I became petrified that I would lose the core value system that makes up who I am, my integrity, my passion, my strength, my ability to have faith in others, my faith in humanity and the good in others. And due to those who know who they are, those who I may not say it to enough, those who don’t even know I know what they did for me. You all made this year the year I grew the most. I started a company, I got back up on my feet and at times I get knocked back down. But none of you would allow me to give up, to back down, and owning a company now 4 months and having achieved all that I have thus far. I am forever in your debts, even if its just the pranks or the laughs. 2017 taught me in the words of Aerosmith “you got to lose to know how to win”.
So I walk away from 2017, weary, battle-worn, a year older, but a lot wiser. I finish this year on my terms, my way and as someone who I’m happy to live with. On Sunday night I will be with my friends, those who have been there through the good and the bad, through thick and thin, saying goodbye to one of the longest years on record, and welcoming the experiences that are to come.
But with every year there is lessons that you learn, and while I hope I keep learning until the day until I die, these are the 5 lessons I learnt in 2017 that have helped me not only in life but in business and my professional life.
1. Never be bullied into silence, Speak your truth even when your voice is Shaking.
Do I look back at my year and think, if I had just kept my mouth shut, or done things differently everything would be different? Ofcause, I do I am human, when you hurt me I bleed. But would I want to change my reactions or decisions, not a chance and that is for two reasons. The First is that hindsight is 20-20 you can only react with the information that you have at the time. Secondly and more importantly, if I had done it any differently I wouldn’t be me and I wouldn’t be able to walk out of this year with my head held high.
People are always going to try to tear you down, and bully you into silence. Whether it’s at work, home, out and about. But that is a reflection on who they are, not on you. If someone has to tear you down, to make them feel better about themselves, you shouldn’t feel angry at them, you should feel sorry for them. Which is what I do, I walk out of this year realising that for someone to do that, its not a reflection on who you are, its a reflection on them and their insecurities.
2. Your real friends are those who never allow you to give up.
Everyone wants to be your friend during the good times, trust me for my 30th Birthday in June, we filled a boat and was concerned about being over capacity. But what you got to remember is that work friends are like everyday friends, and friends sometimes screw you over, and there will be those that will sell you out to benefit themselves. But in the end they give up something else in the process, which money cannot buy back and that is integrity. The gut punches and stab wounds from those who did that to me through all aspects of my life are still healing but I have a renewed faith in friendship.
I may not have the friends I started the year with, but I have the friends that I am proud to call my support system. They include the unexpected work friends who had my back, even when I didn’t know it. The friends who stood up for me, or even gave me my first laugh on the hardest of days.
3. Work/life balance is paramount.
I was lucky enough to have some wonderful memories of this year working, throughout the year. Inside jokes which includes – the badger, North Korea, Syria, ENT Embassy, Sesame Street and the week of ringtones just to name a few. In 2017 I remembered why I believed life was supposed to be fun, both at work and at home. Yes there are always difficult times, and stress, but in spite of that, you got to have the fun moments.
In a year where I had to say goodbye twice to family members and had numerous family members in hospital. In a year where every aspect of my life, my work life, my business life and my personal life got turned upside down. Through the pain, the tears, the long hours, the rumours, the drama, the betrayals and the darkness I am choosing to remember the parts of work which were fun in 2017. And rather then get anyone into trouble I feel this picture collage says a 1000 words about the fun that is 2017 at work.
Studies have found that you spend the majority of your life at work, so in 2018 and beyond I’m going to endeavour to keep on remembering to always have the fun moments.
5. Like the phoenix that rises from the ashes, the only person at the end of the day that can make you get back up is you.
boxing
Regardless of the support that you have, and the people that care about you. No matter how smart, educated or kind you are. The only person who can make you get back up and dust yourself off and give you that drive that you have, that passion to never give up. Those around you can guide you and they can give you counsel but unless your ready to hear it, read to grow from it. Ready to get off your ass, put in the hard work and fight back for who you are and what you believe in, you won’t get back up. I thankfully learnt this lesson with the love and support of a lot of people I didn’t expect and because of that as the director of a company going into 2018 I believe it will help me be a better employer, business owner, friend and person.
I feel like that I was not a country girl in another life if my mechanical bull riding skills have anything to say about it #johnnyringo #mechanicalbull #majorfail #yaybooze #mighthurttomorrowwhocares #saturdaynight #fallonmyass
So 2017, you were the year that there were countless ups and downs, the year that at times I wanted to just throw in the towel. But your also the year that brought me the most growth as a person. As the owner of a company, flying interstate soon to commence the expansion of my vision, 2017 you may have kicked me down, but you also were the year to give me the kick in the ass to realise, the only person I have to explain myself to is me and that I don’t ever want to be the person who ever again rests on her laurels. You only get one life, you got to live it, make mistakes, fall down, scream, shout, have fun and most of all remember you’re not alone. 2017 Thanks for the memories!
