2011: Lessons learned
Posted on | January 2, 2012 | 2 Comments
Two thousand and eleven. What a year it has been.
The year kicked off with horrible news that never seemed to stop flowing. There was sadness, and there was loss. There were more “worst case scenarios” that directly impacted me and those close to me than I’ve experienced in all of my previous years combined. Confusion, acceptance, and discovery are words I’d use to describe the past twelve months with. Self-awareness and personal growth are the other ones.
I wanted to give 2011 a proper sendoff considering how much of an impact it made on me and as a result, I’ve compiled a list of things (in no particular order) that I learned over the course of the past year. The list is not surprising, but discovering them first hand and experiencing the truth behind them was. By no means is this list definitive or exhaustive; it’s simply a culmination of what I’ve learned up until now.
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1. The world never stops turning, no matter how much you want it to.
Up until March, I was so focused on working through some of my daily personal struggles, that I lost sight of the bigger picture. The sudden and unexpected death of my uncle in May pulled me back into reality and reminded me how short and delicate life really is. The lesson: live, follow your dreams, and never fall prey to regrets and what-ifs because life is too short to live in regret.
2. Listen to, and respect your body. You only get one.
It’s important to slow down. I need(ed) to slow down. My stress fracture took care of that, but I’m hoping the next break I take is completely by choice.
Too often this year, I felt like I was spinning out of control trying to balance all different areas of my life. There’s only so much I can do, and I have to continue reminding myself that considering how stubborn I am. From an emotional standpoint, I felt exhausted and tapped out and that combined with efforts to maintain regular exercise caused me to fall apart.
3. It’s not worth doing it all on your own.
Is it really that important to be able to say at the end of the day that you did something all by yourself? This year, I learned to let people be there for me when things got really tough. My friends pushed me to challenge myself to become a better person. They also lent me their shoulders and ears when I felt overwhelmed and selflessly celebrated my success with me without ulterior motive. I’ve realized being independent doesn’t have to mean operating in a silo.
Having a solid network of friends and family are what makes living in this world worth it. Seriously. I’ve tried my best this year to be a good person and friend to those who matter to me.
4. Never stop trying, and never stop questioning. Everyday.
I am terrified of complacency. I am terrified of standing still for too long if it isn’t good for me. Several years ago, I caught myself settling into the life I thought would be the easiest to lead and wondered why I felt so panicked and unhappy. I tried to take the easy way out for short-term gain and convinced myself that it would all be for the best.
Never.
Ever.
Again.
5. Good—great things happen when you least expect it.
Just when I was feeling stagnant and disenchanted with life, I took a trip in March and snapped out of it. Taking a step out of my daily life routine helped me get me back on track and remind me to start making plans to cross of more items on my life’s to-do list. And somewhere along the way, I realized how gorgeous life is. This year, I’ve met and befriended several people who have quickly become lifelong friends. I live minutes away from some of the best coffee, meat, cheese, and most recently, grocery store. Without realizing or searching for it, my life became even better than it was before and I was in a good place to soak it all in.
6. A regular yoga practice has made me a better person.
My yoga practice has gone far beyond being another mode of exercise. As previously established, it’s very rare that I take a step back from my daily life. Yoga allows me this luxury. When I’m on my mat, everything melts away while I focus on getting through my practice for the day. Not only have I noticed an increase in physical strength, but I’ve also noticed an increase in emotional strength. I’ve become more patient, understanding, and calm. I’m sure those around me will agree that’s a good thing. 
7. It’s okay to be unsure.
The older I get, the less I know… and that’s okay. Of course it seems silly to admit it now, but I really thought I’d have it all figured out by this age. Clearly, I’m nowhere close to figuring it all out and it turns out that I’m more confused than ever. Bills, rent, responsibilities. It’s hard not to get bogged down by the little things – and scared of not knowing what should come next. I choose not to get bogged down, even if that means having no idea what to do about it (yet).
8. Forgive yourself for taking risks.
(The day I moved into my first post-student apartment)
I have to stop worrying about how stupid I’ll feel if I fail at what I’ve set out to do. I have to stop beating myself up for daring to dream even after all this time. Previous experience has taught me that amazing things can happen as long as I apply myself and focus. How many times have I “failed” by society’s standards in life? A lot. And I’m going to fail again. I have to remember this. Sometimes the fear of disappointing myself is enough to make me question taking the risk in the first place. The only way to overcome this is to be ready to forgive myself when things don’t work out. But let’s face it – things always work out in the end.
9. Time heals all wounds.
Looking back, I’ve realized that everything that’s happened to me – good or bad – has shaped me into who I am today. Every closed door really did mean another one opened elsewhere, even if it took a few years for me to see it. This was a really difficult one to learn, and I only really experienced major “breakthroughs” in the last 12 months.
10. It feels really damn good to give.
Nothing feels better than seeing delight on a person’s face when you give something to someone you care about. Don’t worry, I don’t have an endless supply of disposable income either – even something as small as a hug will go a long way.
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And with that, I feel like I’m off to a good start with 2012 – a little older, a little wiser —- and more confused than ever. 
Here’s to life and adventure. I can’t wait to see what this year brings!
All the best and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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2 Responses to “2011: Lessons learned”
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January 7th, 2012 @ 11:24 pm
This was such a great reflective post.. so many good lessons to be passed on. I agree with a lot of them.
January 9th, 2012 @ 12:24 am
Thank you, Jessica, for visiting and commenting – I’m glad you agree