Thank you 2023.

Happy holidays everyone.

‍

I hope everyone got what they wanted for Christmas and enjoyed the time spent with their families.

‍

As the year ends I always start to reflect on where I’m at in my life and the year I had. Originally I was feeling a bit burnt out and simultaneously disappointed in myself because I’m not exactly where I wanted to be when the year first started.

‍

This has definitely been one of the most interesting years of my life.

‍

When I was laid off from my job in February, during what seemed like a scary and uncertain situation, I actually felt happy and relieved. I was no longer obligated to show up to this place I didn’t enjoy going to just for a measly paycheck and unhappiness.

‍

So instead, I chose to just take the time to enjoy my life and not worry so much about the future. I figured things would figure themselves out.

‍

Although I would proceed to send out hundreds of job applications (most of them being rejections).

‍

I did many things, like traveling around the world with my best friend, going to music festivals, going snowboarding, camping, reconnected with myself and some friends along the way, and just tried to live a happy and free life while I had the opportunity to.

‍

We work all of our lives, so while I’m young, I wanted to make sure I took the opportunity to enjoy it while I could.

‍

It has been difficult personally and mentally. But simultaneously, it’s been on of the best and most memorable ones too.

‍

Real growth always comes with its fair share of hard moments, but that’s where the real change happens.

‍

Filled with it’s own fair share of struggles and obstacles that I’ve had to face. As well as just as much, if not more victories and successes.

‍

Thank you.

‍

I’d like to take a moment to just say thank you to everybody who reads this blog.

‍

Every single person who has texted me, DM’d me, told me in person, or whoever just reads in silence and doesn’t interact at all… thank you for reading.

‍

I’m not a New York Times Bestselling writer (yet) but I’m lucky to have people who are interested in whatever brain throw up I feel inclined to write about and post on the internet. It really means a lot to me.

‍

This whole little side project has helped me a lot with simplifying the thoughts and ideas in my head. It’s a type of therapeutic practice in a way. Where I have to force myself to put the complicated and convoluted thoughts in my head to words and make it make sense to other people. And I’m glad that there are other people who can read and empathize with the things I’m saying.

‍

There have been a few occasions where people message me, talking about how they took a leap of faith and did something completely out of their comfort zone because they read my blog.

‍

And like, that’s insane. I’m actually surprised that this thing is moving people to do anything in the slightest.

‍

While that does scare me a little bit (I’m just a guy, I don’t know anything. Don’t take my opinions for gospel), I think that’s pretty awesome still. I’ll always support a leap of faith into the unknown.

‍

I have everything I need.

‍

Looking back on the year, I can think of a lot of things that I wish did happen, I wish didn’t happen, and that I wish were just different.

‍

But that’s just he pessimist in me.

‍

If I’m being really honest, when I take a few steps back to get a better look at my life…

‍

I have everything I need. I have a lot of wants, oh boy do I want a lot of things (mainly just clothes and my own place). But all things considered, I’ve had a great year, surrounded by great people, where we got to do great things together.

‍

I’m alive, I’m healthy, and I have the opportunity to learn and grow everyday. And that’s what life is all about right there.

‍

Right now.

‍

If there was a singular thing I can take away from this year it would be this… patience.

‍

Patience is an amazing skill to have.

‍

Patience will keep you out of trouble, it will allow you to make more good decisions, and it will allow you to appreciate the things you do have so much more.

‍

It’s natural to want things fast, want them now, and want them a lot. I definitely do. But by having patience and delaying gratification, I think you are training yourself to be a healthier both in your mind and in your relationships with others.

‍

I think constantly needing immediate results and instant gratification can lead to lack of discipline and unhappiness because life doesn’t line up with the imaginary timeline we have in our heads.

‍

I’m not a very religious person, nor was I raised that way in any way at all. But there’s something about a divine path and the universe having its own way of doing things that does speak to me in some way.

‍

I think everything happens for a reason. And it’s not up to us to question that, just accept it for what it is.

‍

You may never get what you want, but you will always get what is meant for you.

‍

If you are struggling with anything at the moment, just know that your time will come. Just keep going, because if you quit, you’ll never make it. But if you keep going, at least you have a chance.

‍

And at this point, I’m willing to take those chances.