Something inside me rumbles when I hear someone say, “New Year, New Me.” I think it’s because I don’t think it should take a date on a calendar to make you change your habits that you know are not serving you. We have the power to change, to grow, to work towards our best selves every day, not just when a new year starts. So we should seize the day, every day.
That being said, I think it’s great to look back at the past year and note the ups and downs. Celebrate the wins and what we can work on better next year. To encourage you to do this for yourself, I will be open and honest in this post, inserting gifs along the way to make it more fun (mostly Nick Miller, my spirit animal).
*Let’s start off happy and start with some wins.
- I completed an internship where I met incredible people, learned a lot, and felt like I had a supportive community that wanted me to succeed. This is a great accomplishment because in the industry it can be easy to feel like you are not enough when you keep hearing “no.” But this internship experience reminded me that there are kind people out there, you just need to find them and hold onto them when you do. Celebrate them.
2. I got published in my college’s literary magazine. I go to college online and did not know the people who were in charge of choosing the works of writing that were selected for the magazine. I was proud I was able to get in without having an “in” with the people in the Publishing Club.
3. I got third place in a 9/11 Writing Competition at my college. I won $250, which was pretty great and enabled me to buy a new iPad so I could explore my love for graphic design. At first I remember being so upset with myself that I got 3rd place, not 1st, but over time I realized I was being too hard on myself. It let me get a new iPad which enabled me to explore so much more creatively! So it was a win for me! All we can ever do is try our best.
*Next, I want to move onto things that are not necessarily visible wins, but they can be felt.
4. Even after contracting COVID (for the second time) and dealing with Long COVID (which SUCKS!!!), I did not get derailed from my goals. I kept learning in any way I could and kept networking online through the pandemic.
5. I met more film friends which has allowed me to realize that the nervousness I feel about sharing my new work with others is not central to me. Every creative person feels that!
*Finally, I want to mention what I want to work on for next year.
6. I need to learn to relax, know when to take a break, and that I deserve time to chill out and reset. I keep feeling burnt out and not motivated because I push myself until I have nothing left. That is not sustainable.
7. I need to trust myself and not spend time worrying if people like me or not. All I can be is nice, helpful and provide a laugh here and there. If someone does not like me, it does not do me well to dwell on it because that will not change anything. Not everyone will like you, that is something I have to accept.
8. I used to be great at this, but the pandemic has clouded my mind. I need to get better at saying, “No” when something or someone is not a good fit. Being isolated for so long has led me to saying, “Yes” when I normally would not. I do not want to miss out on any opportunity so I keep saying, “Yes” and then I get overwhelmed. Then, when I get asked to do something that I really want to do, I say, “No” because I cannot take anything else on my plate.
*I want to end with saying what I am grateful for.
9. I am grateful for the family and friends that are there for me and believe in me even when I do not believe in myself.
10. I am grateful for my courage and humility that allow me to keep learning and growing even when it is scary and all I want to do is hide. I don’t let that stop me. I used to think I was in Ravenclaw, but I am beginning to accept that I am in Gryffindor.
That’s all folks!!! I wish you a great year ahead! I hope you create goals, new memories, meet new people (safely), and share laughs and smiles. To 2022!
Aloha Arianna 