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IT'S WINTER, CHRISTMAS TIME is just behind us. THE END OF A YEAR, THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ONE. ACCORDING TO DATE, IT IS A TIME TO BOTH REFLECT AS WELL AS LOOK FORWARD. A TIME FOR TAKING STOCK, FOR BEST PRACTICES AND FOR SETTING NEW GOALS, MAKING NEW PLANS AND LISTING NEW (YEAR) RESOLUTIONS.
"NEW"
A BLANK PAGE, A FRESH START. DIFFERENT, BETTER, IMPROVED, YOUNG(ER), MODERN, CURRENT.
WE ALL WANT TO BE THE VERY BEST WE CAN BE AND ARE CONSTANTLY STRIVING TO IMPROVE OURSELVES AND EVERYTHING IN OUR LIVES.
NEW EVERYTHING! A NEW YOU!
I AM THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT LIVES BY THE PRINCIPLE OF CLOSURE BEFORE BEGINNING SOMETHING NEW. NOT ONLY IN ANTICIPATION OF A NEW YEAR, BUT AS PART OF MY EVERYDAY LIFE, PROFESSIONALLY AND PRIVATELY. IT GIVES ME:
ORGANISATION: HAVING EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE AND IN ORDER.
DIRECTION: A CLEAR VISION OF WHAT I WANT TO ACHIEVE.
AND HAVING THIS ENABLES ME TO HAVE A CLEAR MIND AND FOCUS, WHICH KEEPS ME MOVING FORWARD, KEEPS MY EYE ON THE BALL, THE BIG PICTURE. I AM IN CONTROL - TO A CERTAIN EXTENT OF COURSE - OF MY PRESENT AND FUTURE.
SOMEWHERE NEAR THE END OF NOVEMBER, THE FIRST THOUGHTS OF WHAT HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR START TO POP UP IN MY MIND. AND IT'S AROUND THESE LAST DAYS OF DECEMBER THAT I AM PUTTING THEM IN WRITING. ALTHOUGH IT APPLIES TO EVERY DAY, EVERY MOMENT EVEN, TO ME THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE NEW BEGINNING THAT COMES WITH JANUARY 1ST. A NEW CHANCE TO DO EVERYTHING EXACTLY AS I SET OUT TO.
REFLECTING ON A YEAR GONE BY
SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED. MANY SMILES, TEARS TOO. I HAVE LOVED AND FELT HARDSHIP. LOST SOME DEAR TO ME, GAINED NEW LOVED ONES WITH BABIES BEING BORN. I HAVE HAD SUCCESSES AND FAILURES. ACHIEVED GOALS AND MISSED SOME TOO.
OVERALL, DIFFERENT TO PREVIOUS YEARS, THESE LAST TWO HAVE BEEN Especially CHALLENGING. A PERIOD OF CHANGE, of GROWTH, OF PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION. LEAVING THE SAFE HAVEN WHERE I BUILT MY CAREER WORKING SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH MY FAMILY FOR OVER 12 YEARS HAS HAD AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON ME. SIMULTANEOUSLY ENTERING MY THIRTIES HAS MEANT I HAVE SERIOUSLY GROWN UP AND LITERALLY FLEW OUT OF THE NEST. OFF TO DO SOMETHING NEW, ENTIRELY ON MY OWN.
IT IS ASTOUNDING TO ME HOW "CHANGing jobs" in particular HAS INFLUENCED EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF MY LIFE, WITHOUT EXCEPTION. I REALISE LOOKING BACK THIS MIGHT BE QUITE OBVIOUS, BUT I NEVER FORSAW the IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE. FOR THOSE 12 YEARS, MY WORK WAS MY LIFE. WORKING - ON AVERAGE - 60 HOURS A WEEK, EVERYTHING I DID REVOLVED AROUND WORK. THE BUSINESS, THE COMPANY, THE FAMILY. AFTER LEAVING, I DISCOVERED IT HAD BECOME MY IDENTITY, I HAD MADE IT SO, AND NOW I DIDN'T KNOW WHO I WAS WITHOUT IT. WITHOUT THAT JOB, THAT POSITION, THAT SCHEDULE, THE FANCY OUTFITS, THE COOL CAR AND KILLER LOUBOUS (HUNG ON TO THOSE THOUGH;-))
THIS WAS A VERY SCARY, UNSETTLING TIME FOR ME, AS I SUPPOSE ALL CHANGE INITIALLY IS FOR EVERYONE. I WAS IMPATIENT AND RESISTING. BEING PROUD OF WHAT I HAD ACCOMPLISHED (I.E. WHO I WAS) I WAS UNWILLING TO LET GO OF THAT AS I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE LEFT. GRADUALLY, I DID LET GO THOUGH, BUT THIS WAS NOT A CONsCIOUS DECISION. IT JUST HAPPENED. I GUESS IT HAD TO, I HAD TO, BECAUSE THAT WASN'T MY LIFE ANYMORE. AND SOMEHOW, TAKING EACH DAY AS IT CAME, THERE WAS ROOM FOR NEW IDEAS. a new life. THE PICTURE OF WHAT MY DAYS AND FUTURE COULD LOOK LIKE BEGAN TO FORM ITSELF AGAIN. AND AS THESE NEW PIECES FELL INTO PLACE, I got to know MYSELF TRULY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
LOOKING FORWARD
WHAT FEELS GREAT IS TO BE ABLE TO SAY WITH COMPLETE HONESTY THAT I SO LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE. MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, IT IS FILLED WITH POSSIBILITY! OPPORTUNITY! I AM WITH THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, LIVING IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES IN THE WORLD, SURROUNDED BY WONDERFUL FRIENDS AND FAMILY. EVERYONE DEAR TO ME IS IN GOOD HEALTH. AND WE ARE ALL BUILDING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER. THESE ARE EXCITING TIMES!
IF THERE iS ONE PIECE of ADVICE I COULD GIVE YOU FROM MY LEARNINGS, IT IS TO follow YOUR INSTINCT. TAKE THE plunge! trust that small voice in your ear that is voicing what you really think. success doesn't happen over night, and having a great life takes hard work, but there is nothing more fulfilling than living out your passion. and there are few things as valuable as getting to know yourself to the core.
for now
i Am keeping my plans and goals for 2017 to myself, but promise to share with you over the coming year. and i look forward to seeing and hearing about yours!
I WISH YOU A fabulous NEW YEARS EVE SURROUNDED BY THE ONES YOU LOVE, DELICIOUS FOOD AND OVERFLOWING BUBBLY! and MAY ALL YOUR PLANS, GOALS, HOPES AND DREAMS COME TRUE IN 2017!
LOVE, NA
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