2023 Wrapped: What A Year

2023 has been quite a ride. As the year comes to a close, I’d like to take this time to reflect on everything I’ve learned and how much I’ve grown over the year - both physically and mentally.  

One revelation that brought me immense joy was discovering my fashion sense. Embracing a more coquettish style, albeit on a budget, has proven to be the version of myself that brings the most happiness and heals my inner child. When I was younger, I prevented myself from being girly and liking girly things. I forced myself into a faux tomboy persona because being girly was "lame”, as per early 2000s misogyny. Suffice to say, it really fucked me up mentally. 

Imagine my further confusion when I realised I liked girls and thought I had to be masc - another story for another day. It was only at 22-23 that I'd come to accept and celebrate my identity as a girly girl.

I've also prioritised self-care a little bit more this year, both mentally and physically. Discovering useful advice from YouTubers like Tam Kaur has been transformative. Her tips and tricks on expressing gratitude, making time for oneself, and avoiding excuses that stunt your growth resonate deeply. 

Plus, she’s also a Desi woman, so her advice is practical for me and something I can put to use. Her wisdom has inspired confidence and positively influenced my relationships with colleagues, friends, and family.

One thing I'm really proud of is that I've stopped making self-deprecating jokes. Well, maybe the odd one slips out here and there, but I've made a conscious effort not to talk about myself in such a negative way. I know that I'm a good person, and I needed to acknowledge that, especially when it came to how I talked about myself.

Additionally, I’ve stopped looking at mistakes and problems as the end of the world and now see them as a lesson to learn from. As corny as it sounds, it really did make my life a lot better and has saved me from many, many mental breakdowns.

Another noteworthy achievement was landing my first adult job before graduating from Polytechnic. Only a handful of people can say that they secured a full time job right after their Poly internship. While it's a contract position, I am immensely proud of this accomplishment and hope to sustain it. Please pray for me, y’all. 

On another note, I also navigated an interesting romantic relationship. I won’t delve too much into it, but you can read about it here. I’m proud of myself for ending things when I did, for healing on my own terms, for not sabotaging my healing process, and for coming out of it a better person than I was during and before said relationship. I knew my worth and stood on business.  

A significant milestone for me was gaining a bit more freedom. As you all know, my father has a very tight hold on the reigns in his house. However, when I told him that I wanted to travel with my friends, he agreed! Securing his approval for a girls' trip was a massive victory, considering my early curfew. It was a wonderful taste of freedom and independence. I’m excited for more to come. 

I've also deepened my understanding of the world, delving into political leaders, movements, economic structures, and the need to question and challenge prevailing norms. I’ve always been a political person, as per my Late Night Satire blog post.  As the year progressed, my beliefs shifted towards more leftist ideals, particularly in my disdain for the capitalist state of the world. Nothing like late stage capitalism to radicalise as 23 year old. The disparities, atrocities, and control wielded by a select few have become increasingly apparent, sparking my passion for change.

As 2023 concludes, I am committed to continuing my personal growth journey, investing in myself physically, mentally, and spiritually. The lessons learned and experiences gained have set the stage for a promising path ahead.