Let’s fill in the blank pages!!

The arrival of the year is now something of the past and with just a short while until the conclusion of January, this has been a time of reflection for me. I haven't written anything for the entirety of last year, and not for a lack of desire, but because I didn't wish to try to put out content without full conviction. I decided that the best thing to do was to take the time to produce something worthwhile before I could bring it to all my readers. By the end of 2022, things couldn't have been better! There was so much peace, love, and serenity. Although not everything was perfect, it was just how it was supposed to be, and I accepted it. The struggle to make sure things turned out precisely as I'd planned was gone, and I embraced taking things as they come and savoring the present. I can definitely plan and prepare for the future and the next chapter of my life I want to get to, but I have decided to let go of the need to be in control of everything. While I can plan meticulously, sometimes life throws in a few curve-balls that can disrupt things. That's okay though, because I know I took the necessary steps to move forward and that I can take the knowledge and experience with me in the next stage of my life journey. In this current situation, the most important factor motivating me is discipline. I perceive it as consistently performing tasks I do not necessarily feel like doing so that I stick to the pledges I have imposed upon myself. For instance, I have occasionally mentioned previously that I began jogging in March of 2022. This journey served me to revive my vitality; I no longer wanted to fritter away my time with concocting excuses for something I never even bothered to try in the first place. I'm extremely thankful for everyone who has come into my life and given me advice and assistance. Do I love rising up in the dead of night to go jogging? Certainly not! But I'm dedicated to my own promises, so no matter how many opportunities I have to make excuses or take a break, I hit the pavement every morning and say thank you to God for the gift of being able to move. I was not appreciating all of the wonderful things my body can do, and I was squandering its potential. I'm still going strong; I do strength training on some days and run a regular four miles on others. My objective now is to keep continually improving and become the best version of me I can be. It has been quite a journey; on some days I cried while running, wanting to give up, and on other occasions I had the most incredible time. A journey full of highs and lows, hard work and pain, triumphs and failures; but I absolutely love and cherish every moment of it. I have realized that self-adoration is about looking after yourself so you can then be there for people who matter. I have become a whole lot choosier about who I spend my time with due to how precious it is to me. I can now look back on with compassion why I squandered so much in the past. I had to consider deeply and take the time to comprehend the source of it all. I only wished for acceptance, and eventually noticed that I was ignoring myself rather than supplying affection and dedication to someone other than myself. So I decided to give it to myself first. The whole landscape has changed drastically. I'm quite tight-knit so there are only a few people who are close to me, and the ones who matter the most are of course my family - it's amazing how they always look after my best interests. I'm blessed to have great people in my life who care and love me deeply. On top of that, I've also come up with certain boundaries and standards of mine that I hadn't thought of before. My greatest accomplishment to date, and something I am continually striving to improve upon, is the distinctive bond I share with my children. Our relationship has become even stronger, and I am grateful for the amount of quality time spent together. Through self-directed study, insight from those around me, and growth through reflecting on my experiences, I am able to be the best version of myself for them. Gone are the days of drifting aimlessly and feeling tossed around like a leaf in the breeze. I'm now focused on a clear mission with tangible plans to help me reach where I want to be. Every day I'm getting one step closer! I was just joking around with a friend about the dating scene and I said that it's important to me to have someone make an effort and properly 'prom date' ask me out - it might sound like a lot, but this is what I'm looking for! I'm after the cheesiest of cheesy, because that's just me! I adore being cheesy and expressing my affection in this manner, and when I meet that special someone, I can't help but imagine it. I'm excited to bring even more content to my beloved readers and connect with more people who are passionate about writing and sharing what they have to say! Let's stay motivated and stay focused on our ambitions!