I want to quickly reflect on the last 365 days of my life. A LOT has happened–some good, some bad. Regardless, I’ve tried to use it all as a learning experience to better myself.
While it is a rather old stat, Forbes projected that 8 out of 10 businesses fail in their first year. I am so incredibly proud of myself and the effort that I put into my work to see that my business has been around almost a year and a half and defied that statistic. As a woman, that is incredibly empowering and I am continuously grateful to the people who trust me to work hard to make their goals a reality.
Aside from still being appreciative of my business, the greatest highlight of my year was without a doubt the culmination of several years of hard work and sacrifices, graduating from the University of Florida! I am officially a Gator for life. Walking across that stage was one of my most proud life moments. WOW! I will never forget that.
I found it pretty curious that so many people that I have not seen in awhile had been asking me if I lost weight. I always brush it off because that’s never been my goal and I never stopped to really think about it. My focus has been on just improving myself and my own health so that I can be a better person. As I reflect on the two-a-days that I did for several months, the new routines I introduced into my arsenal, and the fact that I’ve had to clothes shop for pieces that would “fit better,” I concluded… yeah I did lose weight… I lost roughly 10lbs. That’s pretty awesome. I’m really proud of that too. The past several years I have really tried to work on not comparing myself to other people and just being happy with who I am and working toward a target. I feel like this is the realization that I’ve been successful with that 🙂
I think that really leads me to what I want to challenge myself with this year. I strongly dislike making resolutions because I think that puts a lot of pressure on someone when if they really want to make a change for the better, it needs to happen when they are ready and not just because January 1st is getting ready to roll around. I am extremely hard on myself since I have high expectations and want to know that nobody will be outworking me when it comes to achieving my goals. On the flip side of that, I think I need to take a step back and also give myself credit for progressing–no matter how many inches or miles.
I have learned a lot this year–both about myself and others. I am so thankful for all of the opportunities that I have been presented with, all of the new people that I have met, the adventures that I’ve gotten to be part of… just EVERYTHING. I hope in the next 365 days I am able to help others in need, achieve the crazy goals I have, grow my business, and just make everyone proud.
I wish you all nothing but happiness and success.
<3 M
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I leave you with some inspiration, for various situations, to begin 2017:
“Many people would be scared if they saw in the mirror, not their faces, but their character.”
“Have you ever met a hater doing better than you? Me neither.”
“There’s a difference between somebody who wants you and somebody who would do anything to keep you. Remember that.”
“When you start seeing your worth, you’ll find it harder to stay around people who don’t.”
“I am not a one in a million kind of girl. I am a once in a lifetime kind of woman.”
“The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It’s about what you’re made of, not the circumstances.”
“Do small things with great love.”
“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”
“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” – Bob Marley
“Life isn’t about getting and having, it’s about giving and being.” – Kevin Kruse