New Year, Better Me.

Hello Pretty People,

It’s been way too long since I’ve last written for PYM. Although I love sharing my experiences and advice with all of you, it felt good to take a break for a little while. I always love being able to connect with this audience through my writing, and I hope to restart blogging in 2019.

2018 ended in chaos, some good chaos and some bad.

There is a lot I could update you on but let me fill you in briefly:

I accepted a Global Marketing Analyst position at Thermo Fisher Scientific, a medical laboratory equipment company known worldwide. I am working in the Anatomical Pathology Division, which deals with cancer diagnostics and pathologist labs. Although it is not fashion related, I have always wanted to work for a company that makes an impact, and cancer research/diagnostics is definitely impactful.

Next, I’ve moved into my own apartment and got a cat. (Typical!) Her name is Piper and she is basically a dog, there is never a dull moment. I’m in the process of decorating my place and making it my own, which is fun and expensive. Share affordable decor tips later?

For the most part, I have been adjusting to my new 9-5 work schedule and curating a routine that works for me. It’s still a work in progress!

This leads me to today’s thrilling blog post, perhaps a little late to the start of a new year, but better late than never.

We always hear the phrase “new year, new me” float around during this time. Self-reinvention is a popular endeavor when a new year kicks off, and although that is one method for attacking our biggest problems/flaws, it’s not always effective. Hell, it’s rarely effective.

When we set new years resolutions or goals, we put ourselves in these shame boxes. That’s what I’ll call it, shame boxes. We pick apart all the things we currently lack or don’t do and say we will change it all on January 1. We get motivated to reinvent our habits and become a better person; however, we’re setting ourselves up for failure in this method of goal setting.

We expect too much out of a new year. We set our goals way too high, or we set too many unattainable goals. The moment that we revert back to our default routines or habits, we’re hit with shame or guilt. But why? We created these expectations for ourselves?

This is where resolutions can be problematic. Everyday we wake up, we should strive to be a better version of ourselves. Better than the day before, we are our only true competition. Stop waiting for a new year to start working on yourself, start now!

If you need an excuse to start working on better habits and new goals, use the new year. But, if you can, just start.

Moving in to 2019, and how I ended 2018, is really focusing on growth and self-discovery. In life, I feel as though we go through high and low points. Ending of 2018 was definitely a low point for me, I was and still sort of am in a slump. There are some areas of my life that I have become more self-aware of and it has inspired me to work on becoming a better version of myself.

When we set goals, or just our daily intentions, we should start on trying to be better, not new. The whole “new year, new me” mantra is shit.

Personally, I don’t want to be a new me. I see where I have made mistakes and need improvements, and this has inspired me to pursue new endeavors that compliment my long-term goals. Without the rough edges, lack of athletic ability, pizza, bad habits and regrets; what would we have to do with our lives?

Part of the fun is the work that goes into becoming better versions of ourselves. We start going to the gym more, eating healthy, making lists, trying a new hobby…whatever it may be. Shouldn’t we just be doing this always?

Life happens when you’re too focused on the destination, the in between is the actual important piece. Have you ever taken a long road trip in a car with friends/family? In all of my road trip experiences, the car ride is always where the most memories and inside jokes are made.

I have so much more I could say about 2018 and setting yourself up for success in 2019, but the realness of this blog is that I am currently going through it and I know that my biggest goal everyday is just to be a better version of myself than I was the day before. Life is too short to get wrapped up in what you could be better at, we all could improve in some area of our life but what’s important is how you choose to look at your flaws.

Flaws, bad habits and goals are all opportunities to level up. Don’t set goals you know you won’t accomplish, it will just put you in a shame box. You have to remember that you are in control of you, so that includes the goals and expectations you set for yourself. Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s just life; you can make the best out of the present but you cannot control tomorrow. We’re all human and we all make mistakes.

My challenge for you in 2019, and forever, is to worry less about becoming a “new you” and focus more on being a better you – whatever that means to you. The you that already exists is great, you’ve come so far, why try to change the experiences that have shaped you?

I’ll leave on this quote a friend just shared with me:

“Note to self: None of us are getting out of here alive. So, please stop treating yourself like an after thought. Eat the delicious food. Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean. Say the truth that you’re carrying in your heart like hidden treasure. Be silly. Be kind. Be weird. There’s no time for anything else.”

As always, thank you for reading PYM. I’m so happy you have stuck around throughout my blogging journey, and I hope to continue bringing relevant and relatable content. In other news, I am working a secret project with a close friend who is no stranger to my blog, more information to come in the following months.

Much love,

Alyssa