My 2021 in Review

Happy New Year's Eve... if you are reading this on December 31st. Wow! We made it through another year on this planet. I don't know about you, but 2021 went by so fast for me. But, it is a year I will cherish. This year, I created so many memories with so many great people. When I was writing this blog post, I was contemplating the approach I wanted to take. I didn't know if I wanted to discuss the goals I met, the lessons I learned, or the trips I took. So, I decided that I would do it all. But I do want to highlight the things God has taught me this year. These are lessons that I will carry throughout my 20 somethings and thereafter.

1. Persevere!

Failure does not mean mistakes. We are going to make mistakes. There's no way around them. But, you can go back and see what went wrong, so you can do better next time. I've even had errors when creating my blog. In March, my first blog ended up getting deleted, somehow. I was upset and on the verge of giving up. I assumed blogging was not for me. Over time, I started learning how God wanted to use me to serve others. I realized what He wanted out of my blog, not what I wanted. Three months later, I finally gained the motivation to try again. I started creating this current blog and I'm thankful that I had to start over. This blog is so much better, content-wise and aesthetically. Instead of giving up, I chose to go after my goal of launching my blog even though it was achieved later than expected. So, even if it means starting from scratch, you can start again. Failure only comes when you give up.

“Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “‘When people fall down, do they not get up? When someone turns away, do they not return?" Jeremiah 8:4 NIV

2. Walk into your best self!

First, God shows us many times what we should and shouldn't be doing and who we should and shouldn't be hanging out with. But how often do we listen the first time around? It took me about 6-9 months to finally listen. I learned that when you are trying to be better, you have to do better. You can't say I want to save $100 a month, but eat out every other day. You can't say that you want to be a better friend, but gossip about people every chance you get. It just doesn't work.

Second, let go of the fears that come with change. I didn't want people questioning why I was or wasn't doing something. I didn't want people thinking that I thought I was better than anyone. I did not want to be the only one not doing something. But, to grow into who God is calling me to be, I had to put my eyes on God's desires for me. I couldn't let fear of judgment or rejection keep me from my calling. Now when someone asks me why I stopped something, because God said so! Therefore, no, I can't go out to parties every week like I used to. No judgment to those who are. For the space that I am going into, I can't do the same things I once engaged in.

Lastly, allow yourself to detach from your old self. Christ has freed me from many fleshly things, so now I have to free myself from them. God wants me to have healthy relationships, therefore, I can't bring along trust issues or toxic behaviors such as gossiping or manipulation. I have to heal from those things. When you are becoming a new person, you have to bring new ways of thinking and behaving.

3. Have fun!

Whether you are in school, working a full-time job, and/or parenting, the journey will be a rollercoaster. Plus, with COVID around, you may feel like the things you can do or places you can go are limited. But we can always take time to enjoy life. Having fun keeps us cheerful and should bring us joy. You do not have to go on a trip to have fun. You can have a girls' night with your sistas. You can try a new restaurant every Friday. Expose yourself to things out of your comfort zone. Two big things I did to have fun this year were go to Cincinnati with my boyfriend and go see J. Cole!!! So unbelievable. But I also had fun with my friends simply playing games, laughing, and making memories. Y'all, one of my besties, Daija, surprised me one day and we had an impromptu girls' night. I will never get over that. Make sure you are taking time to enjoy life instead of merely surviving. We all deserve time away from the madness this world can bring.

Pinky Promise Conference ATL

The Office Experience

Cincinnati

The Off Season Tour

Thank you for joining me in 2021! I hope this year has been filled with blessings, love, and laughter. Can't wait to see where God takes us in 2022!!! I want to hear from y'all - comment one of your favorite memories of 2021. Don't forget to subscribe so you can stay up to date on new posts and get exclusive access to Lotus Hour announcements and newsletters. Until next year!!