It’s me. Hi. I’m the problem, it’s me.
Another 6 months and I’m finally writing a blog post. This year has been so fully of unexpected changes and surprises. Good and bad naturally.
But I think it is time to wrap up the year that was 2022. I find it so hard to describe what this year has entailed. I have grown, I have cried, I have laughed, I have done the difficult things, I have been so scared of making the wrong choice, I have taken leaps of faith, I have loved and I have lost.
I always find myself more reflective during the holiday times so I wanted to put it into words. And as such, I am facing this overwhelming feeling that everything has changed in the last year. My heart is stuck in this constant state of change and it’s hard to feel Christmassy when Christmas is usually for familiarity.
The main changes being that I am living in a new country, I have lost another family member, I have healed parts of myself I didn’t think I would, I have left my loved ones in a different hemisphere. I also feel as if I have left a version of myself in that said hemisphere.
I am no longer surrounded by the comforts of home and familiarity. While the independence in me is thriving, the little part of me that took solace in the comfort is hurting lightly.
And if you find yourself in the same boat, here are some things I have learnt to help make this time of unfamiliarity more comfortable:
- Watch TV shows or movies that you know feel like a warm hug of comfort.
- Treat yourself to little spoils such as your favourite coffee or food.
- Allow yourself to feel the feeling of discomfort. Reflect on what you are missing and then focus on how much growth and healing you are currently doing or going to be doing.
- Do not put pressure on yourself to be or do anything. There are no expectations for you to be anything other than who you are right in this moment.
- Spend time with this current version of yourself – you will never be it again. Take yourself on dates and spend some quality time with yourself
- Look at old photos and then look at new photos. Try look for the happy moments in both to remind yourself – change can and does bring happiness.
- This too shall pass – if you are in a struggling changing period, it will pass. And you will come out stronger and wiser. Its cliché but its cliché because its true
- Listen to songs that quieten the noise. That feel like a comforting friend. A warm hug on a bad day.
- Trust your gut and trust your choices. you are meant to be where you are. You will get to where you want to be. There is no rush – you have time! You will end up where you end up – do not rush the process and do not get lost in the doubt. It’s natural to find yourself thinking you’ve made the wrong choice, but even the wrong choices lead you to the right place. It may just be a detour, but you can find some beautiful things in detours that you didn’t even know existed (such as people, places, and yourself).
- Be proud of yourself. You made it through another year. You get another chapter. You get to write another page in your story. That it so exciting!
I hope everyone has a beautiful festive season and has time to reflect and take emotional stock for the next year. I have no predictions, feelings or prompts for 2023. I am just going to let the year unfold and learn to love myself through every part of it.
Goodbye 2022, your lessons will stay with me forever.
All the love,
Jay
Just Jay 