoping I would find some answers, go on new adventures, meet new people and be a better version of myself. As I'm sure most would agree, 2016 wasn't necessarily the greatest year in history; however, I accomplished most of my goals. In the last year, I changed jobs, had my heart broken, moved to a city I never thought I would live in, and let go of relationships that I thought I would never have to say goodbye to. In retrospect, 2016 may not have turned out exactly how I planned, but what does? Here are some life lessons I have learned along the way.
5. If you have to force it, leave it.
Do you ever text someone and become immediately anxious because you're not sure whether or not you will receive a response? Have you ever sent multiple messages because your initial message was read and ignored? Do you ever feel like you are always the person who initiates conversations or plans? We have all been in situations where we feel like we are putting in more than we are getting in return.The more you try to control something, the more it controls you. If you feel like you have to prove your worth to someone, it's time to walk away. This lesson wasn't learned the easy way, nor was it learned the first time around (or the second), but eventually it sunk it.
4. Say yes to new adventures
They say life begins at the end of your comfort zone. 2016 definitely tested the boundaries of mine. I left the job that gave me my first "real life" experience and took a job that made me question my abilities. A few short months later, I found myself moving to a new city and trying to navigate this thing called life. Life is full of opportunities if you are willing to take a leap of faith. Say yes, you can figure out the details later.
3. Old ways won't open new doors
Do you ever find yourself in a state of deja vu? You think to yourself, "I've been here before" or "that sounds familiar"? I have found myself in this position a lot here lately. The people in my life may change, but the situations never seem to. It took me some time to realize that the only common denominator was me. In 2016, I was forced to re-evaluate my life and my goals and realize that if I want different results, I had to change the way I was doing things. If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done.
2. Intuition never lies
I have always been an overthinker. I have found myself on multiple occasions running through situations in my head trying to decipher mixed signals and read between the lines. I have made excuses for people and tried my best to justify the actions of those I cared about even when deep down, I knew the truth. I have learned to trust my gut instinct and that when something feels off, it probably is. There is no sense in prolonging the inevitable. If you question whether or not you can trust someone or their words aren't matching up with their actions, you probably already know the way it is going to end. Don't ignore the red flags, they aren't going anywhere.
1. Life has a funny way of working itself out
I have always been a firm believer in fate, karma, and the notion that everything happens for a reason. Everyone has their share of good and bad times, but everything that happens serves a purpose. If certain events didn't happen or we didn't meet certain people, then we may never have experienced some of the best moments of our lives. Every person we meet, job we hold and hardship we endure teaches us something about ourselves and the world around us. I often worry about what is going to happen next and spend countless hours trying to figure out where I went wrong, but I have learned that everything will work out the way it is supposed to. I have learned to be thankful for the struggle because in the end, I will be better for it. I have learned that I may not get everything I want, but I will always get exactly what I need.
So here's to 2017. There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.
