Here's to 2018

Usually, I share a blogpost on Dec 31 where I reflect on the past year and what I’ve learned. Unfortunately, with the whirlwind called interview season, I have barely had time to catch my breath. Furthermore, this year, I want to do something different and look forward into the next year and create a list of things that I want to do over the course of this next year. 

2017 was quite the year, a cliche that I say every year. However, 2017 was pretty important in my growth as a woman. I turned 25, dyed my hair, got contacts (FINALLY), passed my clinical comprehensive exam and began the nerve-wrecking experience of applying for internship, which signals the ending of my academic career. But the year wasn’t without it’s challenges and I’m grateful for my amazing support system who were present during the beautiful highs and the very real lows, which included health problems, both mine and members of my family, the resignation of my dissertation chair and general school stress. I was forced to make a lot of “big girl decisions,” as I love to call them. Especially for my mental health. I had to let many things go for the sake of my peace. But I’m grateful for God’s grace, which was sooooo soooo present during 2017. I had chosen the word, “confidence” as my word of 2017 and I can now see how all that happened over the course of 2017 helped increase my confidence, in God and in myself. 

So now it’s 2018 there are things I want to do, much of which are informed by the growth i experienced in 2017.

In 2018, I will:

1. Stay hydrated
2. Have consistent devotions and prayer times
3. Be more intentional about my relationships with family and friends
4. Guard my little heart
5. Keep my physical and mental health a priority
6. Be more consistent in healthy eating and exercise
7. Become better with my finances
8. Get involved in my local community
9. Get back to reading for leisure and personal learning
10. Vacation alone
11. Trust in God and rest in His grace
12. Seek advice from my elders
13. Develop professionally
14. Guard my peace with a passion
15. Reclaim my time
16. Engage in daily self-care
17. Journal regularly
18. Start a consistent skincare routine
19. Grow in confidence
20. Explicitly express my thoughts and feelings
21. Know my limits and stick to my boundaries
22. Be more political
23. Speak up, Stand Up
24. Encourage those around me
25. Trust my gut
26. SLAY

I’m excited and nervous about 2018, especially with many potential changes in the horizon. Of course this list will change, but I’m ready for the adventure. Here we goooo! 

Selah [pause and think]