Today is the first blank page of a 365-pages book, and I am starting it with a big recap. It is a nice way to look back on the past year – not of the pain I felt, but the strength I gained, all the experiences, the growth, achievements, reminiscing beautiful moments, places I went, people I met, acknowledge the difficulties, challenges, struggles, appreciate how far I’ve come and understand how they have helped me to grow the strength and wisdom that brought throughout this journey. You can also take a minute to write down everything, and you will realize where you have come.

We should never compare ourselves to others, but always compare to the person we were yesterday. Trying to be anyone else is a waste of time and the person you are. There is nothing better than embracing yourself having emotions, strengths, ideas and beauty like no one else. Above all, be true to YOU – if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.
Few years from now, it won’t matter what clothes you wore today, what brand of shoes you have, or what kind of car you drive. What will matter is how you loved, what you learned and how you applied this knowledge.
However, I believe that perspective is everything. When faced with difficult situations, long check-out lines, or waiting an hour past your appointment time, you have two choices: you can get frustrated and angry, or you can view it as life’s way of giving you time to breathe and spend that time talking with people, daydreaming or reading a book. The first choice will raise your blood pressure, but the second choice will raise your consciousness. Same goes about success: it can cause damage or lift you and others up. Everything is a matter of how you decide to see and react on different situations. So when you look back on the past year, be kind on yourself and others.

Last year taught me lot of lessons and it also knocked me down. But I stood up again. Nevertheless I also had unforgettable and heart warming moments that I will always remember. I am blessed to have so many great things in my life – family, friends, a good health, a job that I love and many things (that are not things) that I wouldn’t change with anything ever. All this taught me that life is about trusting yourself and taking chances, losing and finding happiness, learning from experience, appreciating the journey, and realizing that every step is worth it.

If we cannot design our lives, someone else will. Strength shows not only in the ability to not give up, but in the ability to start over when you must go on. Keep growing, learning, and adapting. You may not be there yet, but you are closer than you were yesterday.
If there’s something you really want, you will find a way to make it happen, no matter what others will tell you to do. Go on and give yourself the keys to open new doors of opportunities and don’t let anything hold you back. As we know, time flies unbelievably quickly and looking back at everything that has happened, I cannot believe we are headed towards 2018 already.

To end this thoughtful personal post, I want to wish you all the most wonderful new year. May 2018 bring you health, love, joy, happiness, strength and wisdom. May the sun always shine upon you and you wake up each day healthy and with an open heart, conscious about your inner wellbeing and ready to take all chances the world has to offer.

Photography (C) Tony Gigov