Reflection

Happy New Year!

Before we welcome 2017, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on the year that has passed, and I recommend that you do too. 2016 has been a rollercoaster, with many lows (Bowie, Rickman, Brexit, Trump, Fisher, etc) but also many highs. Sure, poke fun at how 'terrible' this year has been, but remember all the good things that have happened this year too.

For me, 2016 was a year of growth and change. I explored the inner workings of my mind and soul more than I ever have before, and I learned more about myself than I can possibly fathom (or fit into one post!). I've tried to be more compassionate and spread more joy to the people I love, and to the people I don't love. I'd like to continue to shine more brightly in 2017 as well. One thing I'm also working on currently is honesty. I've always found it difficult to be totally honest with people, as I have a tendency to lie.
Not bad lies, but what one might call 'white lies'. I used to over-exaggerate and spin stories out of nothing, make mountains out of the smallest molehills. This is not a likeable trait. And it's hard for me to admit to people too, because then they start to question everything I've ever told them. I didn't even realise I did it until recently, but I value the truth more than almost any other trait in the people I know. So why on Earth shouldn't I reciprocate said truth? I should. And Im going to. A few people have asked me what my New Year's resolutions are for 2017, and that's one of them.
Another of my personal resolutions is that I want to grow in my faith and become more comfortable talking about it. For reasons unbeknownst to myself, I feel slightly ashamed about talking to my non-believing friends about God or Jesus, and even to my Christian friends I am apprehensive. But, the Bible states in numerous places (too many for me to source them all) that you should speak boldly and fearlessly of Christ, and I will. Or at least, I'm trying to. In fact, this blog has helped massively, as I'm a lot more open about religion on here than I am if you know me in real life. I'd like to change that, and be more honest with the world about my feelings towards faith.
Furthermore, I made a vow to be teetotal earlier this year, and my resolution for 2017 is to stick to this, and not become as tempted by alcohol as I am currently. I'd also like to stick to my guns with being vegan, and make some new friends! In addition to all these, I'd like to achieve all of my Achievable Aspirations series (minus veganuary, I'm already there) as it's always good to take up a new hobby, travel somewhere new, and have more confidence!

What are your New Year's Resolutions? Are they different from last year's?
Regardless, I hope you have (or have had, depending on timezones) a happy, fun, and safe New Year!
Happy 2017 :)

Achievable Aspirations: Hobby

Welcome to December's series: Achievable Aspirations! These will be reachable ideas for your 2017 New Year's resolutions because if you're like me, every year you'll make a bunch of resolutions that you won't keep. And then you feel like a failure. But, with these resolutions, you won't fail and break them, because they're actually attainable, unlike a lot of my normal resolutions.

This week's Attainable Aspiration: Take up a new hobby.

I know, I know. This is so cliché for New Year but it's a goodun'. Hobbies are so great, they provide entertainment, distraction, and talent, depending on what hobby you choose to take up. My personal recommendations are any typeof dance, horse-riding (maybe in the Summer instead, it gets very cold), and painting. I adore each of these, even though I'm kind of awful at them all. I used to do a lot of dance and I got very good at one point, but I haven't danced in so long, and it's something I'd love to get back into. It provides such a rush, especially if you're performing. Horse-riding is also excellent at giving you a sense of adrenaline and feeling alive. Once you et experience, you can canter and gallop, and i's so liberating to be in control of such a powerful animal. Painting is different for me, because I've never be very good at it and honestly I don't believe I ever will be. I don't have the natural talent to pursue it as a career, but that by no means stops me from hauling out the acrylics every now and then. To paint is to create, and to allow yourself to put your thoughts into images. I can imagine nothing more freeing of the brain.