Memories Made

It's that time of the year when everyone is expecting a new years post whether it consists of resolutions for the new year or reflections from the old. The truth is, I'm not big on new years and never have been. I believe that every day can be a fresh start if you want it to be, and to wait for a new year to reflect or make changes is simply a waste of time. Despite my beliefs, I would be lying if I said all the new years hype didn't get me thinking. I reflected on my experiences throughout the year and looked forward to the next. Although the experiences have been irreplaceable and the lessons learned numerous, they all have lead to the solidarity of one thing: my belief in myself.

By trusting the wrong people, I learned that I can trust no one but myself. I make a conscience effort to find the best in people, because there is some goodness in even the worst of us. However, I learned that some people aren't worth the effort. I've learned that something that might come as common sense to me might not even cross another's mind. Therefore, I can't expect from others what I would be willing to do for them. At the end of the day, it really is each man for himself.

I've constantly been fighting the never-ending battle between the mind and the heart, and I think I've finally found the solution, one that works for myself at least. My head informs me of what makes sense, what's logical. But the truth is, I'm not a logical person. I feed off of emotions and feelings. That's where the heart comes in; my heart tells me what's right for me. And that makes all the difference.

I've also learned that you either have to put your all into something or nothing at all. Doing nothing might be better than doing something halfheartedly. Don't let anything hold you back from the things you want, not even yourself or your defense mechanisms. Sometimes it's the things we do to prevent ourselves from heartbreak that lead to it.

Lastly, belief in yourself consists of the belief in your dreams. I know how cliche this sounds, but if you don't believe in your dreams, who will? Don't limit yourself to the things in front of you; go beyond that. Push the envelope and open yourself up to the possibilities. It won't be easy, but if you truly want something, you'll make it happen. And once you achieve something you once dreamed of, well, there's just no better feeling.

I'm not going to lie, there are a few things I wish I had done differently this past year. However, if things had been different, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I've learned from my mistakes and have become a better person because of them. And I can't help but think that what I've learned has saved me from worse mistakes. I have a lot to look forward to in this new year, and I couldn't be more excited. I've found a way to combine the things I'm most passionate about and apply them to my career so I can live them everyday. I truly hope everyone finds their passion, because with it will come happiness and success.

"Faith is to believe what you do not yet see; the reward for this faith is to see what you believe."