Lessons from 2019

Happy New Year folks – we’ve made it into a new decade! Oh how the time flies.

Like many of you, this time of the year for me is surrounded by goals and resolutions for the year ahead. But I am hoping that 2020 will be the year we actually set the goals, we will achieve. Let’s not start with resolutions on Jan 1st and forget them by Jan 20th… agreed?

Whilst looking at what my 2020 vision, I have been reflecting on the last year and everything that has happened. 2019 was an incredible year for me and came with a lot ups, memories, challenges and many lessons. I learnt so much about myself and the people around me but I won’t bore you with all that… for now. Don’t worry I have lots to share and I really hope that all I have learnt will be of benefit to someone, somewhere, no matter what stage of life they find themselves in.

For now, here are my 4 lessons from 2019. I would be curious to hear what the last year taught you. What did you learn?

1. It will all work out. I know that seems too easy. But honestly, everything will work out. And it will work out for your good and that normally looks better than what you could have expected. I am not saying the journey itself will be easy, but trust the process. Take each day as it comes and remind yourself of what you are trying to achieve. For example, when we started planning our wedding I had no idea how we were going to pay for everything but somehow it all came together. It took hard work, planning, intention and faith but we got there in the end. So, just ease the pressure on all the fears and doubts, it always works out in the end.
2. You can’t please everybody. Goes without saying, but its so important to put yourself first. You cannot come and die for everybody else. It’s not the easiest of things to do, especially if like me you ultimately just want everyone to be happy. But at some point and time you need to accept that your happiness counts in there too and you can only do so much.
3. You are not island. Slight oxymoron there BUT what I really mean is, its important to have a team around you. I call them ‘stakeholders & accountability partners’. These are essentially the people in my life that play a significant role, my parents, my husband, my sisters or friends. These are the people that keep me sane and call me out on any BS! Sometimes as a generation we are too focused on being independent and knowing whats best for us that we isolate ourselves but the reality is we all need someone. The last few years as a whole I’ve really signified the importance of mental health and how lightly people take it, so I think it’s important to know you aren’t an island. Someone cares about you and if you let them in they will look out for you.
4. Those who are for you, are for you! Dasssit! There’s no need for second guessing, unanswered questions or complexities. If I got you, I got you. We are in a whole new decade, don’t let anyone waste your time. Pay attention to the people in your team and weed out those that seem to be on the fence, it will save you some heartache later on. It doesn’t mean you don’t care about them, it just means that their part in your story has come to an end. And everyone has a time to return – if necessary but let life work that one out for you. The best thing you can do is pray for that person, after all there is no greater person than God, right?! So the next time you find yourself questioning any relationship you have, remember that if they are for you, its as simple as that.

2019 will forever go down in my history books and those are just some of the reasons why. And taking time to see what you have learnt will go a long way in working out those new year goals! I discuss some of my thoughts on the latest episode of my podcast, so you can have a listen.

Here’s to the new start folks, wishing you only joy & happiness for 2020!