What has really been going on…..2020 is here and to be honest with you, has been off to a very shaky start. I am going through some major changes and taking things day by day. My life has quite literally been a mess. One of my goals in 2020 is to be more transparent with my audience in hopes to create a community. As scary as it is to be vulnerable and real online if it helps one person I am happy. I am truly the happiest when trying to help others. I think it is very important to not only share the good parts of our lives online but share the struggles too. No one is perfect and social media can sometimes make us forget that. I am so lucky to have this platform where I can really share what’s on my mind. So here we go…
The beginning of 2020 was not all happy and exciting for me. In fact, it was the opposite. So if you are feeling like this too, know you are not alone. The new year started off with the end of my 4-year relationship. I’m not going to touch much on this but it has been one the hardest things I have ever gone through. I gave myself 1 whole day of crying and then I made myself get it together. I am still struggling but I know everything will be okay in the end and God has me exactly where I need to be. So already my whole world was falling apart but I just tried to remain grateful for all the good in my life.
A few days later I was at a basketball game in downtown Cleveland with my best friend and her brothers. I parked my car in a church parking lot and then walked a few blocks to the game. It was such a good distraction for me with everything that was going. When we get back to the car I see both driver’s side windows smashed and all my stuff missing. I was shooting pictures this day so I had 3 whole outfits in the car and my makeup bag. All gone. In addition, I later found out that my second wallet (with all my gift cards and credit cards I don’t use day to day) was in the car and was stolen. I had no idea that it was even stolen until almost a week later. I didn’t know it was in my car. I am self-employed so I have to take out my own taxes. To make it easy I just send all my tax money to separate bank account so it’s out of sight out of mind. They stole the card connected to that bank account sooo they went on a shopping spree with my tax money.
Needless to say, the past 2 weeks have not been fun. Filling police reports, opening and closing accounts, filing disputes against the charges on the stolen cards, talking with insurance, updating payment information, getting my car windows replaced.. what a mess. In addition, they somehow tried to hack into my email and Instagram. I feel SO violated.
The moral of the story is to never keep anything in your car. I thought they just took my clothes and makeup bag which still sucks but it was fine. But to find out they were using my debit cards and trying to get into my accounts just makes me feel so creeped out. So just be smart!!!!!! On the bright side, the police have footage of the guy breaking into my car and they are looking for him! So yeah my life has been crazy, but I am lucky that these are my problems. I can always be worse.
Now I want to talk a little bit about 2019 and 2020. I think it is so important to reflect on the past and to check in with your goals. If you don’t have a clear plan and goals, nothing is going to happen.
Last year at this time I wrote a similar blog post and these were my goals for 2019: to be healthier overall, work harder, be present, and take risks. I definitely followed through with most of my goals. I worked a lot harder on my blog and Instagram took a lot more risks and stayed true to myself. I really feel like I grew all around. There was a shift in 2019 where I truly felt independent and like an adult. There were times of struggle but also times where I achieved so much.
Now for a quick glance back on what I achieved in 2019. I completed student teaching, graduated from college, bought my first car, became an online ESL teacher, started making major money on my blog, became a nanny to the most incredible family, started investing my money, spoke on a panel about my blog at my college’s business school event, grew in self-confidence, and so much more.
To keep it short and sweet, in 2020, I want to get out of my comfort zone even more, practice more gratitude, start a youtube channel, get more brand deals, and continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
I will leave you with this… Over the past few weeks, I have felt so many emotions. I have felt lost, violated, sad, confused, etc. But I also found out that I am way stronger than I thought. Everything in your life is a learning experience. Everything you have gone through in your life has made you into the person you are today. You wouldn’t be the same without everything that has happened to you. So live your life to the best of your ability, stay grateful, be happy where you are in life but never stop striving for better things. 2020 can be your best year yet or the worst. It’s up to you. Let’s make shit happen this year!!!!!

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