This year has been one of the most challenging, draining, tiresome years I've ever experienced. However, this year was also a very successful year! These are a few things I have learned this year - hopefully some of you reading this will be able to relate.
1. Loving yourself is essential for loving someone else
This year has definitely been the year of me discovering what the term "Loving yourself" really means. I was in two serious relationships this year. I can definitely say that I loved both of those boys more than myself. I was giving my relationships more time and effort than I was giving myself. I was not allowing myself to grow and develop as a young woman. When I'm in a relationship, I'm always the one to go full-force. I gave so much of my heart and soul into both of those relationships and unfortunately, when they ended, I was the one who got extremely hurt. The main reason why I was so hurt after those relationships is because I loved too hard too quickly. You would think that after my first heartbreak, I would have learned and grown from that experience. But, unfortunately, it did not go that way. After those two relationships, I really started to focus on myself. I started joining clubs at the college I attend, I got really focused on my school work, and I started to focus on my health. Learn to love yourself before you hop into a relationship, ladies! Relationships and friendships will all come in due time!
Feeling sexy is OK!!!
As one of my favorite artists, Demi Lovato, said in her recent documentary “When I feel confident I feel sexy, when I feel sexy, watch out!” Demi Lovato is one of many women who has inspired me to feel confident and sexy in my own skin! This year was the year where I finally found this sense of confidence. One thing that really helped me was finding my fashion sense. I tried so many different pieces of clothing and so many different styles and then one day, I threw in a pair of ripped jeans and a Thrasher shirt and looked at myself in the mirror and said to myself, “Damn girl you look good!” I will never forget that day! It may sound silly but that grey Thrasher shirt and ripped pair of jeans really helped me develop my “sexy side.” The minute I started to develop my style was really when I started to feel so good about myself! The moment you start to love yourself is the moment that you will feel like you can take on the world! Being your own version of sexy is probably the most amazing feeling ever!
3. Enjoy the time that you have with your family
As I get older, I really start to appreciate my family more and more. My sister just got married this past summer and that gave me a huge realization that family changes. I love my family so much - I don’t know where I’d be without any of them. I’m so appreciative of the family that God has given me. Some people don’t get to go to their grandparent's house during the holidays or go on family vacations. I’m so blessed to have a family that does all of those things. I guess what I’m trying to get at here is to just be thankful for the time you have with your family because you do not know what tomorrow brings.
4. Do not settle for less
Like I said, I was in two serious relationships this year and even though I had some responsibility as to why they didn’t work out, I definitely deserved a whole lot better. When you’re in a relationship, it’s supposed to be about love, respect, and being there for each other. I can’t say that I had that in either of my relationships. I feel that if you’re in a relationship, you shouldn’t force the other person to change or to feel bad about themselves. Relationships and love are amazing things but you can’t always settle for the first person that comes around. Sometimes (not always) boys or even women will go on a date here and there and show the other person a whole facade, and then the other person in the relationship later finds out that they are not being genuine. Do not settle for less!
These are just a few of the things that stood out to me this year! We all have our challenging years but the best part is being able to grow and become a stronger human being.