As a new year unfolds, I took an introspective look back at the year that was Twenty Sixteen. Although most people are quick to dismiss it as “trash” or consider it a bad year altogether, there were some good bits in my world that are worth mentioning.

Look with(in).(See).(Cure) - We all have insecurities. At some point in our lives, we pick a flaw and obsess over it for whatever reason. This year I made a decision to be more accepting of myself and limit the amount of self body shaming I subject myself to (mine is a hairy love-hate relationship with my body). From time to time, I will still stress and spend way too much time assessing my flaws, but then I remind myself of my decision I made earlier in the year that I wouldn’t let it ruin my self-esteem - that beautiful yet extremely sensitive part of my self that needs love and care.
Living Out Loud - 2016 was definitely my most expressive year to date. Growing up shy, I always had innate creative abilities that were seldom expressed. Earlier this year I dared myself to live out loud. I looked at a picture of myself at about 7 years old and the present version of myself felt sorry for the girl staring back at me. I made the decision that my main goal this year and the rest of my life, is to impress/inspire the childhood version of myself.
The Great Escape - 2016 was the year I left the 9-5 in pursuit of the fulfillment of working for myself (whatever that means). The thought of doing it had played in my mind for so long and when I finally had the courage to execute it earlier this year, it was like typing a really provocative text to bae, hitting send with my eyes closed and tossing my phone waiting impatiently for a reply I was afraid to receive. Fast forward to the summer, I embarked on a solo traveling tour that was definitely one of the highlights of my year. Sometimes I find myself missing the structure of school and work, because well before this year, I always had something to rely on. But if I hadn’t taken that step, I would not have had the opportunity to have one of the most memorable years I’ve had so far.
Not Dead Yet - No doubt 2016 took the souls of some legends of our generation - David Bowie, Prince, Carrie Fisher and Mohamed Ali just to name a few. Although this may be heartbreaking to most, I choose to appreciate and learn from what these legends have offered me. From David and Prince, I learned to be unapologetically unique and to appreciate both female and male qualities in myself. Carrie’s wit and sense of humor taught me that even when I’m struggling with personal issues that may seem bigger than myself, my sense of humor can help in ameliorating the situation. And from Ali, I learned to speak my purpose into existence and to simply be the GREATEST. They will forever be missed, but their legacy will live on as long as we can apply their message into our lives.

I hope 2017 brings about more experiences to learn from. I pray that I continue to maintain my sense of gratitude and an overall positive outlook on life.

Ai-Creo.