Reflecting on 2023 — There Is Value in Every Step.
The detox: Stop labeling your experiences as strictly good or bad; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and learning. Your experience is valuable.
Anyone else find themselves reflecting on the past year around Christmas-time? The choices they’ve made, the outcome of those choices, what you’ve learned, the wins, the losses… I mean, let me just relax brain! Today I wanted to share some of my positive reflections of 2023, as well as some career advice to people who feel like they need to make changes for the New Year. This one will be short and sweet. Enjoy!
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My Christmas Tradition
Since this will be up on December 25th – Merry Christmas everyone! It's that time of the year again when my family and I indulge in our annual tradition of binge-watching all the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies (extended versions, obvs). I've been doing this for over a decade, and it just doesn't feel like Christmas break until we start the marathon.
Can you believe I’ve never read the books? I couldn’t believe how cute this set was and only for $90! An actual steal. I’m definitely getting it for myself as an early birthday present.
Feeling Grateful
I also wanted to spend a moment thanking all of you. Without getting too sappy, this season always makes me feel really grateful for many aspects of life. One of them being that each of you decided: "Hey, this girl seems cool; I'm going to follow her."
The Twenties Detox project began during a transitional stage in my life, smack in the middle of the pandemic. I had lost a few friends that year, and on top of this, I decided to switch career paths – leaving me feeling quite lost.
Even though changing careers or degrees can seem like the most stressful time of your life, there must be a reason for wanting to make this change. I know a lot of us go through some ADHD fixations (lol) but a change of interest should be encouraged. I've found that it's important to be brave during that time and to honour the little voice in your head that persuades you down a better (but maybe not easier) path.
How to handle the fear of changing careers
I was recently asked through an instagram DM about my thoughts on changing careers and how to navigate the associated stress. Here’s my response.
By the way, if you ever want to reach out to me about something. Just message me here!
Why there is value in every step
As we naturally engage in self-reflection on the past year—acknowledging the lows and highs and hoping for even MORE highs in 2024—it's essential not to let the planning and reflection become destructive by neglecting the value of past experiences in shaping where you are today.
SO WHAT if you didn't work out at the gym as much? Perhaps this year brought a lot of grief and pain, or you faced unexpected changes. Maybe you're not where you want to be in life yet...
The biggest mistake that each of us make when moving through early adulthood, is put down our past decisions. Try to be kinder to yourself. Just as you would give encouraging words to others during this time, give yourself that self-love as well. The way you speak to yourself matters.
The real truth is this: you were just doing the best you could do, with the tools you had.
More than that, every one of those decisions was valuable. Stop labeling your experiences as strictly good or bad; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and learning.
the detox
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the detox 〰️
Unlearn this right now before entering 2024: Absolutely nothing you experienced this year was a waste of time. Ok? Great. See you in 2024!
There is no failing. There is only winning or learning.
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