Reflecting on 2018: Life Lessons

2018 gave me a run for my money! It was filled with adventures (good and bad) and it was really trying at times – both personally and professionally. 

I’m not terribly upset to see 2018 go. Especially because my partner and I are setting out on 10 months of travel and to live life a bit more slowly in 2019. That being said, 2018 definitely hasn’t been all bad. I traveled to amazing places, spent time with family and had more friends visiting London than I can count. I also feel like London has become more of a home and I have a really kind and supportive community here. 

Read More: 2018 Travel Round Up 

Last year I did a reflection post on 2017 and I thought I’d carry on the tradition this year. It’s been a good way for me to look back on some of the lessons I’ve learned and want to carry forward with me into the next year. Here are my 5 personal reflections from 2018!

It’s ok to say no

I can be a major pushover sometimes – with my boyfriend, friends, in line at the grocery store. Basically in a lot of the relationships I have, but especially at work. I want people to like me and I want to be good at what I do. 

During a performance review at work this year my boss told me, “I know I can give you any piece of work and know that it will get done”. I was both flattered by this and upset. I’ve been feeling for quite sometime that I compromise too easily and don’t set firm enough boundaries for myself at work. Consequently I have felt really overloaded in 2018. 

I shouldn’t feel like saying no to a task or a person means I’ve failed. It doesn’t. And I’ve started to say no, or at least think about what I say yes to, more often.

Know when to be patient

I am a big big dreamer, like head perpetually in the clouds. And I have a tendency to rush into things. I’m thinking specifically to a few situations – moving to Uzbekistan in the span of two weeks, cycling the pacific coast with no knowledge of basically anything to do with bikes. Situations that have turned out great and have been amazing adventures. BUT I also need to slow down and be patient. This year Josh and I have been saving for 10 months of travel in 2019. It’s a big trip and it requires planning, logistics, and all the little steps that sometimes are not as much fun but are very important. 

Follow your own rules

I’m 30 now and with 30 I’ve felt a pile of extra pressure from those around me. Buy a house. You better have kids soon because you only have a few years left. Oh and get married. But what if i’m in no rush for those things and what if I want to spend my time and money on other things? Like traveling or theater tickets or an over priced latte and avo on toast. 

I need to live my own life, follow my own rules and try not to compare myself to others. There is no exact recipe for life, even though many people will make you think there is! Don’t know what you’re doing, neither do any of us really. 

Stop caring what other people think

THIS times a thousand! Going back to what I said about compromising, I have been trying to stop caring about what other people think about me. When people make fun of me for blogging, my love of a photo, or being all up on social media, I shouldn’t care. Live the life you love!

Communication is key

The biggest lesson I learned in 2018 is the importance of good communication in relationships. May of this year was the hardest. My partner and I nearly broke up and at the heart of it was poor communication. We’ve worked really hard at being better at it since then, including even doing a relationship meeting at the end of this year to reflect and talk about things. It has been so wonderful and our relationship feels stronger now than it ever has. Being a better communicator in our relationship didn’t come easy for me and it was awkward at times but it’s been SO important.  

What are some of your reflections for 2018? I’d love to hear about them, so please share them with me in the comments below. Wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR. And, as always, here’s hoping we all see and work towards a better and kinder 2019!