Happy New Year everyone! Thank you for everyone who has been a part of my year 2014. The previous year was of course a mixture of laughter and tears but I am grateful for what it brought to my life. Some things aren't good but I sure do have thousands of things to thank for. I'm sure you have your fair share of them too and I could only wish for all of us to start the year fresh and with a bang!

In this post I will scribble a list of the things/people that I am thankful for. This wouldn't be possible without the amazing Janine of Lime & Life tagging me. Thank you Jan! You are amazing! I know this post is not enough to contain the what I should be grateful for but I'll just try to limit my list to 10.

And here goes my list:

1. My family

• Everything is going to work out. Your dreams and hopes will find their place in this world.
• Smile freely. Your smile lights up your face.Your smile is one easy way to make someone’s day.
• It will get better. Give yourself and life time.
• Your fears are only as powerful as you allow them to be. Don’t allow them to paralyze you from living your life.
• I know you get lonely but that doesn’t mean you are alone. There are so many people who love and need you. Loneliness comes and goes. It won’t stay forever.
• It’s okay not to be okay all the time.
• Don’t be afraid of the work ahead of you. That’s how you learn, how you grow, and most importantly how you get to where you want to be.
• Getting lost is how you get found.
• Don’t be afraid to take detours.
• Vulnerability is not weakness.

• Your life doesn’t revolve around a man. Your story is one about love of self before any other kind of love. Please don’t forget that.
• Your scars might not be physical but they are still there. They are a part of you. Reminders of internal battles you have won. Don’t ignore them or feel ashamed of them. They are a part of your story but they don’t define you.
• You are beautiful. Really, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. I know some days you don’t feel beautiful but even then YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. Let yourself embrace your beauty. Don’t dampen it with negative thoughts or cruel words.
• If you don’t believe in yourself, and I mean wholeheartedly believe in yourself no one else will. You’ve got to have that faith and confidence in who you are, what you want, and how you choose to live. You have to believe in yourself. Your dreams, your talents, and your hopes for this life you have.
• Don’t just give good advice take it too. Teach and learn. Learn and teach.
• Do the things you love because you love them. Nothing else matters. Not compliments, recognition, acknowledgement, fame, or fortune. All that matters is how the things you love make you feel. Don’t shape what you love to fit into other people’s idea of what it should be. You are the painter, the canvas, the muse, the paintbrush, and the paint. You have all the ingredients to create something of your own.
• There are no bad days. Only bad moments.
• Choose your attitude wisely.
• Don’t limit your happiness. There is no definition of what it means to be happy. You decide what your happiness looks, feels, and sounds like. It’s up to you. It always has been.
• You are imperfect and that is a beautiful thing. Stop trying to deny that.
• Everything is not about you. Everything is not about them. Find a middle ground between those two extremes.
• Life is a give and take relationship. I hope you give more than you take.
• Everyone has to start at the beginning you are no exception.
• You are not broken. You are not shattered. You are not a lost cause.
• Your art matters. Whether it’s your poetry, stories, songs, or drawings they matter. You matter. No one has to tell you that for it to be the truth. Have faith in yourself and the things you do.
• You are loved.
• Don’t bottle your feelings inside.
• You are more than good enough. 
• Don’t hide your sorrows.
• Your life is meant to be lived.
• Don’t be anyone other than you.
• Take care of yourself. Mind, body, and soul.
• Make time for yourself to do some self pampering.
• Be the best version of you. The best you you can be.
• Mistakes and failure are not things to be ashamed of. They are the catalysts of growth and wisdom.
• You are the main character in your story, stop sitting on the sidelines.
• Laugh without restraint.
• Dream without worry.
• Love yourself the way you want to be loved by others.
• Breathe. In and out. Breathe.
• This is your time. Be who you want to be.

photo by Roanne Rae