What's your story, 2017?

There are things you know at the back of your mind that need not present themselves so often; to the extent that you sometimes don't give them the credit they deserve.
There are things you are aware of, that are so one with your soul, you hardly ever take time to acknowledge.

This is me acknowledging my 2016.

2016 was a roller coaster disguised as a year for me and I think the ending culminated into a bitter sweet 'happily ever after' bringing to mind how steep the downfalls were and how uplifting the climbs were.

Never before have I felt so much in one year than I did in 2016 and I think I owe all thanks and curse to a circus I have for a heart and an open book I have for a soul.

I did stupid things, smart things, heart breaking things and heart mending things and all not necessarily for myself. This is not to say I have been ignorant to myself, infact, I did learn to be selfish and look out for my own needs over my friends for once. You know what it taught me? It proved to me how much I hate that idea.

2016 showed me that in letting go whats toxic to your soul, you inadvertently allow positive energies in.

I graduated from college, got a job, got another job, had 3 love interests that were toxic from conception and made friends I know will stay for the long run. I also let go of attachments and obsessions and learned there will be no growth without change.

2016 was also a year I admitted things to myself that take a lot of courage and a lot of soul energy. to the point that it tires you mentally. I fought battles within myself that not many on the outside knew about, and the handful of people who I shared this with, stood by me and pushed me on.

I opened up to people who in-turn opened up to me and it showed me more than anything, what a guarded world we live in. I made a pledge to myself to be alright with weird, to allow myself to be odd and strange and to be me more than anything. No matter how uniform the world asks me to be, I made up my mind and my heart to be as different as I can be even if it means letting go of a few people I've met along the way.

2016 taught me that we're all here for a short period of time and we owe it to ourselves and to the people we love to express ourselves, to tell the people we love that we love them, to talk to people we find intriguing and inspiring, to read the books we want to read and write blogs we want to write, to kiss the people we want to kiss, to ask for help when you need it, and to help when you see someone suffering in silence.

I started using a new conversation starter. 'Whats your story', I asked. and the answers were mind-numbingly beautiful. The best friendships began there.

2016 put a lot of truths in the back of my mind, and I wish nothing more than to hold them as a filter before me, for this new year. I want to take the things I've learned about me into this new year and add layers of truth and positivity to them. I wish to become the best version of myself this year and I hope you find it in yourself to be honest with your heart too.

Have a beautiful year ahead, you guys.