If I had to compare 2015 and 2016 side by side I’d say that I preferred 2016. In 2015 my anxiety started to control my life in a way I didn’t even notice until it was too late and 2016 – the first week of January 2016 I regained control. I’ve spent the past year a lot calmer and in control of myself and my body and less “woe is me, I cannot control my anxiety”. That is one of my biggest achievements of the year, and I’ll always remember the 2nd January with Kent Jones blasting in my old flat making the decision and being elated and free, it was a feeling of relief and happiness and I am so happy with how it has lasted. It doesn’t meant that 2016 was without anxiety, I had a sleepless week the week of Brexit but I didn’t turn to the crutches that I relied on so heavily in 2015 and that in itself is an achievement.
I travelled to California for the first time! I’d been dreaming of Beverly Hills since I first watched Clueless aged 4 and my dream of staying in 90210 was realised last Spring when I went for the GLAAD awards with my brother and sister, LA was everything I wanted and more and I hope to return if not in 2017 then definitely the year after.
I moved back to an area of London that I felt more “myself” in and got a new car, my electric car is super cool and fun and gives me total freedom to drive myself around (sans congestion or parking fees). I went on an amazingly romantic trip to Venice and ate my body weight in pasta. I subsequently successfully gave up gluten and coffee and said hello to a calmer stomach. I took my health seriously and checked up every niggle and got things crossed off my to do list as quickly as they came on. I learned to let go of bad relationships, some friendships are doomed to fail and you can’t please everyone, an important lesson of 2016 was to understand what kind of people I want to surround myself with going forward and I feel like I’ve learned some important life lessons about trusting your gut instincts and not letting the wrong people too close.
I’ve continued studying and loving the Russian language and am looking forward to pushing myself further, I also made one of my closest friends in Russian class, and I am so grateful to have met such a kind hearted and awesome person. I started boxing and pilates and finally have found a form of exercise I enjoy. I started working with a lot more brands and had successful fashion weeks going to some incredible shows that I only ever dreamed of attending and feel forever grateful that I get to do what I do and call it work. I learned not to berate myself for not reaching the goals I thought I would have, life is about being patient and working hard, there is no “quick fix” and some things take time and there’s nothing wrong with that. I rekindled old friendships and am grateful for a holiday in the Summer for reconnecting with old school friends and creating unforgettable memories.
All in all 2016 rocked, I may not have mentioned my husband and family in this and that’s because every year with them is amazing – genuinely. They mean the world to me and are my biggest success in life, we’ve shared amazing memories all together and I can’t wait to create more next year.
I hope that I’ve grown and become more able to accept criticism, less sensitive to negativity and in general a more chilled out person but I know I still have some work to do on myself in the year ahead.
I hope you all have a wonderful 2017!
2016 sounds like a great year for you! I really enjoyed your vlogmas & hope you vlog more in 2017! Happy New Year! xx
Beautylymin| LuxuryFragranceBundleGiveaway
That’s such a positive post to read in the beginning of this new year! I am happy for all of your achievements and wish you a happy new year Tijan!
This sounds so wonderful. You have had some big successes in 2016, and I would love to hear more about how you managed to get a better handle on your anxiety. I am trying to do the same so tips are always good
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