So it seems that the general consensus on 2016 is that this year sucked.....
I really hate that the general population (read: the people that I follow and stalk via social media) had a bad year, but 2016 was one of the most memorable and eye-opening years of my life. This was honestly a reallllllly good year for me. Sorry! It was not perfect, void of tears and upset, nor was it my "best" year yet (I am sure my best years are the ones that I can't remember as a baby), but it was a year that I needed. This year had to happen in order for me to grow. I needed it to prepare for the next chapters of my life. And of course, I am going to give you a list of reasons why, because that's what "bloggers" do.
|I became a picky eater|
Thank God for the growth of my taste buds. I knew that the food I ate was important, but I never really cared. Now I do. I am picky about the food that I consume. McDonald's is the devil, anything that comes fast won't be worth it, and vegetables are not the enemy. Being a picky eater is okay when you are picking what's good for you.
|My sister became my best friend|
Something about our time apart during college created a disconnect with each other. This year was our first full year living together after going off to school. There was plenty of fighting, yelling, and pettiness. But there was so much more love. I laughed my hardest with my sister. I spoke and thought the easiest around my sister. I was the most comfortable with my sister. I felt closer to her this year than all the times in our old playroom with the Barbie houses we made out of baskets we found around the house. The amount of videos I have with just the two of us is scarrryyyy!
|Black Lives Do Matter|
The Back Lives Matter movement has been in existence since 2013, but my understanding of it took longer than I like to admit. Slow progress is still progress though. Don't get me wrong I have always supported them, but it was because I felt obligated to do so as an African American. My support is now a choice. It happened after I saw Cameron Sterling crying on national tv over the inexplicable death his father, Alton Sterling. Something about his tears hit me in a way that the other deaths had not. It was gut-wrenching. Then marching with my own city through the streets to demonstrate our support was surreal. Black lives DO matter, in all ways always.
|My hair is my friend. not the enemy|
Believe it or not, my hair was properly the thing I liked least about myself. Nappy, unruly, and manageable were the top words I used to describe it. This year I challenged myself to appreciate my hair. Accept it the way it is. I am so glad that I did. I went six months putting minimal heat to my hair (blow drying only), I cut off all damaged hair, and I learned how to take better care of my natural hair. Very excited to see what will come of it in the year to come. #12MonthNOHEATChallenge?
|I was endlessly entertained|
Stranger Things, Insecure, Atlanta, Lemonade, Anti, Coloring Book, H.E.R., and SO MUCH MORE happened this year. I fell in love with music all over again (check out my top songs from the year here). Jam sessions were a daily requirement in my little Soul. I watched shows that truly represented me and my people. I put people onto Stranger Things like I was getting paid for promo. The entertainment industry did it's job this year.
|Summer 16 was the best time of my life|
Traveled, reconnected with my sister, laughed endlessly, listened to music under the Sun, and made money. My summer was blessed. Even the bad moments were seen as good moments during those sunny months. This was the most free time of my year, in more ways than one. This summer set the standard for all summers to come. Read alll aboout my #OneCityOneBeach 2016 here.
|I began the restructuring of my relationship with God|
God is not out to get me (check out #BacktotheBasics) and I felt that this year. I realized that my relationship with Him, as ever-growing as it is, was my weakest aspect of life because I was always overthinking it. I realized that it doesn't have to look a certain way to others, as long as I can still feel it everyday. I do, I feel Gods love and because of that I want to be a better person each and every day. I want to be an example of what His love can do, even on my worst day.
|No more "what ifs"|
If I questioned anything this year, I tried to answer it. Relationships, career decisions, personal wants- everything. I am left with NO "what-ifs" and only "what nows". I a ready for what's in store for my future without that feeling of missing out on anything from my past.
All new errythaannnnggg!
|I wore confidence like a second skin|
Unexpectedly, this was a big year for my confidence in myself. And what a pleasant surprise it was. I loved feeling beautiful and strong and content and proud and positive and sexy and brave and joyful about ME! Definitely taking that into the New Year and every year after.
|Less "making time", more "making a lifestyle"|
Over-thinking and over-complicating situations is almost like a talent for me and it's been a cause for destruction. I learned to simplify my thoughts. I stopped carving out time in my day for certain things and began to allow those things to naturally fit in where they could to my everyday life. I am not a routine type person, no matter how hard I try. That's okay. I am excited to learn more about my habits and how to turn my interests to become my lifestyle.
|Self-sufficiency became my middle name|
This year I learned to do so many of my things on my own. I became better at doing my own make up. I learned how to braid my own hair. I made my own wig. It felt so good to be able to do for myself. And that's just the physical aspect. I did a lot of thinking for myself, without anyone else interjections. I now have a foundation for the fully-adult version of myself with healthy living habits and an open mind. I made decisions for the future me that I thought would be difficult. I am ready for more responsibility and self-sufficiency in the coming year.
All-in-all, 2016 was a year. I felt freedom. I experienced what I could do with a little discipline. I accepted life, people, and myself. The reflections, resurrections, and realizations I had in this year alone have prepared me for every year to come. 2017, you have tough shoes to fill, but unlike our future president, I have faith in you.
Peace and goodbye 2016, beautiful people!
xo,
BLT