It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, issa new lifeeeeeee…… and I’m feeling goooooood! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It’s amazing how fast, yet slow, a full year, let alone a DECADE, can fly by! Words cannot express how blessed, how fulfilled, how encouraged and how determined I am to end one decade, and begin another. I’d love if everyone could just take a moment to breathe, and reflect on your accomplishments, success, failures, and lessons.
While I believe that it’s important to make New Year Resolutions, I also think it’s even more important to make “New Year Reflections and Changes.” Here’s my life example: In 2014 I left home and moved to Vermont to study finance; defying my father who wanted me to be a nurse and stay in Philadelphia. I then promised myself that I wouldn’t let my family deter me from my dreams. In 2015, I decided that my wardrobe badly needed a upgrade. So, I spent a full year stocking up on shoes, sweaters, jackets, hats, jewelry, jeans, dresses and makeup! This was the year I learned that when I want something, I work for it! In 2016 I didn’t make a New Year Resolution or have a reflection, (I should have because my attitude towards people was crazyyyy whenever I snapped) and ended up getting fired from a job I needed, losing my housing and moving into a freshmen dorm room my junior year (very embarrassing). In 2017, I reflected on my past reactions, and worked towards thinking before I act or respond, seizing the moment, and letting go. So, I went to Morocco for 4 months and then Shanghai for 10 weeks; upsetting my father who didn’t want me to leave the country. In 2018, I made a HUGE promise to myself that I will no longer allow people to take advantage of my kindness and love because not only am I worth it, I am ENOUGH. I also vowed that I wouldn’t allow another man into my heart who wasn’t clear with his intentions and vulnerability. Then, like clock work, the love –and pain– of my life told me that he was in love with me. Dua Lipa’s, New Rules, was also the #1 song on my playlist LOL. In 2019 I made not one, but TWO New Year Resolutions that I will first practice financially literacy and second, travel my ass off. I am so proud to say that I’ve accomplished both! All of my resolutions were discussed between myself and God before they were perused and accomplished. Lets talk about that!
I am strong believer in speaking your wants and needs into existence in DETAIL. I am a God fearing woman, so I tell God everyday what it is that I want, as I walk in his name. My best friend is a very spiritual person who reads her tarot cards, meditates, lights up and burns a little sage when she talks to the universe about what she wishes to accomplish. I know people who just walk outside and shout towards the sky what they want. Lets practice TALKING about our desires to succeed and overcome obstacles in 2020. If we talk more, discussions are more likely to begin. With having discussions comes access to more knowledge and different way of thinking. Having more knowledge will spark your decisiveness, and to be decisive is to produce a defining result. 2020 is our year of RESULTS.
This 2020, I am choosing to reflect on my life in 2019 and simply do better. I want to practice slowing down, calming down, sitting down, and breathing. Sometimes we have so much going on between work, home and school that we forget to take a break and just practice our breathing to calm to souls. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, we can be too quick to react to situations that don’t deserve a response. If we take a moment to slow down, calm down and breathe, we’d realize that some situations aren’t worth our presence and energy. Sometimes, we can be so money hungry to save and pay off our student loans as quickly as possible. But if we sit down, calm down, and breathe, we’d realize that it’s okay if our loans won’t be paid off until we’re 45 –I know… It’s a crazy concept to process– But, the truth is our credit scores will get a boost if our longest line of credit was for 20+ years (as long as we pay the minimum on time!) And sometimes, we’re tempted to move out of our parents house ASAP! But the truth is, if we just slow the hell down for a second, we’d realize that staying at home for a year, potentially rent free, will help us save money BEFORE we move out so it’ll be EASIER to actually move out!
In 2020, my boyfriend and I are moving into our first apartment together with our kitten + celebrating our 2 year anniversary in February. My best friend is graduating college AND having a baby this spring/summer. I’ll be celebrating 2 years as a financial analyst at my job. Tax season is here! And, most importantly, I walked into 2020 alive, healthy, and happy.
We’re a little over a week into the new year so lets reflect and not regress but move forward and conquer everything that we deserve. Be blessed, be safe and be the best YOU this year!
Traveling While Black 