Tag: Learning

2023 Lessons Learned.

2023. What a year this was for me, it just kept going and never stopped. A rollercoaster of events. I like to always take some time to do a self reflection of the year. Think about the things that I’ve accomplished, think about things I still need to work or focus on, ways I could have been better and many other things. All I’ve been thinking of lately is what lessons did I actually learn this year. What did 2023 try to teach me?

Love.
Self love was a huge part this year. Learning to love myself in present day, present time. Could I love all the different parts of me? Could I love myself on good and bad days? Could I still love myself when I felt like I could not love at all? When I was at my worst could I show myself and give myself love? I also learned more of the meaning of love. The boundaries, the respect, the kindness, the caring, understanding and being patient. Everything that makes the meaning of love, but also what it stands for or the means to love someone or something. Love.

Balance.
I learned that I was lacking a lot in balancing the different parts of my life. School life, work life, relationships, personal life, etc. They were always dripping into each other and affecting one one. I had to try to balance everything or I would be in a huge mush pile of emotions. I had a time and place for certain things and I needed to know how balance those out. Something that I need to continue to work on going into 2024. Balance.

Rest.
I learned the hard way this year that I needed to rest. With how busy I got in the fall, I overworked myself. I would try to stay up late to get things done, but at a cost. Sleep was something I wanted, but had no time for. Even just laying down and doing nothing was something I had to get use to. I was so up, up, up, go, go, go all the time. I was doing too much. It’s absolutely okay to rest. Rest.

Boundaries.
This was a huge one. Boundaries were probably my biggest lesson this year and honestly will be worked on still in 2024. Saying no to things that I don’t want or need to deal with. Saying no to things and people that hurt me or not serve me. Making boundaries clear so I get respected in the way that I should. Being in a manager position at my work, where half the staff is in the same age group was a big one. Removing myself from situations that overstepped my boundaries. Even holding myself back from crossing other people’s boundaries. Learning to accept that my boundaries are different from others and if it’s judged then let them judge. Went through it all this year. Boundaries.

Change.
Any thing can happen and change at any time. Life happens fast. You lose people, you gain people. People get sick, people move, people switch up on you both good and bad. It’s not only about people either. My environment changed, my life path changed, my goals changed. Both good and bad change happened this year. You have to really roll with it and keep going, adapt. Change.

I will always find a way.
This will be the last one, even though there’s many more. I will always find a way through, I will always find my way. I’ve pulled myself out of a lot of dark days this year. Not many people or anyone really know much of this, but I did it. I’m still coming out of it, but very much on a brighter path. No matter what situation I was put through this year, I still found a way through. I took a quiet moment to remember all the things I had to deal with this year and wow, that shit was crazy. I’m glad I can leave all of that back and behind me. Don’t follow me please! I don’t need it, I’m begging. I’m proud of myself and where I’m at now. I will always find a way.

Some of my highlights of 2023:

ꕥ I started working with GR Model Management as an assistant. The opportunity really solidified what I wanted to do for my career path.
ꕥ I went back to school after a long 9 year break and completed my first semester. It felt good to be back!
ꕥ My nephew was diagnosed with leukemia this year, BUT his treatments have been going super well and he’s been looking and feeling better every day. The doctors gave us a date of when his last chemo therapy session will be in a few years, which is one of the best news! He’s been fighting it hard. #TeamMateo
ꕥ Lost Lands 2023 was on another level this year. So much love! TABS ♡
ꕥ I was lucky enough to be able to see my friends from Wisconsin and Minnesota multiple times this year! The love I have for them is so big. Distance does not matter.
ꕥ I found my creative side again this year. More blogs were written and mini notes. It’ll continue and there will be more content next year.
ꕥ I’m coming out of 2023 and into 2024 with love.

This year was not about big wins or big goals for me, it was about building my foundation with little things so I could start doing the bigger next year. Finding my way through and through. This year was about letting things come and go and flowing along with it instead of fighting every second. This year was about accepting everything, good and bad. Yes, 2023 felt crazy, but what my old manager use to say, “To survive this crazy life, you have to be a little crazy too.“

Happy New Years to all of SALLY♡THINGS readers. Be safe tonight and have a blessed 2024. ♡

With love ♡

What Fulfills You?

What fulfills you?
I think I’ve been avoiding this question for the past couple of years because I really don’t have a straight up answer or maybe I don’t really know what I want in life, maybe I wasn’t ready for the answer. I do admit, it’s hard to find the answer when you’re in your mid 20’s and you haven’t been able to fully experience life yet. So how can I come up with something? I’ve been kind of just floating through my life and having fun in whatever way I can. Maybe being that free is fulfilling to me, it works for me currently.

Like everyone else, I had to face some challenges and with the pandemic my daily lifestyle changed. We’ve all had to adjust in ways that completely flipped life as we know around. I was in a very unhappy and unsure spot in my life and I started to think more and more, what really fulfills me? What do I want out of life? What do I need for myself to feel like I’m living my best life? In the last couple of weeks, it’s all I can think about. I found myself stuck in yet another rut and as much as I want to blame it on the current moon cycle and astrology, it’s an all too familiar feeling. Let’s try connect the dots.

Sally, what fulfills you?

I’ve touched this topic a little bit within my therapy sessions, but there’s not enough time to get to an answer, so I did some searching on my own.
To have a fulfilling life is to be happy living in the present moment. To build a sense of fulfillment, you need to stop thinking about what “should be” and start being grateful for “what is.” It’s a process of failures and victories, not being focused on one specific moment. You can find your fulfillment in all aspect in life like self-improvement, meaningful relationships, health & wellness, and career development. The more you learn and grow within those aspects, the happier you’ll become and building those habits will lead you to joy.

So where do we even start? Where can we find our certain aspects and what do we prioritize to get there? I found a blog post written by Brent Gleeson that had a great list and I’ll put some of my favorites below:

  • Build relationships over possessions.
  • Take what you can from life, but always give back.
  • Be accountable for your words and actions.
  • Be disciplined in your personal and professional life.
  • Expunge hate from your heart.
  • Pursue passions bigger than yourself.
  • Don’t hold on too tight.
  • Strive to improve a little bit everyday.

Working on these everyday even if it is just a few every week, you’ll start to see and feel something good grow from you. It isn’t easy and there will be failure, but it’s all part of the process. Without the feeling of failure, we wouldn’t know how it feels to succeed.

I think my fulfillment is changing because I’m in a new environment and experiencing a new life experience, so it’s trying to adjust. I do have some idea of my own, but I’m still figuring out the rest. Who knows, maybe I’ll never really have my answer until I’m well into my 30’s. Maybe I’ll never really have an answer at all because it changes with you throughout your life. It doesn’t hurt to start thinking about it though.

So what fulfills you?