I have been reflecting on the past year for the last few days, reflecting on what happened, what didn't happen and what might have been. On the face of it 2013 has been one of my most challenging years. It has also been one of my most fulfilling. There were several goals I set out to accomplish at the outset of 2013 and now as I look back to see exactly how I fared. I didn't really set them in categories. I just knew what I wanted accomplish as at December 31, 2013.
Becoming fit and healthy was my main goal for 2013. Eating properly and exercising consistently was huge on my list. At the end of it all I was eating a little better; not great progress but progress nonetheless. I am indeed more conscious of what I eat, what I cook and foods I buy. I check the nutritional value of packaged items thoroughly and try to dissuade others (like family, friends) if I think the item is less than ideal. I experiment more in terms of what I didn't previously eat and I like it. I have come a far way and realise that becoming fit and healthy is not an overnight process and you have to do the best you can one day at time. With my decision to become more active and eat better I decided to document my progress (hmmm) as I deemed this my last attempt at this area of my life. I will be nothing less than fit and healthy. As a result I started blogging. Albeit was my second attempt but I felt that I needed additional motivation to get my drive to do better and be better in gear. Persons have taken an interest in my blog and I am definitely appreciate the love thus far. It has boosted my confidence and motivated me even more to keep going (getting fit & healthy and blogging).
Another goal of 2013 was to save more and be more prudent in my spending. The beginning of 2013 was great with the saving. I was on a roll. I was diligent. I admit I was never a conscientious saver but my priorities were changing and I was doing better. Then life happened and the lady that sells me clothes occasionally happened. The latter I resisted as best as I could but the former was harder to avoid. I battled through and I am trying to recover. Overall my savings have dwindled a little but I save anything - even a $1 (yes, a Jamaican dollar). I am definitely wiser in my spending. I take longer to make a decision especially when it comes to spending my money. I weigh the pros and cons of spending my money on a particular item and question its important to me. I ask myself, "Is it a want or is it a need?" Most times it is a want and even though the desire to buy the item doesn't go away I force myself (most times) to walk away. I also think about the opportunity cost (all my econ friends know that this is). What do I forgo when I spend money on a particular item? What I am sacrificing if I purchase this item? At the end of 2013 I can honestly say that I am doing better.
Another area of my life that I didn't pay a lot of attention to was my spiritual side. Sure I went to church, I prayed, read my bible sometimes and thanked God for a lot of things but I wasn't serious or rather serious enough. It's like now at the end of 2013 I felt like I had been wasting time not allowing myself to see how important God was to my existence. I made up some serious ground on this one in 2013. I have ways to go, trust me, but I've come so far. My boyfriend, Richard, introduced God to me in a manner that completely threw me. I had previously felt like I had to be a particular person or be a particular way but it's just the opposite. He accepts you as you are. He loves you as you are. You only need to acknowledge, and in Him, believe and hold on to your faith in Him. Truly an eye opener.
Most of my friends know that my current occupation is not my ideal but I have learnt to live with it as really and truly I know nothing else. Numerous attempts to break free of my current industry have been futile. Most Jamaican employers I find are no way eager at all to give someone a chance to gain experience in a particular field especially when their experience in the field is limited. So in light of this I have decided to search within my industry for something I think I could do long term and certainly establish a career in same. After lots of research and soul searching I have finally settled on a career within my industry that I indeed think will be fulfilling. I will reveal more in late 2014.
I have learnt so much about myself. I have learnt to be more positive and keep negative thoughts inside and replace them with positive words on the outside. I learnt that the people you expect to be in corner are usually the ones walking away from the corner. I have learnt that people are definitely in your life for a reason or season. It helps that I am learning who the seasonal ones are. I take them as they come and watch them leave.
2013 has been challenging - a lot of disappointments occurred in 2013. Disappointments that made cry but I'm still standing.
2013 has been fulfilling - One of the most crucial lessons of 2013 that I learnt was that God has always been in my corner. Leave everything in His hands. Trust me when I say it works; He works.
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