This past year has been a mad one, don’t you think? I know how cliche it is to say this but it has honestly gone so fast – I don’t think I can even process the fact that 2017 is soon to be over!
To be totally honest with you, this year has been full of extreme highs and lows. And although it’s been a strange thing to go through, 2017 has provided me with so many learning curves and lessons to take along to the new year.
So what better way to celebrate the fact we’ve made it through another year, then to share what this one has taught me?
SELF – CARE IS HARD SOMETIMES
Contrary to what Instagram will tell you, self – care isn’t always face masks and Lush products. Of course it can be this, but there is so much more to looking after yourself then the luxury stuff and I think that’s hit me hard this year.
Sometimes, self – care can mean letting go of old friends who are no longer serving you or make you feel good, or sometimes we can lose friends when we put ourselves first. Both are painful and difficult situations to go through but are so worth it in the long run.
2017 taught me that I need to get serious about my self – care and I need to put myself first, or else I can’t be there for anyone else.
YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT, GODDAMMIT!
On a similar note, this past year has taught me that I need to practice what I preach when it comes to mental health and looking after yourself.
I am often very public about caring for mental health and I am the first to encourage my loved ones to take care of themselves. But for the longest time I didn’t take my own mental state seriously – and how that’s come to bite me on the arse this year!
2017 taught me that, regardless of how you’ve been in the past, you do have a mental health and it is something that needs to be taken seriously. Take care of yourself, be honest and seek help if you need it. We all struggle sometimes.
HARD TIMES = GROWTH, BUT OH HOW IT SUCKS!
Can you tell that this has been a little bit of a difficult year for me? š But as I said in the beginning, I’m actually feeling quite grateful for it all, as it’s allowed me to grow and learn so much.
Because this year has been so full of extreme highs and lows, I’ve learnt that you only really grow during difficult times. It’s those times that allow you to really get deep with yourself. You’ll learn how you cope, what triggers you, what makes you feel good and so on. But even though I know how beneficial these hard times can be, it doesn’t stop them sucking and it doesn’t stop the negative impact is has on me in the current moment.
2017 taught me how to cope better with hard times, how to lift myself back up and the signs to look for when things start going downhill again.
SOMETIMES YOU NEED THE DULL MOMENTS IN LIFE
Like I keep saying, there’s been some extreme highs and lows this year. One of which was my graduation in July, which was definitely a high! I had worked so hard for so long to get to that moment and although it was wonderful, and I still can’t believe I have a degree in a subject I love, life suddenly got in the way again.
I felt so underwhelmed for such a long time. After all that hard work, effort and fun I was now back at home, working in retail and, along with a bunch of other obstacles, I’ve found myself feeling like a failure for the past six months or so.
But being out of education and being away from creative/productive work has allowed me to relax and get a grip on my life again. University was a wonderful experience for me, but it also came with it’s difficulties and I now understand that I’ve needed some time away just to live. To get back in touch with myself, so to speak.
2017 taught me that there is value to every season of life. Comparison certainly is the thief of joy and just because your journey differs from those around you (or online!) doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Take things at your own pace and stop being so hard on yourself.
So there we have it! This has been a bit of a personal post and basically a summary of my 2017. How was yours?
Happy holidays!
Speak soon,
Rachael.
Rachaelic 
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