Two...

Today is a milestone I was not sure I would reach. 

 Today is my blog's 2nd birthday.

Another year older...

I have now been blogging for 2 years, incredible of what? Over the two years feel like I have grown so much in my life. I am finding my place in life and learning how to be a driven woman in my late twenties. It is not always the easiest thing to be but I feel like I am getting the hang of it slowly but surely.

This next part is going to be hard but to link in with turning two, I am going to choose a blog post from my 1st and 2nd year to recap and share with you all. 

Aged 1 

Blog Post - You were more important than you realise...

I have chosen this blog post from February 2011 because looking back on it, it has even more meaning than when I first wrote it. In the time since that post, I have found this to have been a sentence which I've felt like uttering a number of times. I have had a number of people come in and out of my life since that post. As I've always believed, people come into our lives for a reason and whether that be big and small, there is always a reason. 

A number of special people are, and were, more important than they realised. However, as I grow wiser older, I 've realised this is such a hard thing to say. Why this is I can't say. Surely something so positive and lovely would be easy to share but I still have those walls up which I struggle to knock down. Cherish those around you and learn from them. Remember, maybe you're more important than you realise to others? I just hope one day that I will be able to share these thoughts with people more freely.

Aged 2

Blog Post - No one's getting out of here alive...

I have chosen this blog because it sums up my entire year. I will not go over things again. Just know that this moment in my life can only make me stronger. There will always be a sadness and a feeling that something is missing. However, in time, this will lessen and my happy memories will begin to give me something back. It was not a goodbye, it was just a see you later. Love always to you Big Bro.

Thank you to all you for reading and sharing my life. How long have you been blogging for now?

Blog birthday and 2011 reflections...

Welcome to 2012 everyone!!! Hope you all had a wonderful celebration and you're bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to take on 2012!!! After my favourite posts of 2011 it is now time to reflect the year on a personal level.

Before I begin to reflect my 2011, I must celebrate 2 important blog milestones:

My blog birthday!!! 

Yes...As of today my blog is one. This time last year I stumbled upon a blog recapping their 2010 and I decided to do the same and thought why not blog it? I wasn't in the best of places back then, I remember sitting wondering why I let things which I can't control, affect how I felt. By writing, I have been able to focus my thoughts and get through many different moments when I just didn't know what to do. Also, through some amazing friendships I have learnt that no matter where in the world you are, there are people out there like yourself and are willing to help perfect strangers.

A collation of my blog to date!*

Also, as if I planned it, I have hit my 200th post!!! Yes..another excitement. As much as I enjoy blogging I was never sure that it would be something which I would continue. I'm the type of person who lacks a lot of concentration and get bored with things very easily. I thought my blog would be one of them. However, after 199 posts, many wonderful comments, feeling like I've helped people and the gaining of friendships I am still here. Just with anything in life, it's what you make of it. I feel like I've made quite a lot of it. Maybe I've somewhat tailed off the last couple of months but unfortunately illness, work and a couple personal things have got in the way but I have missed the blog and will be back!!

My 2011 Inventory

In 2011, I gained independence and great friendships.

I lost a feeling of worthlessness.

I stopped feeling the need to please everyone.

I started asking for help more.

I was hugely satisfied by my change of attitude towards myself.

And frustrated by my indecisiveness.

I am so embarrassed that it has taken me till age 26 to realise that I need to make decisions based on my own wants and not be influenced by those around me so much.

Once again, I worked my ass off to give my class the best education I can possibly give them.

Once again, I revisited my past.

The biggest physical difference between me last December and this December is my hair cut. I went for the chop!!!

The biggest psychological difference between me last December and this December is that I am stronger and work hard not to place blame upon myself for things I can not control. I'm not fully there but I'm definitely working on it.

I loved my family, friends and making amazing new friends!

Why did I spend even two minutes thinking I was making the wrong decision to travel solo?

I should have spent more time in silence and reflecting (kept from last year as I really didn't do it) and also sleeping.

I regret not being more straight to the point in some situations.

I will never regret revisiting the past.

I worry what others think of me way too much.

I didn’t sleep enough!

Work nearly drove me crazy.

The most relaxing place I went was on a bus travelling US and Canada. The most amazing place to think about life and love.

Why did I not look after my body better? Sleep, diet and relaxation!

The best thing I did for someone else was help bring them out of their down moments and make them smile even when they thought it was impossible.

The best thing I did for myself was challenge myself and in the process discover myself more.

The best thing someone did for me was to be a best friend when they'd only known me for 2 days. This has resulted in an amazing and honest friendship.

The one thing I’d like to do again, but do it better, even more open with new people. I don't like new people and I find the whole situation stressful. However, I managed to find a great friendship in doing so this year and hopefully next year I can become even more comfortable. I need to learn to trust more easily.

(Fill-in-the-blank template from Mary Schmich at The Chicago Tribune)

* Made using wordle.
 

What was your biggest achievement in 2011?