As we close 2017, I thought it’d be good to reflect and ponder over my year. 

This year has been...a lot of firsts for me. First time dyeing my hair so many colours (I loved it), first dance solo, first time sharing my writing with others...Honestly, I never expected to have 500+ total subscribers by the year’s end, so thank you all for your loving support. Thanks for the comments and for letting me know my writing makes people feel something, and brings them joy for a while. I’ll keep writing and keep improving. 

So many events have happened this year, for me and for others. Some bittersweet, some heartbreaking. I don’t know why but as we cross into a new year I seem to feel so much older, like my youth is gone. It seems like a new era now, as the tides change and the world changes. But change is the only constant, isn’t it? We may not be able to control the tides, but what we can control is our response to what the world throws at us, and be graceful and humble with each win or loss.

Be nice to the people on your way up, these are the same people you’ll meet on your way down. This really hit home to me this year. Love and adoration is fleeting, and so is popularity, and fame. Nothing lasts forever. Legends come and legends go, but your attitude, your relationships...in the end, the bonds you forge and the way you choose to go is what defines you.

The year has given me much, many lessons along the way. 

I’ve learnt not to care about what people think, because it doesn’t matter. Do what you love and free yourself from expectations, because they’ll tire you out anyway. I’ve learnt to free yourself, you have to let go, because so many things are only important if you think they are. 

I’ve learnt not to count my mistakes, but count my blessings, because being too hung up about your failures hurts, and you’ll get stuck eventually. Learn to forgive yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others - because you’re the only one you need to defeat.

Honestly, sometimes I’m scared. Sometimes I feel I’m mediocre, nothing special really. There are people with far more talent than me, people who pick up quicker and learn faster. But we’re all on our own journey, and the more we look to others and compare, the less we better ourselves. 

Most importantly, I’ve learnt that you are so much more than who you think yourself to be. 

For me, 2017 was beautiful, painful, bittersweet all rolled into 1. A year of introspection, self discovery, new beginnings and achievements.

I hope 2018 will be better. Let’s climb to greater heights together.

- Glimmer