I have this thing. This thing where every year tends to kick the previous year in the butt. Like literally. Whether it’s for the better or the worse. They just love trying to trump each other. What’s with that? THANKFULLY, 2014 kicked 2013 in the butt in a good way.
I freaking fell in love with 2014 and well, tis the season for reflection after all as we near to the end of the year that was. I’m almost scared to let go for fear of losing a good thing. But I’ve spent the last few days coming to grips with where this fear is stemming from and how I can embrace it. It’s a sign I have no idea what’s to come in 2015 and that’s okay. A year ago, I could have said much the same about 2014. From where I stand now though, I’d have to say it turned out pretty darn okay. So what’s there to fear, really? I don’t know what’s to come, but I’ve got a faint idea that the attitude I go into 2015 has a pretty big part to play in how it’s all going to pan out.
Regardless of whether your 2014 sucked walnuts or licked lollipops, it’s important to take some time to reflect on the year that was, in order to create space for the year to come. Here’s hoping a few lessons I learned will help you to soar into the future like superman on steriods (ok, let’s not say that. How about… on superfoods?)
Why 2014 Kicked-Butt…
1. Freedom
Travelling solo for most of 2014 gave me some incredible opportunities to sit in silence and yes, let’s face it, in some pretty awesome, awe-inspiring places of this world. Time away from distractions, social pressures and of course, the chaos of modern city living, gave me the freedom to explore the world, my passions, talents and the all important ‘self’. Believe it or not, that was something I had been avoiding for quite some time.
Freedom is one of the greatest blessings we have as humans but one that we so often forget, relinquish to the hands of others or ignore completely. One thing I came to realize, is you don’t need to be travelling, a millionaire, a celebrity, *insert pipe dream*, to experience this. You can be doing all that and more, and yet feel bound by these golden chains. Freedom is a state of mind, not a physical state of being. Sure, I was travelling but it was not through travel I experienced this freedom. It enabled a lot opportunities. It freed up a lot of my time. I have traveled plenty and yet never experienced what I am experiencing because it’s a process. But you can live in freedom of mind regardless of your circumstances. These are lessons I will certainly take with me into 2015 as I ‘nest’ back home in the coming months.
2. Exploration
I explored alright. From the highest mountains to the lowest valleys (both quite literally), through the wild Amazon jungle and cosmopolitan city-scapes, and witnessing some of Mother Nature’s most unique natural wonders. But more importantly, the darkest depths of myself. I came to understand my heart’s desires, the nature of my mental wanderings and my soul satisfying passions. We need to make time in our chaotic lives for self-reflection and self-exploration; to learn from our past in preparation for the future, but without forgoing the all important responsibility to live in the present. I learned more about my fears, my limits (and more importantly, how to push past those limiting beliefs) and what makes me freaking excited to live. Exploring new surroundings, challenging yourself to do new things and permitting yourself to experiment, can reveal things within you that you had no idea existed. These moments can bring out the best and the worst but in the end, you learn, grow and become stronger. This is what living is about.
3. Relationships
The world around us is all about relationships. From those with your friends and families, to that with yourself and Mother Nature. We are constantly cycling through these relationships and my time spent travelling certainly revealed a thing or two about how important it is to nurture these. Accepting that people can leave your life as soon as they come, however serendipitous or saddening this may seem, each relationship, I believe, serves a purpose. Meeting fellow travelers, you are privileged with getting to know these people based on who they are at that very moment in time, without prehistoric judgments. It’s but a flash of time in the grand scheme of life, but it’s those moments that can have the most significant impact. You get glimpses into their life, the chance to see them in a new light that others in their life may not see, and this is a precious gift. The vice versa of this situation is equally as true for you. I’ve been blessed to have met some of the most amazing individuals. From charismatic thought leaders like Toby Hemenway and Joel Salatin, to old friends from years past and new friends for years to come. Inspiring, funny, outrageously adventurous and entertaining characters.
I’ve also come to truly understand what it means to have the people around you reflect the light that you emit to the world. They are constant reminders to yourself of you current state of wellbeing, whether something is holding you back, or if you just needed to relax. Coming home, I was also reminded how important it is to have a community of loved ones that provide a solid, supportive foundation for your life and that time has only strengthened. I’m forever grateful for the friends and family in my life and will not take these relationships for granted.
4. Change
The transformations that no doubt occurred internally, are catalysts for the changes to come in my life externally. I believe that 2014 was prepping me for what’s to come. Without a solid foundation to work from, the future can sway on shaky grounds. This mental preparation is so important if you want to make sustainable changes in your daily life. It’s one thing to jump both feet in with enthusiasm, but there’s a strategic way to go about this that will leave you far better off say, 1, 5, 10 or 20 years down the track. Many situations forced me to be flexible in my plans (the beauty of open travel plans though!), and adaptable to new places, people and circumstances. This flexibility is important for us to incorporate into our lifestyles because let’s face it, the only constant in life is change. It’s inevitable, especially as we are coming face to face with a contracting global economy. Moving forward, I’m excited about change because it’s opens room for the potential to learn and grow as individuals and as a human race. We can use hindsight to help speculate in foresight, but the truth is, we don’t know what’s on the horizon. The question is, are you mentally prepared for this?
5. Nature
Having the opportunity to spend so much of my time in nature this year has completely transformed how I view the world. Transitioning from a 9-5 office job, to one where I had the freedom to walk alongside Mother Nature for as long as my heart desired was a gentle reminder of no matter where I am in life, what I’m doing, or how I’m feeling, I need to be surrounded by nature in it’s beautiful, organic and natural form. Nature is healing, non-judgmental and forgiving. She doesn’t want to fight with us so why are we fighting with her?
So considering these incredible insightful life lessons, where does that leave me for 2015?
2015 is all about rocking your socks off.
I’m in this for you. So be prepared. I’ve got some exciting things in the works and I can’t wait to share with you. Books, courses, more blog posts, videos, or heck, free hugs if I must. Whether 2014 was a complete ball of fluff for you, it popped your bubble or it was the cherry on top, I want to help make 2015 KICK 2014 in the BUTT.
What did 2014 teach you and what are you most excited about for 2015?
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