As 2014 draws to a close

Here we are again, on the last day of the year. Man, I feel like year by year time passes more and more quickly.

Earlier today while skimming through photos on my laptop, my eyes started to well up roughly halfway through the year when it hit me how blessed I am. And when I say I blessed, I mean that I've been truly gifted with such amazing friends, family, memories and experiences. 2014 has been a year consisting of trials, challenges, tribulations and most importantly self-discovery. To me 2014 was definitely a year of self-discovery – and self-trust.

If it comes to friends – this year was amazing! I have never been such an outgoing and sociable person. Over the course of the year I made a handful of really amazing friends who I can’t imagine not knowing, I’ve met a bunch of amazing, bubbly, outgoing and talkative characters just like myself.

Man! A year can go by in the quickest of flashes. 2014 was definitely a year full of surprises. I must admit, it’s been an interesting or should I say a roller coaster of year. I grew stronger not only as a person but also a writer. And as each successive day differed just slightly from the last, when a year’s worth of those days has passed, I find myself in an entirely new place from when I began.

I’d like to take a moment in today’s post to really think about who & what I’ve gotten to see and experience over the year. I’ve been lucky enough to experience something different each day, each week, and each month in the past year.

2014 brought changes – big changes, small changes, good ones and also many not so good ones; but from where I stand right now, I’ve come to realize that I should always look back at those experiences with a smile and learn from them. I’ve learned to be proud of my accomplishments and most importantly I’ve realized I should look at hardships as both opportunities & learning experiences to better myself. We get so caught up with the negatives in life so easily that we don’t realize that we are above all, insurmountably blessed just to be alive.

As for 2015 new year resolutions, fortunately I’ve never been the type to set New Year’s goals or resolutions. For me, if I make up my mind to try or change something, I usually give it a go regardless of the time of year. All in all, it’s been a successful year.

 2014, thank you for all you’ve given me. And 2015… Let’s do this!

I had an extremely hard time picking which photos I wanted to put up as my “best of 2014″. So here’s a few favorites of mine.

Milk and Honey - Rupi Kaur

"I am hopelessly a lover and a dreamer and that will be the death of me"//

My first ever poetry book I’ve laid my hands on, in fact my first ever book I’ve bought online & trust me, I am so glad it was this one! Milk & Honey would by far be the most soulful book I have ever read. A very well structured, moving and deeply powerful book I’ve read in a very long time. Anyone who loves poetry needs to read and should get themselves a copy of this book ASAP.

Yesterday evening sweetness was delivered to my doorstep. That’s right, it's finally here! What a wonderful surprise it was to come home to this waiting for me. All the way from Canada to my cosy bedroom in Australia, I could not be happier! I must admit, it's beyond an honour to have your heart up on my bookshelf Rupi. I am so glad to finally have my hands on this beautiful masterpiece. Who knew words could flow so effortlessly, your words are perfection; they have definitely struck a chord - such powerful words imprinted in here..I don't see myself wanting to ever put this book down! I can’t help but reading & re-reading every single page, one of the most rejuvenating piece of work I’ve read in a very long time! Your work is truly a piece of art & it has touched me in ways that I thought would not be possible, I’ve found pieces of my soul in here, thank you Queen. I look forward to watching you grow as a poetess. Highly recommended for all my beautiful girls out there

About the book

“Milk and honey' is a collection of poetry and prose about survival. About the experience of violence, abuse, love, loss, and femininity. It is split into four chapters, and each chapter serves a different purpose, deals with a different pain, heals a different heartache. 'Milk and honey' takes readers through a journey of the most bitter moments in life and finds sweetness in them because there is sweetness everywhere if you are just willing to look and find sweetness in them because there is sweetness everywhere if you are just willing to look.”

About the author

Rupi Kaur is a writer based in Toronto, Canada. She studied Rhetoric and Professional Writing at the University of Waterloo. She travels globally to speak and teach workshops on topics such as trauma and healing while also performing her spoken word poetry. Rupi devours words, art, metaphors, bodies of water, and storytelling. She shares her writing with the world as a means to create a safe space for progressive healing and forward movement.

You can find more of her work at www.rupikaur.com

“I want to apologize to all the women i have called beautiful
before I’ve called them intelligent or brave
I am sorry I made it sound as though
something as simple as what you’re born with
is all you have to be proud of
when you have broken mountains with your wit 
from now on I will say things like
you are resilient, or you are extraordinary
not because I don’t think you’re beautiful
but because I need you to know
you are more than that”  

- Rupi Kaur