6 Lessons I Have Learned In 2015

Greetings Beautiful People!

If you have been following my blog you know this past year I got a divorce and it has been quite the adventure. Many people that talk with me call me a survivor. I really am, dealt with a lot in my 30 years of life and I have gone through it with a smile on my face. Don’t get me wrong I stress and have anxiety but knowing that greater is ahead gives me the strength to keep on moving.

I recently decided that I do not want to just merely survive I want to thrive. So I am on this journey of Thriving in Life. I recently resigned from my job and relocated to Dallas, TX December 18th; I believe in taking risks and not being comfortable with being comfortable. I thrive on change and needed change in my life.

On the 12th of December, I had the honor and privilege to speak on a wonderful phone conference hosted by Tamika Dunn for the Pynk Latte community. The theme was, “Lessons I have learned in 2015.” This was a great dialogue between some amazing women which allowed a safe space to speak our truths without judgements and criticisms. It was pure encouragement and celebration of each other’s strengths and triumphs. This conversation led me to write this post.

So as I reflected on this past year, I thought about the lessons I have learned in 2015, so many came to mind but these 6 lessons stood out to me.

6 Lessons I Have Learned in 2015

1. Letting go is hard but necessary. I wrote a blog on The Art Of Letting Go where I went in on the things that I plan on letting go and leaving in 2015. I had to let go of a lot of things and people that I really cared for but couldn’t continue in my life the way that they were. This was so hard, realizing the attachments you have on people and things, but once it was gone I felt a sense of peace and I am leaving room for greater.
2. It is ok to be selfish sometimes. I am a giver and a caretaker. I want to help but sometimes I tend to neglect my well being. This is tied with letting go where I realized I really want to do what I want when I want and how I want without so many voices in my head and people in my presence. Moving is something I have wanted to do so I am doing it. There are so many other things that I want to do and I am going to do it and I am looking forward to it.
3. Enjoy the silence. When I first moved into my apartment alone as a recently divorced woman it was a bit hard. It was so quiet. So I began to play music loud to drown out the silence. Then I allowed people to takeover my space which was so loud maybe not vocally but mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I began to get distracted, I stopped going to church and just losing myself. I realized we need silence to be able to think straight and hear correctly. I began to love the silence and have peace in the silence. I began to heal once I removed the things that were so loud in my life.
4. It is necessary to be unapologetic. I met a young lady who made a video about being me unapologetically and that spoke volumes. I was challenged to make the video but I couldn’t do it because I constantly apologized for being me verbally as well as through my behavior. I would not be me fully, I would limit my interactions to suite others comfortability and that was hurting me. I am learning that I need not to apologize for who I am and  if people do not like me then they do not need to be in my life. What I do is not disrespectful so there is no need to apologize.
5. Kindness goes a long way. There is this little old lady who may have some special needs, she is the cleaner from my previous job. I would talk with her when I saw her, treat her no different than anybody else and didn’t realize she appreciated that. I got a letter on my desk one morning inviting me to her family’s home for Thanksgiving. It was the sweetest gesture and I was the only one she invited. It really touched my heart and knew that no matter how badly I was treated to never let that stop me from being kind to others.
6. Everything will really be alright. I had worries and stresses as I entered my new singleness when I though about life, finances and other areas. I took it one day at a time things happened, I had to have a major surgery, got my car totaled and other things but everything stayed good. I had to realize that whatever life throws at you, stop take a breath, and keep on breathing. There is still life to live as long as you are breathing.

So as we enter into 2016, I dare you to think about the lessons that will be a great foundation to launch you into 2016 with excitement and a positive direction. What are some of those lessons? Comment below. What are you looking forward to in 2016?

I hope you had a wonderful 2015 and even better 2016!

Peace and Blessings,
CicelyRenee