I keep on hearing people say they’re ready for 2017 because 2016 was the absolute worst (for them) and I’m just sitting here thinking, “au contraire.” Excuse my french (ha!) but that means “on the contrary” in case you haven’t already figured it out by now.  Anyway, 2016 was a good year for me and I learned a lot this year. I learned about trust, perseverance, the power of words, and most importantly the true meaning of love.

I have to admit the beginning of 2016 was a bit rough for me in the love department. I went through a lot of emotional ups & downs – a few depressive states. I came into 2016 with a dysfunctional relationship that starts the year before. Everyday I would talk myself into getting out of the relationship, but at the end of the day, I would go back on my words and stay. Honestly I think I stayed in that dysfunctional relationship because I was afraid of being alone. I liked the idea of having a man or someone to talk at the end of the day and over time, I placed that need above my happiness and sanity. Long story short, I finally grew the courage to walk out of that dysfunctional relationship. It was very difficult and like most relationships, it didn’t really end immediately. This ex-partner of mine tried in so many ways to convince me to come back and whatnot.

Okay, this is turning into a long tale of love and heartbreak lol. I need to focus. Back to why 2016 was an awesome year for me. Like I stated above, I learned a lot this year and that is:

• everything starts and ends with God. I had to learn to let go and let God. And because it is in my nature to save people including myself, I had to learn the hard way that I cannot save myself and the more I tried to, the more mess I made.
• pain is temporary and sometimes it seems like what we are going through is going to be the end of us. It really isn’t so because there’s always a silver lining and that is why;
• I learned to persevere and speak positive things into my life. Words are powerful and always remember that you get what you say.
• finally, I learned the true meaning of love and what true love should feel and look like. After walking away from the dysfunctional relationship, I was determined I to date myself *say what?!* for a while. So I prayed away any distraction (men) that came my way lol. But one there was one person that I could not pray away and today he is the love of my life and soon to be husband. *say whatttttt!*Yup, but this is a story for another day and it’s a darn good one.

So back to 2016 being the absolute worst for some people, I on the other hand had an amazing year. I got into a car crash that could have ended in a horrible way, but I survived, so what’s there to complain about? I’m just grateful to God that I am still here today. As someone said, where there’s life there’s hope…. or something like that. Go into 2017 expectant and with an open mind. It is going to be a fantastic year!

Cheers,

Uzo

The secret to staying young is smiling everyday

Even though your heart is aching on the inside

• Uzo Ekwuribe

Earlier today I was listening to a message by Joel Osteen titled “Power of Your Vision.” He said something that caught my attention, he said, “when our vision is negative, our mind tends to go in the same direction…your life is going to follow your vision. If you have a small vision, you’re going to have a small/mediocre life. There is power in our vision.

I remember a time when I had no dreams..no goals…no vision. I really took to heart the saying, “live one day at a time. Sure, that’s a good advice for a world that’s driven by stress and anticipation of what tomorrow holds.

I was afraid to dream because: 1) I didn’t see a future for myself and 2) nobody believed in me. I became the architect of my own failures. I talked myself out of every opportunity or chance to do something extraordinary. Nobody believed in me, so in turn, I didn’t believe in myself.

All these years I was living a paralyzed life – paralyzed by fear of dreaming and fear of even trying. I convinced myself that nobody would care if I amounted to nothing in life. But I was wrong… I would care. I was so accustomed to keeping everything piled up on the inside. I was constantly overwhelmed by negative emotions.

So, one day I woke up and I told myself, “your pity party is over. It’s time to snap out of it.” I decided from that day henceforth that I was done feeling sorry for myself and feeling like a loser. Sure I was dealt a dirty card during my entire childhood, but I wasn’t about to allow my past define my future.

I decided I was going to try new things and it’s okay if I failed at some of them. I took to my journal somethings I wanted to accomplish before the year was over. I began to dream of better future and I saw myself walking with my head held high – I was free. My mind no longer had control of me, but instead, I was in control of my mind.

I will forever choose to free my mind.

Allow yourself to dream. Allow yourself to see…far beyond the horizon

love,

Uzo Ekwuribe