Things 2014 Taught Me

2014 was a big year for me. I spend four months living in Spain. I had my first corporate internship. I accepted my post-graduate job. It changed me. I know we're a few days into 2015, but it's never too late for reflection, right?

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2014 was the year I...

Learned to love myself
I trained for a 10k in Spain, and that sparked my love affair with fitness. Before I knew it I was working out regularly and even attempting to eat healthfully. By the end of 2014, I was convinced that I was both strong and beautiful. It's not that I lost much weight. Truthfully, I only lost about five pounds. But it wasn't about that. I fell in love with my curves, the way the softer spots of my body complemented the hardness of my muscles. I'm happy with the way I look, and I hope to instill that contentment in other women as well.

Got help
I've suffered from bouts of anxiety since childhood, but I never really addressed it. In 2014, I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I started therapy. I learned coping mechanisms. Too often, we hide our struggles with mental illness. We view the fact that we need help as a sign that something is wrong with us. 2014 taught me that I'm not alone in this struggle, and that it's not something that I need to hide.

Worked on relationships
When people say that relationships take work, I always thought that they meant romantic relationships. That's not the case. All relationships need intentionality. They require "I'm sorrys" and vulnerability and messiness. They require us to truly consider others better than ourselves. In 2014, I realized how blessed I am to have friends who walk with me and who work with me.

Said no
I've always like the quote, "You can do anything but not everything." I started to live by it in 2014. I quit things. I didn't go to events out of obligation. It made my year sweeter and more restful.

It's hard to boil down 365 days worth of lessons into a blog post, but those are the highlights. What did 2014 teach you?

Share the love,

Taylor