I have been seeing a lot of posts about how people are copletely over 2016 and so ready for 2017. Even though I share some of those sentiments, I must celebrate great things that happened in my life in 2016. 

​Even though 2016 has been an emotionally exhausting and draining year for me, its been my most adventurous in a long time. I really wanted to do a 2016 re-cap, for you and for myself. As I was experiencing the best of life, I often times let the worst parts of it overshadow all the goodness that was going on. I truly had some amazing experiences, and with me being in an extended depressive episode nearly the whole year, it was often challenging to just be present. As soon as my magical expeirences ended, I went right back to sulking.


Here's some poitive highlights of my year:

Arts
- Attended 7 concerts 
- 2 music festvals
-2 ballets
- 4 broadway shows

Travel
-3 countries
-4 US States
-3 continents

Miscellaneous Fun
- Napa 
- Big Sur 
- Disneyland
- Universal Studios
- Attended first MLS game 
- Delivered a workshop for a bereavement event
​- 29th Birthday

BE!
- hosted 2 empowerment brunches
- offcially registered BE as a business entity
- launched the BE UNLMTD apparel and accessories brand

How about major lessons?
- Baby steps is better than taking no steps at all
- If stress is a big part of your life, it will eventually show up in your body, so make to have tools and practices in place to take care of your self
- Asking for support and help will take so much of life's burden off your shoulders
- When you look back, you juts might fine more light than darkness
- Its ok not to settle, you will thank your self
- Its ok to not follow a plan or let life happen
- Nothing last forever, rain nor sun

The truth is, its not always easy to see the silver lining, and some times, you don't even want to consider that there is a silver lining. For the sake of growth, peace and future opportunities, choosing to look at the silver lining in life, is so beneficial.

You get to practive teh first commandment of love, Honor Thyself in a totally uniqie way. Yearly reviews and reflections teach us so much about time, change, and transformation. We get to choose to look at the big picture as well as the small details along the way. I know so many people that are "over" 2016, but in reality, if they take a month by month assessment of what has happened in tehir lives, I wonder would that judgement change.

Consider the pivotal conversations. Consider the connections. Consider the releases. Consider the aha moments. Consider the new goals. Conisder your overall perserverance.

We are often more resilient than we believe our selves to be; and we are often more prone to look at and romanticize our struggles as oopposed to our victories. Joy is a victory. Peace is a victory. The ability to commit to something is a victory.

Everyday is a new opportunity to commit to and create something and instead of lookiing at 2017 as one step, I will remember that it is the little steps along the way, that will make a greater difference in the end,

Check out my photos from some of highlights

There are 2 times of the year when I am mst reflective; September (my birthday month) and December (the pre-amble to the new year).

​While most folks are planning vacations, travelling, attending events, and celebrating the holidays, I recently thought about how much time I spend in an intentional reflective process going through my year, during the month of December.

​To me, reflection is so important if you want to consider how you can become a better version of yourself, as well as acknoweldging how you did live a life of satisfaction.

​I utilize my journals, photo gallery, and current vision board to assess what my year has been like. Merely going thru my journals, and re-reading my expressions is a great time machine for me. As a person who takes a lot pictures of my day to day, going back thru my photos allows me to reconnect with emotions and experiences that come along with each still shot. Lastly, every year, I create a visualization tool to set goals for the year. Its not meant to add pressure, but to keep my mind and intentions set on moving towards something. Eveything doesn't always get "checked off" so to speak, but its great to look at what did, whats in the pipeline, and whether anything remaining, would be important enough to shoot for the next year.

​Below are examples of areas I make sure to reflect on each December:

​-I take note of any positive experiences such as events attended, goals checked off, fears overcome, and strides made.
​- I reflect on times of trial that were the catalyst of any  type of compromise to my wellness and self love practice.
​-I take note of goals written down that I didn't necessarily complete and assess the reasoning.
​- I examine my major realtionships, taking note of which got stronger, weaker and which ones I may need to naturally let go of; as well as the reasoing behind each category.
​- I take note of accomplishments that are aligned with my 5 Commandments of Self Love: honor Thyself, honor thy mind, honor thy body, honor thy spirit and forgiveness.
​- I take note of new or re-confirmed  insights about my character, motivations and limiting thinking

​When it comes to "how I reflect", my main tool I use is a journal. I try to capture my emotions and thoughts as often as possible via written word. Its cathartic, and lays out everything plain for you to re-read. I also make sure to keep my journals, so that at any time of reflection, I can go back.

​I know some people believe that "bringing up" or thinking about your past, gets in the way of you living in the future but I disagree. The field of History exists for a reason. To learn about a person, place or things, it i rather important to take note of its history. Its the same for ourselves and our lives. Reflection is a tool for growth and transformation.

​There is a difference of using reflection as a tool of growth as opposed to an excuse to ruminate in an old narrative, The past matters. We are a collection of our experiences. We are shaped, not defined, by our experiences. Reflect to determine what you need to walk away with vs. what you need to walk away from. Refoect to assess how you've grown and how you've stumbled. Reflect to take gratitude with you into one more day.

BE Reflective,
​Tiffany W.