I can't believe 2015 is already over, but honestly I'm really relieved.
While some amazing things have happened in 2015 - new starts and exciting chances - some shitty things have happened too - things came to an end, I got sick and I've had some big challenges.
But as I start into the next 20... 2016, I thought I'd list the 20 things I've learnt this year:
1. Everyone Comes Into Your Life For A Reason
This is probably one of the most important things I learned this year, and in my life in general.
It relates to everything from work, relationships, friends and family and it's such an important thing to understand - and I only really believe it this year.
2015 has been a rollercoaster of year for me, and while there were some amazing highs there were substancial lows too, but no one ever wants to talk about that.
Being let down by people closest to you can hurt the most, and I had that a lot this year.
And while that was pretty shit, what I've taken away from 2015 is that bad people in your life will have a positive impact in some way.
I spent a lot of this year angry and upset, and it's probably my biggest regret about 2015, but now I know why it all happened.
So while a friend may have let me down and hurt me, life without them has changed who I am and made me a better person.
While a relationship may have fallen apart and left me upset, that person has inspired me to become a better me in other ways, and now I know what I want.
It's hard to see it at the time, but if you're going through a break-up, having a hard time at work or just falling out with a friend, remember that one day you'll realise why bad things happened and maybe one day you'll thank them for it.
2. Travel Makes Me Ridiculously Happy
Touching down in a foreign land, understanding new cultures and having a coffee while looking out at a new world, created some of my happiest moments this year.
In 2015 I got to visit London, Malta, Las Vegas and Greece, and 2016 already has me in four different countries in the first three weeks.
My heart aches when I have to get on a plane and return to Ireland - I love being home but there's nothing like flying all over the world.
3. Money Isn't Everything
Another extremely important lesson I learned this year, was how insignificant money really is.
If you knew how much money I was on before I started Goss, and how much money I pay myself now you would think that I'm crazy - but what I've learnt this year is that as long as you're happy you don't need money.
I used to think I was driven by cash and promotions and bonuses, but really I'm driven by passion.
Sure there's been days where I've questioned my decisions and felt low, but I've never regretted leaving my job to start Goss.
Starting this company and keeping it alive this long will always be one of my proudest achievements in life.
When I'm lying on my death bed I won't be thinking about all the cash I made... I'll be thinking about how happy I felt.
4. You Alone Can Make Yourself Whole
I just started reading Oprah Whinfrey's book 'What I Know For Sure' and it's confirmed a lot of thoughts I had myself this year.
I think it's really easy (especially for girls) to rely on other halves to make themselves 'feel complete' to wait for their 'knight in shining armour' - but this year I realised you should be able to make yourself whole all by yourself.
I love this famous quote from Carrie Bradshaw in Sex And The City, and I wish more women in particular would think like this.
I think we're getting there now but I see it a lot in my friends too, relationships/men have destroyed some lovely people I know and it's pure madness.
It's easy to feel battered and bruised because of other people's actions, but remember to love yourself - you can focus on loving other people once you've got that sorted.
5. Good Friends Are Priceless
Although I've said that this year I lost some friends, I also realised who my real friends were and that is priceless to me.
While some people have huge groups of friends from school or college - I only have one or two but they are more special to me than 100 people combined.
It's the people who aren't afraid to tell you the truth, the people who won't judge you if you've fucked up, if you've sent that drunken text or gone back one more time or put on way too much fake tan.
Those people are priceless...and I'm lucky to have a few to drink coffee with, sip Prosecco with, cry with, laugh with and call whenever I need them.
6. Trust Your Gut Instincts
This is something I learned this year, and it hasn't been the prettiest lesson I'll tell you that.
I have such strong instincts and while I can look at other people's situations and point out everything that's going to happen, I never trust my own gut.
2015 was really the year that I realised for sure my instinct is always right.
Whether that be about a business deal, a person or a situation, I've yet to prove myself wrong.
One of my main flaws (I have a lot) is that I trust people too easily and I tend to only focus on the good things.
I've already started to feel differently this year and 2016 will be a whole new me.
7. Life Plans Never Work Out
Someone close to me recently asked me "do you ever want to settle down?" - and they seem genuinely really surprised when I said "yes, of course."
I just turned 26 last month, and honestly I am nowhere where I planned to be.
I did always have the dream of running my own business and making X amount of cash so I could retire early - but that was so I could support and raise a family.
When I was a teenager I planned out that I would be engaged by 27, married at 28, pregnant at 29 and Happy Ever After...
I'm nowhere near any of that and that's okay.. My older sister is married, my younger sister has her own house and a serious relationship, but I'm on a different path and this year I realised that's a good thing.
When you're younger you dream of the way you want your life to be, but it doesn't work out for everyone like that.
So if you haven't reached your career goals or relationship goals that's okay, I bet you've achieved something amazing that you're not even thinking of.
8. Your Twenties Are For Being Reckless
Now this honestly is a hard one for me, because I can hardly be 'reckless' when I run a business, have staff and work in the media.
But I have learnt this year to let go a little and just enjoy myself.
With the stresses of being a CEO and an Editor I deserve to let loose, party with my friends and if that results in a hangover so be it - this is the only age I can probably handle it.
So many people love to gossip and talk about people who love to party, but nothing or no one will stop me from having a good time. :)
I love making spontaneous decisions - like getting this heart tattoo in Derry with my friend Shelia who also got a tattoo.
I had actually wanted this tattoo for ages (drew the little design myself) and it felt right in that moment, in that city.
9. I'm In LOVE With Vegas
I had been to Vegas before, when I was 18 and couldn't drink, but this year I went back with my friend Meghann and I never wanted to leave.
We killed it at roulette, met cool people and danced the nights away.
We missed about two nights sleep, gambled all through the night and all through the mornings and had the complete YOLO mind set.
From seeing Britney in concert to flying through the Grand Canyon at sun rise - I really loved every minute.
As we drove away from the MGM Grand I literally felt sick to my stomach because I didn't want to go...we're already planning our 2016 return now.
10. My Heart Is In LA
Sticking with my love for the USA, this is the year I finally made myself realise I will forever be a LA girl.
It's always been a dream to live there, but I pushed the idea aside...not anymore.
I'm happiest when I'm there, when the sun is pouring down Sunset Boulevard and I'm chilling with like-minded people.
LA baby...
11. People Will Use And Abuse You
Similar to some of the lessons I've already mentioned, this year has been a tough one on the ole mind and heart.
As I said I'm way too trusting and way too nice to people (despite what some would believe) and that can lead to dangerous situations.
Not only in my personal life but in business life very much so too, some people have motives, some people have an agenda, some people don't have your best interests at heart.
This has pretty much happened to me every single year I can remember, and I'm hoping I've learnt my lesson this time.
In 2016 I'm going to be more cautious about who I let in, who I'm nice to and who I spend time with.
You become the people you spend most of your time with, so choose the right people...
12. I Need To Stand Up To People More
Leading nicely on from number 11, this year like a kick in the stomach I realised I need to be more of a bitch.
Sometimes I let people away with murder to avoid confrontation or to hurt someone's feelings, but 2016 will be very different.
Not only in personal situations, but business too - treat every situation as you would a board room meeting.
Take No Shit.
13. Life Is Fragile
An important lesson for everyone to learn, but 2015 especially taught me how short life is and how grateful we should be to be alive.
From the horrible Berkley tragedy to the Paris Terrorist Attack, the world has been hurting a lot this year.
It made me realise how stupid and small my problems were and helped me re-focus and remember what's really important.
14. I Need A Dog
I've never been more tempted to get a dog than I was in 2015.
The hard thing is I do travel a lot and work crazy hours, so it's probably not the right time, but when I'm around dogs I'm ridiculously happy and calm.
I had some dog hugs just recently with a lovely big dog and I fell asleep on the couch with him for hours.
Maybe I could rent a dog for cuddles once a week?
15. Happily Ever Afters Do Exist
I can't look through 2015 without remembering my sister's wedding.
It's been the biggest event to bring all of our families together, and as a result I spent more time with my sisters and parents this year than I have in a long time.
Not only did I love being around my family more, but my heart literally swelled and I lost my breath when I saw how in love my sister and her now husband are, how much he cares about her and how happy they are.
I loved being bridesmaid, and hopefully I can do the same again soon for my other sister.
#RelationshipGoals to say the least...
16. I Will Never Ever Stop Taking Selfies
Christmas drinks makeup 😇🎅🏼 pic.twitter.com/90993LY95N
— Alexandra Ryan (@SweetLikeAli) December 22, 2015
If you thought 2015 was the year of my selfies you're wrong because I'm still going to be Tweeting, Instagramming and now Snapchatting (alir23) selfies.
I honestly can't tell you why I do it or what drives my need to do it but fuck it it's fun and to be honest I know it annoys people so sometimes I do it more because of that.
You'll be seeing a lot more selfies in 2016..
17. I Love Living In A House
I've spent the last few years living in apartments, but this year I moved into a house and I loved it.
It sounds so silly but I've loved having a stairs and a garden, and I want to stay in houses for the next while.
Dublin is my home but I guess it doesn't feel so 'homely' when you're in an apartment. Just need that dog now to make my home complete...
18. I'm A Performer
For some reason I never used to really tell people that I acted or sang or danced or whatever, when I moved back to Dublin to start my journalism career, I just kind of left it out.
But every morning when I walk to work I blast music in my ears and I choreograph full on dances in my head, I write stories, I direct movies...then I walk into my office sit down and start my day.
2015 was the first year I didn't get to do more acting work and focus on music, and it broke my heart.
I'm already booked into the studio for early 2016 and hopefully I'll find time for some more acting too.
19. I Need To Take More Time For Me
I do say this every year, but in 2016 I hope to take more time out for myself.
I've always had something on the go, whether an acting class, music or even the gym, but this year I had nothing and no time.
Next time I want to get into meditation and yoga, and I've just joined a gym.
I haven't had a full night's sleep in a few months now and I want that to change next year.
20. Your Health Is Your Wealth
Last but by God no means least.... one of the most difficult lessons I learnt in 2015 was to look after myself.
Last Christmas I ended up in hospital in a very, very serious situation, and to this day I don't know what would have happened if I didn't get to A&E when I did.
Not everyone knows, but I am a Type 1 Diabetic and it can be very difficult to deal with.
2015 was the year I really lost control with my illness, and by February I was back in hospital again, this time for a week, and struggling to get stories up and edited from my hospital bed.
My family were upset, I was devastated to be back again and terrified about the future.
But as well as 2015 being the year I lost control it's also the same year I took control back.
I did an intense new course that helps manage my illness, and it has changed things for the better.
I'm not going to lie I still struggle with it, I still feel sick a lot of the time, but I'm taking it day by day.
It's easy to get lost in work or your personal life, but this year I realised you have to look out for number one...not only physically but mentally too.
If any of you have had a difficult year and feel a bit lost, just remember you're not alone, rules are made to broken, plans don't work out and most importantly...everything happens for a reason.
Merry Christmas
x
I absolutely loved this post Ali and nodded along to the majority of it. One of the things I love about the end of the year and having time off work is to reflect over the past year and it looks like 2016 is going to be a great one for you having learned so much this year. Keep up the amazing work!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Karen! Really appreciate you saying that. It's the best time of year to take a look back and learn from everything and focus on moving forward. Hope you've had a great Christmas xx
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