2017: A Fresh Start

On New Year’s Eve, I went to Vancouver Island where one of my very best friends and I sat down, meditated, and set intentions for the year ahead with open hearts and open minds. A tear ran down my face as Yoga Girl talked us through the process and she said (from memory) “think about the past year and all the experiences that brought you here, to this exact moment. This is where you are supposed to be.” Because, damn, there were a lot of experiences. 2016 was a heck of a year, both with good and bad, and I wanted, and I knew deep down, that 2017 was going to be amazing.

After I set my intentions, by writing them in a journal, I read them and realized that everything was to do with caring for myself. Some of the things are continuations of a paths I was already on. Some things are new journeys that I am excited to begin. With this, I found it very easy to come up with my mantra for 2017. I am enough.

We wanted to stay in and soak in the energy that we created in her space. But we committed to going out so we honoured that. We had fun with her friends, rang in the New Year with champagne and cheering. And of course, woke up feeling terrible! But still I was excited for the intentions I set and something in me felt different, lighter. Friends have noticed and commented that there is something different about me already. I am positive and bubbly – a word I haven’t heard used to describe me in years! And while I am trying to not rely on compliments to feel good about myself, as I try to learn to love myself, when you are radiating light and positivity to the point that people notice, it speaks volumes.

I have, of course, faced some minor hiccups since NYE. It’s been exactly one week, and I have faced the hangover, an unnecessary twinge of jealousy, and the usual ups and downs of a typical day. But I keep refocusing on my mantra and my intentions. And I smile.

Besides, I have had so many more positive moments than not. I have had these moments of intense joy where I find myself holding back tears of happiness. I asked my friend why I am so emotional lately. She said “You're going through a big life shift and transformation”

I listed off some things that have made me happy-cry this past week; the realization that I am so blessed with friends and family, a poem I read from Becca Lee, an email from “Notes from the Universe”, my horoscope, and a song. She said “You're really connecting with these things, they are speaking to you and how you want to live and feel” and that has really resonated with me.

And then came the big game changer. Yesterday I was let go from my job of six years. I was dedicated and loyal to this company for six years! I’d been through three supervisors, and many team members. Most people who left my team did so because they were either unhappy, or unsatisfied, but I stuck it out. As people cycled through, I was the only sales rep on many occasions, handling the full work load of 3-4 people. I trained every person that came through the department since 2011. I interviewed and helped select the last two, who remain there now. I bared the brunt of every angry client and kept the department afloat singlehandedly several times, for months at a time, and all I asked for was respect, appreciation, and maybe a little recognition. Instead, I was let go without warning or cause. It was executed poorly and in an undignified manor. I felt angry, betrayed, and dismissed.

My immediate thought was finding a new job. I reach out on social media asking if anyone had heard of openings. Instead, I got an outpouring of support from friends and family. Even acquaintances that I rarely speak with or haven’t spoken to in a long time reached out to send well wishes. I focused on all this positive energy and started feeling better the very day I was let go.

Once I started to let go of my anger, I discovered that I felt relieved. I felt free!

I came back to my intentions again and realized that I set all these great intentions and this was the universe giving me the push I needed.

So here I am, with so many options and opportunities – a fresh start at the start of the year and I know it’s going to be amazing so I am going to document it in words and pictures as I go.

I can’t wait.