LEMONADE

This year's New Year Post is titled 'LEMONADE' because if I had to sum up my year in one word - that would be it. It's also a pretty great coincidence that my outfit for this post is quite lemonade esque lol.

2017 for me, started off very badly. It hasn't ended that much better than it started but if I had to identify one key difference it would have to be that I am so much more hopeful right now than I was at the beginning of the year. This year was the first year of my life that I lived the phrase 'when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade', and let me tell you, it is easier said than done...




Everything happened in one single week in February. Financial difficulty my family had been experiencing for the past couple of years had reached an all time high when we were forced to leave the home we had lived in since I was 5 years old. My mum had a horrible car accident that was almost fatal and had her in and out hospital for the better part of the year. And oh yh, I got fired. All in a week. *insert upside down smiley emoji* Life was in no rush to get any better after these events but this is just a brief description of how the year started for me.

At the end of 2016 I had so much hopes and plans for the new year. For all the above to happen within the space of just a single week, I couldn't see anything I had hoped for materialising. Particularly when it came to blogging and youtube. I began to accept the idea that everything had to come to a complete halt for a long time. I even entertained the thought of scrapping it altogether. I had no where to film my videos, I was unemployed and had no money and no time to keep my blog running. It all seemed so impossible in February that when I think back to it, I can't believe I'm sat here writing this post in December. 




When you eat a lemon, you naturally make a face that expresses the sour taste of the lemon. The taste passes, your face goes back to normal. Unless you're a supernatural human that can eat a lemon without pulling a face, we all know that you can't eat a lemon without pulling a couple of mad faces for a few seconds, lol.

Figuratively speaking, once life handed me these lemons, naturally I made all the sour faces. In other words, I moped around. I had countless pity parties for myself, I cried a lot of nights and just allowed myself to be as useless as I felt. It's easy to say make lemonade from the lemons life gives you. But it's not as easy to do! And I think taking the time out to make those "sour faces" can be quiet beneficial. It's a bit like therapy but you have to be careful about staying in low places for too long.

To be quite honest, I still don't even know how I managed to talk myself into getting up and getting on. I don't remember that part. It took me a minute to find my current job. It took me a minute to decide that I was going to start trying again with YouTube and blogging and it took an even longer minute to put that decision into action. Like if I had to show you guys the room I have set up in to film for youtube and take mirror pictures you would lol with me - literally a lemonade out of lemons situation but if you love something and/or want something badly enough, you will work with what you have. I've been working with what I have all year, frustrating at times as what I have hasn't always seemed like enough but it's getting me through the motions.

The situation I found myself in with my family has pushed me into dreaming new dreams, setting new goals and going even harder than before. I have to make sure that it's only up from here.

I say all that to say - if there's anyone reading who's had a hard year, rest assured that the best is yet to come. No situation is permanent.






Counting my Blessings
8/10 - This was something that really helped me this year. Finding the blessings in all the mess this year actually kept me going to be honest. My mum had a horrible accident and I basically became a carer as she couldn't do a lot for herself for a while. It was such a frustrating time for the both of us but the blessing in this was she made it out that accident alive. I lost my job but I found a new one with a better firm. My family and I were made homeless but we had amazing family and friends that have kept roofs over our heads and every time I saw/see a homeless person literally living on the street I realise how blessed I am. Every time it rains outside, I thank God that my family and I are inside despite everything that happened. 




Networking
1/10 - I went to one event this whole year. No bueno. But I'm not beating myself up about it too much as I know I would have done better if things were different this year. I have every intention of doing better in 2018.




Growing in my Progress
I had a late start to this but I think I have done very well despite my circumstances. I have produced more content on my channel than last year which has gained me a whole bunch of new subscribers (thank you guys!) - I even did two collaborations - shoutout to Ama'Queen and LoccGoddess! My instagram game has been popping and I have gained new followers on there too. I even had the actual H&M instagram page comment on one of my pictures that featured their top. I mean, I real life screamed when I saw it.





 If you ask me, I've done pretty good with this whole making lemonade thing, Beyonce would be proud. I will be renewing all of last years resolutions as they are still very relevant for me.

Goodbye 2017 - you were harsh but I learnt a lot. It's onwards and upwards from here. I hope 2018 is a great year for all of us. More life, More love, and More Money!

Thank you guys so much for taking the time to read this post. I hope you have a fun and safe New Years Eve. Until next year folks!