Happy New Year beautiful people! It’s finally 2023 and the year is still brand new, filled with possibility. I’m not a fan of the whole new year, new you nonsense. I think a new year gives us an opportunity to reflect, adjust and reset. This post is a bit of reflection for me as I share with you the 7 things 2022 has taught me.

7 Things 2022 Has Taught Me

Health is Wealth

I learnt this lesson at the start of the 2nd quarter of 2022 and it was a tough one. I contracted chickenpox in April and as an adult, it is actually worse than if you were to get it as a child. The scarring is more severe, whether you scratch or not. At one point everything ached, my breathing and eyesight were affected. It was an awful time for me and I am still dealing with the after effects in the form of body scars. That experience was a glaring reminder that not prioritising your health is a bad move. So for 2023 and beyond, I will be putting it at the top of my list because if I’m not healthy I can’t travel.

Travelling

Speaking of travel in relation to health, it is so beneficial for my mental health. Travel is just part and parcel of my life. I learn so much about myself, other cultures and connect with people from all walks of life. My life is so enriched through travel. Granted I’m not a luxury traveller and most times I’m not going to 4 star hotels, or places but I do enjoy showing you what’s out there. Hopefully you are inspired to take that trip that you want to, especially if it’s solo travel.

Solitude is Golden

There’s something about being on your own that teaches you so much about yourself. If you’re always around others, sometimes it becomes challenging to know what your feelings and thoughts are. Naturally it gets mingled with that of others. Being in solitude allows your true thoughts and feelings to come to the surface. It’s helped me challenge some long held beliefs that were never mine in the first place. It also brought the realisation that having regular solo trips annually is a necessity for me.

Friendship Breakups

If you’ve ever had a friendship break up, you know they’re worse than a romantic break up. You may be thinking, what could you learn from something so painful? Actually, a lot! I learnt that some people are for a season in your life. But the biggest lesson with friendship breakups is that you have to get comfortable being a villain in someone’s life. You could be the sweetest person and give everything to the friendship but it’s not reciprocated. Make peace with being the villain.

Taking Breaks

Take a break, it’s important. It could be a break from learning, people, places, foods etc. I was studying 2 languages and it all got to be too much, so I took a break. Now, I feel ready to resume studying. So if you need to take a break, take it. Do not feel guilty about stopping something because you don’t have the capacity.

Skincare

Finally, 2022 has taught me that I need to stay on top of my skincare routine especially after the chickenpox episode. Also, skincare is not only just about the products. It includes having treatments because some skin issues need intervention by a professional. If you’re wondering what I’ve had done in 2022, let me know in the comments below and I’ll do a blog post.

These are the 7 things 2022 has taught me, what were your lessons? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading and until next time, be well! x