So ..... New Year ey

Ask most of the population what they thought of 2016 and I feel we all know what the reaction is going to be. Lets be honest it wasn't pretty. A lot of people will now be blogging and vlogging about how tragic the year was for culture, politics and human rights. So what I'm going to do instead is tell you about my personal 2016. To be honest it was pretty bitter sweet in itself but hey ho here we go.

Well I tell you what lets start on a positive, I can honestly say I have never travelled so much as I have in the last twelve months. I have been incredibly fortunate to visit a whole number of different places and meet some incredible people along the way. I mean I started this blog almost a year ago with the intention of just writing a bit here and a bit there, I didn't think I would have all that much to talk about but here I am now. Like six blog posts behind ( Yes I promise I will catch up) and having so much to tell.

I won't sit here tapping away at my key board and sipping my tea pretending that I've had the perfect dream year that you should all be jealous of. It has probably been one of the most difficult and challenging years of my "grown up" life as of yet, admittedly some of which was self inflicted. But hey I'm not perfect, it's taught me to stand up and admit my mistakes and face them full on. I'm not going into whats happened over 2016, partly because I don't feel I'm at a stage yet where I want to express to to a world wide platform. Also because some people reading this know me personally and well if you don't know already ...

Anyway... one thing I do know, prepare for some cliches. I feel a stronger person in myself, I feel like I know myself better and now rather than trying to compete with other people to prove I'm better, I just want to push myself to make me a better, more rounded, compassionate person. Things I held before as valuable assets or values I don't any longer. I know where I want to be, I just don't know how I'm going to get there but thats okay. 2016 was terrifying in parts, it was emotional and it was the BEST adventure I have had so far. There are certain aspects of the year I would change but I'm working on that. I have reconnected with old friends and lost a few too but thats okay.

I'm not trying to preach and I'm not trying to say hey look at me this is so great.

I'm lucky, very lucky; in my low points I've had the most incredible people around me, people I never knew cared so much and people I never expected to reach out a hand. In the incredible highs those same people have been there to celebrate with me. I've come into 2017 on the front foot. It's not perfect but I'm working on it.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is. If you didn't have the perfect 2016 like these rich kids on Instagram (blurgg) just step back, take one huge breath and face it head on. I promise you when you put your all into something you'll be surprised who is there to pick you up and what might be around the corner. You won't always feel low and lonely. I know its hard we all go through it and knowing that doesn't actually make it any easier at the time. But what defines you as a person is how you tackle it. 2017 is yours no one else's embrace it and love every second of it.

At the end of the day whatever happens, whatever path your life takes you on, thats what makes you your own kind of perfect.

You shouldn't want it any other way.