Cheers to a hard year.

2017 felt pressured. Between the stress of daily life and the little spouts of uncertainty, it's not easy staying sane.

I spent the beginning of 2017 cramming a million and ten ways to getting more out of life. I felt that if I was mentally stronger, kinder, and smarter to myself and to others, that I would be happy. Cue the virtuous cycle of pain and stress:

I forced myself to grow in those ways. I'd chastise myself whenever I felt alone or disappointed. I wished to be kinder and stronger so I wouldn't go home at the end of the day feeling so washed up.

Here's what I learned this year:

You will change. Even if you tried to resist, you would still change, your ideas your physical body will change, even your outlook in life. Everything will change (minus your natural laws), because we're living under the passing of time. The people in your life will play a factor in the experiences you gain. Your hobbies and interests will also further develop your skills and strengths.

The one constant in life is change. And you will change.

...great, so how do I embrace this?

Here's the trick:

Think about two things, how can I align myself towards my goals and what can I do today because I believe in myself?

If your goal is to one day achieve perfect patience, you need to keep that goal in mind. e.g: When you're stuff in traffic, or when you're struggling through an unending meeting. Your daily activities should have you thinking about your true goals and the things need to do to meet your plans.

If you're looking to get into photography, you should be packing some type of camera along with you. Or maybe you want to get better, then yes, you should be taking a picture every day. No excuses!

Belief and self-love drive what we can do today. You don't have to be a model, a genius or a professional to change your life and someone else's'. I hope a lot of the work that many people do on a daily basis is proof of that. The people I ask to model for me are everyday friends and people, and I am by no means a professional photographer. Have certain friends come into modeling, or could I one day pursue photography? Of course.

You don't need to be who you need to be in order to create something. Trust that you will grow into exactly who you are in order to fulfill your goals. Don't wait forever to live out your passions and interests. You don't need permission to live your life. Think about what you can do today in order to properly align yourself to living your dreams.