Photo by Emma Calvert
By Emma Calvert
New Year’s resolutions are something I have always made but rarely followed through on. I find it so easy to get caught up in everything happening in my life and so often end up falling into old habits. After all, they are called habits for a reason.
This new year has been an insane period of change in my life. From coming to terms with the fact that I have anxiety alongside a plethora of other problems, it has been easy to get down on myself and fall back into old routines.
For this exact reason, I have determined that for me, 2019 will be the year of self-love and happiness.
I try to live in the moment and relish in the small bits of happiness I find throughout the day. I allow myself to be proud of my accomplishments and experiences, and I appreciate all the emotions I have the opportunity to feel on all ends of the emotional spectrum. Whether this happiness is found in the form of a new leaf sprouting on my fig tree, standing in a warm patch of sun or stopping to watch the sunset on a busy day.
I will admit that I have faltered on my New Year’s resolution, especially when I get caught up in the stress of school. With the flurry of tests and projects that midterms brought, I found myself rushing more often than not to get through my day, which often ended in me feeling drained and sad when it came time to lay my head down.
When I get caught up and fall short of my resolution, I have to remind myself that there is always joy to be found somewhere.
I find that by recognizing my shortcomings, and recognizing that every day may not be the best, I am more able to love and appreciate the good that exists in my life.
This year I am determined to love myself whether I am happy, sad or any other emotion under the sun. At the end of the day, good or bad, I will always have the patches of sunshine, a funny joke, a growing houseplant or self-love to hold me together.
