2017 has passed me by in what feels like the blink of an eye, yet my head and heart tell a different story. So much has happened these past twelve months and along with it, life lessons and experiences – both challenging and charming.

As with any great tale, let’s start at the beginning and go from there. Grab yourself a cuppa’ something delicious and come with me while we journey back in time.

I bounced into twenty-seventeen with a happy heart, a healthy mind and body, and a belief that this year was going to be a BIG one, blissfully oblivious to the fact that ‘big’ is as broad a term as ‘successful.’

January kicked off with romance when a guy from my past came into my present. We reconnected, started dating (again) and I looked at him through completely different and doting eyes.

Had I been blind all this time to what a great guy he was? Did I let him go too soon last time? Maybe this was going to be the start of something beautiful and bonding. – My optimistic nature thought.

Boy was I was wrong. So wrong.

Whilst it seemingly started out wonderfully well – and “stayed that way” for months – my intuition, and perhaps my better judgement, guided me to look at something one day which was the unravelling of it all. This so-called ‘great guy’ turned out to be a master manipulator, liar and had been cheating on me the entire time we together.

The lies, betrayal and hurt made my heart crack and crumble and 2017 was no longer feeling so bright and shiny.

Side note: don’t go back in time, move forward. When we let things go, there’s a reason.

Around this time I started a new part-time job, which was a welcome distraction – so was the guy I unexpectedly met there.

A budding and beautiful friendship with him began, and shortly after, a relationship that took me by surprise in the most wonderful ways. For the first time, I felt like I had found someone I really connected with emotionally, physically and mentally.

Coupled with something I had been looking forward to fast approaching, twenty seventeen was suddenly feeling shiny and sparkly again.

In May 2017, I invested in and made one of the best decisions of my life. I started my Life Coaching studies through The Beautiful You Coaching Academy.

I’d heard nothing but wonderful things about the academy, had long respected the founder, Julie Parker, was feeling stuck in the direction of my business and knew I wanted it to grow, and I was craving connection with other incredible women whom I hoped I could build friendships and business partnerships with over time.

The course ran over six months, three seasons, and multiple continents. I traveled interstate and deeper into myself than I fathomed it would.

Studying with The Beautiful You Coaching Academy has truly been the highlight of this year for me.

It’s an experience I’ll never forget, and as I shared with everyone on our final call, although my heart was broken (yep – again), I felt so held, supported and inspired by the circle of women around me. If you’d like to learn more about my time with BYCA, you can do so here.

As the course came to an end, so did my relationship.

This heartbreak was different. Deeper. Soul destroying.

After two heartbreaks from two people I never thought would be the cause of such pain (then again, do we ever really expect it from the people we’ve placed our hearts with?), life was blurry, heavy and confusing again.

Whilst he exited my life, so many new and wonderful people entered – and reentered it, and a series of synchronistic events and celebrations occurred shortly after which propelled me forward, helping me to take everything in stride – albeit a wobbly one with a rather stellar ankle injury.

My eldest sister welcomed another baby into her life, making me an Aunty to another beautiful nephew; I celebrated friends hen’s days, birthdays – including my own of course, new jobs, business launches; I welcomed new coaching clients, allowed myself to be coached, stood up at events and publicly posed personal questions, and gave myself permission to be seen.

I exercised my birthright to choose, said ‘no’ where I needed to and YES to myself in many ways where I previously may not have. I loved myself hard, believed in myself more than ever before, grew my confidence, lessened my expectations and spoke up when it mattered most.

I had heart opening, teary-eyed and hilarious conversations; felt disappointed by some people, and I too disappointed. I practiced forgiveness and asked for it too.

Boxing, strength training and running (before said ankle injury) were my movements of choice, and through them, I made new friends and gained more confidence in myself.

With music always a big part of my life – in fact, Spotify tells me I listened to:

4,024 different songs

1,821 different artists, and

121,821 minutes of music in 2017!

I got to see some of my favourite music artists live, including Dustin Tebbutt, The Weeknd and secured tickets for more gigs in the New Year, think P!NK and Ed Sheeran.

I got to ride on a really, really, really fast motorbike (sorry, Mum and Dad) and feel that incredible adrenaline rush when you’re doing something wild; I sailed on boats on Sydney harbour, dined at some of Sydney’s finest, experienced a taste of my dream life, and opened myself up to many new possibilities.

I took a step back from people in my life to protect my energy and for the sake of my wellbeing (yes, you’re allowed to do this).

I made some difficult decisions based on my personal values and integrity and in the process hurt people because of their expectations of me. People I thought would be there for me, weren’t and I was reminded of my own expectations of others.

Twenty-seventeen was packed with adventure, expansion, liberation, love. It was laced with some really tough and confronting lessons. My heart ached and my goodness did it experience pleasure.

The one constant over the last twelve months has been my belief, confidence and trust in mySelf.

The strength to rise and k-e-e-p    g-o-i-n-g    no matter what. My resilience astounds me.

The ability to open my heart further than before instead of allowing it to close. The gratitude for all that has come my way and continues to, and for what I create from it.

The knowledge that we truly do create our own reality.

This thing called Life is extraordinary. And as I write that, tears fill my eyes. I cry. I laugh, I cry some more.

About it all.

I’m so grateful for everything – yep, even the heartbreaks. I’ve learnt so much about myself and in the process, have become a better and stronger woman, whilst allowing myself to stay open and soft where it matters most.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for coming on this journey with me.

I am excited to see what 2018 brings and what we all bring to it.

Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them so go out and start creating.

Wishing each and every wonderful one of you a joyful and peaceful holiday season.

When you reflect on your year, what was the highlight of 2017 for you? What are you most looking forward to in 2018? Share with me below as I’d love to hear.