All things considered, 2019 hasn’t been a bad year. I wouldn’t necessary say it was a good year either. It was a year of growth, of lessons, of perspective and clarity. Some of these things I learnt naturally; others I was forced to learn. But here I am, in the final month of the year, in more or less one piece. Because of it, I thought I’d share my top ten lessons from this year:

My Top Ten Lessons from 2019

1. My needs matter. In my relationships, my career, and the rest of my life, my needs are as important as anyone else’s. Which sometimes means saying no to opportunities that might not be the best for me at this time. Or saying yes to something that will push me out of my comfort zone, but will make me proud later.
2. Number 1 naturally leads into number 2, which is boundaries. I am not a bad person for establishing these boundaries, especially when they make me feel like I value myself.
3. Articulating my boundaries and needs is hard, but necessary for me to feel comfortable. My comfort is a vital part of being a functioning human being.
4. It’s okay to take breaks. No deadline, self-imposed or otherwise, is worth sacrificing my mental, physical or emotional health. My mental, physical and emotional health are equally important.
5. Pushing myself to reach goals dictated by other people’s achievements is not the path to happiness..
6. Struggling doesn’t negate my gratitude. Gratitude doesn’t negate my struggling. There is a place for both in my life.
7. There is nothing wrong with asking for help and support. My community is real, they are genuine, and their care is not conditional.
8. I deserve to read and enjoy books as much as anyone else. Being an author shouldn’t rob me of the joy that reading brings.
9. Remembering why I love writing is a challenge, but it’s worthwhile, and should be undertaken as often as when I question why I chose this career.
10. My efforts are enough. So are yours.

This is my final post for 2019! I hope you’ve enjoyed my content this year. Remember, you can find me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Happy holidays!