Looking Back on 2018, Looking Forward to 2019
I was scrolling to my phone’s camera roll the other day and realised how fortunate I am to live in a time where technology gives me the ability to capture not only all my big moments but even the small ones — looking back on 2018 couldn’t be easier!
While I’m thankful for having the easy access to memories of the year gone by, it’s not how I want to look back on it. I want to look back on 2018 and recognise my personal successes and challenges, and uncover areas of growth for 2019.
Parenthood
I had a baby in 2017 but I became a mom in 2018. In the first few months after having Kiaan I was struggling to adjust to becoming a parent and understanding what that actually meant. Once Kiaan was about five to six months old I told myself I have to start being more proactive with him at home and outside; it was my job to show him the world and teach him about it. We started going to playgroups where I met other new moms and honestly that was a turning point for me. It dawned on me that no one else was going to tell me how to raise my child and I had to be confident in my decisions. Attending playgroups and meeting new parents helped me gain a lot of self-confidence and also taught me to embrace the joys of parenthood. As I look back on the year, I can see how much more confident and resilient I have become as a parent.
Work-Life Balance
Finding a new work-life balance this year has been one of my major challenges. I went back to working full time pretty soon after having Kiaan and I was so sure it was what I wanted because I enjoy working and I loved my job. But the way I felt once I did go back to work was not what I expected at all — I just felt divided and scatterbrained. Part of me loved being back at work and part of me was sad because I was away from Kiaan for long periods of time. After a lot of introspection I decided to take a break from my full time career and give freelancing/working from home a real shot so that I could have more control over my time. It wasn’t an easy decision to make because it meant giving up a certain amount of financial security as well as becoming a stay at home mom in some capacity. And it’s something I never thought I would be very good at. It’s been almost a full year since I made the switch and, to be honest, I’m really glad I took the plunge. While it is much harder trying build a business and manage a work schedule at home with a toddler and dog running circles around me, I am really enjoying and appreciating the time I am getting to spend with them. I have learned to become a lot more organised and hustle harder for what I want — be it personal or professional.
Blogging
I think one of the main highlights of 2018 is that I finally gained the focus and motivation to write and produce content for my blog. It had been sitting dormant for more than two years but now with more control over my time, I make sure to carve out a few hours every week towards my blog. What has really been working for me is to treat my blog like any other job for which I have deadlines to meet. I find this mindset helps me stay focused and consistent. But more than anything blogging is a creative outlet and stress reliever — a little place to to escape to when I need a break from real life. I am looking forward to seeing how I can take my blog to the next level.
Health & Fitness
2018 has been a challenging year for me with health and fitness especially after having a baby. I got complacent and lazy so I only started working out reguarly and eating clean this summer, which means I still have a very long way to go to hit my fitness goals. While I am trying my best to workout 4-5 times a week, I do find there are tough weeks in between where my schedule goes haywire and hitting the gym sometimes turns into catching up on sleep or work. To mitigate this I have also started working out at home — I keep a yoga mat and dumb bells out in the open where I can always see them so anytime I feel I have even 30 – 40 minutes free time, I’ll put on a YouTube workout video and go for it. And to be honest this has been a game changer for me because even though I might not get results as quickly as a following a full on gym workout routine, I am having fun and actually look forward to breaking a sweat; I’ll take that as a small win in the health and fitness department for now.
Family & Friends
It has been a phenomenal year on this front. I am so thankful Kiaan and Milo are growing up with their grandparents near by; they are creating bonds and memories that will last a lifetime. I love that family is present for our big and small milestones. I also had the opportunity to meet up with college friends multiple times this year and that is something I truly cherish because we literally live oceans apart. I have a met a lot of new people (especially new moms) this year and it has helped me let my guard down and make new friends. And I closed out the year with a reunion with my high school girl friends so suffice to say it’s been an amazing year with family and friends and I only wish for more of the same in 2019.
Travel
Travel in 2018 has more than made up for not traveling in 2017 — it has by far been one of the most amazing experiences of the year because we traveled with a kid for the very first time! We did both short and long haul flights as well as several local beach trips. It’s definitely a different style of travel and holiday with a toddler in tow and I have to admit it does take some getting used to but it’s pretty amazing to be able to show Kiaan the world. I think traveling with him has humbled me, forced me to slow down, and just live in the moment.
2018 was a meaningful year for me; there were a lot of firsts, unexpected life decisions, raw emotion, the highest of highs and lowest of lows. It was a year of self-growth, focusing on my dreams, trusting my gut instinct and learning to roll with the punches. I have learned a lot about myself, what I’m capable of and accepting my own limitations; I only hope that I continue to learn and grow in 2019.
With that said, I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year. May 2019 bring love, laughter, dreams come true and lots of happiness!
