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Twenty Eighteen
Now when I say those two words, I could basically write you a novel but we won’t do that today. Reflecting back on this year and all the change that took place has been on my mind for quite some time now. I’ve grown as a person and have met so many wonderful people along the way. I’ve traveled to so many places this year which I am forever grateful for (I love to travel). Let’s not forget the biggest excitement of 2018 when Justin asked me to be his wife! This year has been a road full of up & downs but also so much excitement. If there is anything twenty eighteen has taught or helped me with it would be the following: passion, strength, focus, and faith.
PASSION
Finding that perfect job is tough, but once you’ve found that one thing that makes you jump out of bed in the morning that’s when you know it’s the real deal. This past year blogging took up 75% of my life, besides school of course. I have had SO much passion for the fashion industry & inspiring others through my blog that sometimes I have to tell myself to take a day off. There’s always people who don’t understand what I do or why I put so much effort into it but that’s totally okay. Twenty eighteen has taught me to pursue my passion & how to create your own definition of success.
“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire”
-unknown
STRENGTH
Have the strength to forgive but also never forget. Have the strength to say NO to toxic people in your life whether that be friends or family. In fact, it’s your life, isn’t it? No one else has a say except you and if anyone has a problem with that… well that’s on them. You have no reason to apologize for something you didn’t create. Sometimes it just is what it is.
“All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me”
– Walt Disney
FOCUS
Something I struggled with this year was focus and patience. I just had the hardest and most challenging semester of my life. Trying to grow my blog too required A LOT of patience & trial/error. In 2019, I’m beyond determined to just FOCUS. I know it is super easy to get side tracked (TRUST ME I KNOW LOL). But I have noticed if you just mark things off your to-do list instead of procrastinating it is so much easier on you & your mental health! I felt so overwhelmed at times this year and my anxiety levels were through the ROOF but that didn’t stop me from pushing forward.
“To create something exceptional, your mindset must be relentlessly focused on the smallest detail.”
-Giorgio Armani
FAITH
Now this is the most important thing. Always have FAITH. This is something I would like to stay more focused on this upcoming year. We get side tracked a lot and tend to forget how much God has given us to be grateful for. Also, following our own path and making our own decisions instead of his is where we sometimes fail. I’ve always said everything happens for a reason and that has come to be true from what I’ve experienced. One of my biggest blessings this year was Justin asking me to be his wife. From previous years, I experienced so much disappointment & heartbreak that I didn’t know what God had planned for me at the time. Fast forward a few years later and now I know EXACTLY what he was doing. He was giving me the guy I had dreamt of my entire life, the one who has always been by my side, the person I share so many laughs and memories with day-to-day, and the one who loves me unconditionally. Faith goes a LONG way and for that I am forever blessed.
“I want to be a woman who overcomes obstacles by tackling them in faith, instead of tiptoeing around them in fear.”
-Renee Swope
