Hi, and welcome to the last edition of the Journal for 2024. I can’t believe we’re already moving into the final month of the year and Christmas is only a few weeks away. As we approach the close of another year, it’s a special time for reflection, gratitude and intentions. While December brings a mix of mourning and excitement for new beginnings, I would like to look back on the previous month, including the learnings from both hard and joyous moments. My wish is that the December edition offers you inspiration, reflection, and joy as you step into the final chapter of this year.
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Love is an ongoing practice, not just a feeling. Love goes beyond a spontaneous, almost magical experience that just happens. Love is a conscious decision. An effort. A commitment. Love demands patience, understanding, and a willingness to work through challenges. Love is compassion and communication. Openly communicating thoughts and feelings allows for deep connection and resolving of conflicts. Love is individual growth that becomes growing together. Love is cultivated through courage, trust and truth. It’s about opening your heart over and over again. Love is a form of being and a way of living.
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Anything is possible when you believe in yourself. What you believe is possible becomes possible. The mind is powerful. When you believe in your own abilities and see your potential, you connect with your inner strength and resilience, while letting that potential grow. The thoughts you think become the truth you live, determining your capability of achieving your dreams. All dreams are within reach and it really comes down to the trust we have in ourselves, our discipline and passion. When you have the courage to pursue your dreams you give them the power to become your reality.
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Self-care matters. Taking care of yourself should always be a priority. Everything begins within you and your health is non-negotiable. Making time and space for breaks, rest and moments of reflection lays the foundation for growth. It’s not just about relaxation but also about listening to the needs and boundaries of your body and nourishing it with everything it needs. When we feel good, we can give more energy, joy and love to the people in our lives. When we fill our cup, it can spillover into that of others.
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remember that materialism isn’t that meaningful. Experiences over things. I will choose to value moments and connections. I will choose love over everything.
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lean into honesty and vulnerability, practicing open communication. I will strengthen relationships, through directly but compassionate and respectfully communicating my thoughts, feelings and perspectives, while releasing the fear of judgment or rejection.
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To be honest, November has been a really hard month for me. I went through many moments of doubt, fear, emptiness, feeling lost, and repeatedly needed to return to my ‘why’, in order to keep going. Nevertheless, I also had a few highlights in the last month. Something I am particularly grateful for is that my writing was featured by a well-established brand in the industry that shares writing by many writers I really look up to. Writing as a new, young author can be quite discouraging, as I wish to move hearts with my words, while it is such a challenge to reach readers with my writing. Therefore, this day was so special to me, and reading through comments and reposts truly reminded me, once again, why it is all so worth it. On the other hand, although it may not be considered a highlight, something I am also especially thankful for this month are the people in my life that have been there for me, no matter what. When I connect with the people I love, my heart fills with so much gratitude, and moments with them become highlights.