I will say that this year on Earth taught me so much about what I love and value in this life. At the start of the quarantine, I made the decision to get my act together and focus on my health. I decided it was time to focus on bettering myself. It was an easy choice to make. Either I stay the same, or work hard to be a better version of myself that my future self would thank me for later on. I chose to better myself. And what a difference it has made! I established healthy habits to do daily and over time, I started seeing the results. It took time and it made me appreciate my efforts even more. I started listening to audiobooks this year and in one book, I heard that if you want to change your life and be successful, you must replace bad habits with good ones. That stood out to me because I realized that it's something I have total control over. I move my body every single day for at least 30 to 45 minutes. I quit the gym and have been working out at home and in my room. I turn to fitness videos to help me sweat and becoming stronger. My butt and legs are taking on a leaner and stronger shape. My abs are starting to form. My arms are getting leaner and more defined. There was something I couldn't put off anymore and I decided it was time to overcome this fear-- I learned how to swim! I am confident that I will enjoy my future vacations even more now that I can enjoy spending time at the pool and not worry about drowning. Most importantly, I started to change my mindset to be more positive and evolving. I look for the silver linings in everyday situations. I started to plan out my days and in doing so, I began to plan for things that bring me joy. I also kept a gratitude journal and wrote down 4-6 things I was grateful for that day. Soon enough, I would keep mental notes of the things that made me smile or laugh. And that helped me be more positive. It helped me be in a better mood, be more patient, and more understanding and empathetic towards others.
I'm in a good place in my life--emotionally and psychologically. Going to therapy at the beginning of 2020, helped me see that I was ready to make a change. I forgave myself for things that held me down and started to focus on living my best life. I no longer live for the weekends to get here or wait until summer break to enjoy life and be happy. Instead, I find joy in the everyday moments of my life. Going to work and having great conversations with my co-workers, helping families with information and resources, drinking a warm cup of tea, spending time with my family, enjoying a delicious meal with my mom, eating a yummy piece of cake that I baked, watching the soap opera in the evenings, dripping in sweat after a great workout session, listening to the Hamilton soundtrack, and many small joys that I'm blessed with every single day make me happy and make my day a positive experience.
According to my 7-year-old niece, your age is defined by levels. So, as I enter level 37 of my life, I am optimistic that I will continue to grow, and learn more about myself and of the world around me. I hope to continue to keep up with my new habits and create new ones. The main lesson I learned this year is that I am solely responsible for my own happiness. I get to decide the kind of day I will have. And just with that alone, I feel fortunate and blessed to have the life I have. I look forward to what level 37 will bring. Cheers!
-Mayra
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