Goodbye 2020 | Hello 2021. New Beginnings & Opportunities | life updates | Wine Talk

WHEW! Yes sis, or bro, 'cause ya girl don't discriminate! BUT YES! A NEW YEAR! Did we actually make it? I mean, are we actually all sitting here in 2021 right now? Glasses raised? Alive? Not dead? I mean, wow. What a job we did making it through this suck fest of a year! Yes, please, please, grab your wine, whiskey, vodka, or whatever drink makes you feel good and cuddle up with me for a few minutes! If you don't have your drink yet it's ok. This is the part of the story when you put the phone down or step away from the computer and grab that. :) 

Okay, now that we all have our drinks, lets talk! 
Alright. All I have to say is: WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT. Yeah, what!??!?!? 2020 had to have been the biggest punk'd prank I ever did see. Way to go Ashton. (If you don't know what I am referring to, you are probably too young to be on this website. Please, exit stage left.) LOL. Just kidding. Not really. Ok yes, I've had 3 glasses of two wines mixed together + champagne. Sue me. No, but on a serious note, I am happy to be in a new year. Not just because of how crazy this year was, but because I love a fresh start. I am not the type of person who does the same 'ole New Year new me bullshit. I used to be her, but then I realized, It is a bunch of malarkey. We never become NEW people. We GROW as a person. Who we were is apart of who we are becoming and who we are trying to be. There is nothing new about it. It is called GROWTH. I love my old self just as much as I love the person I am now. The person I am now wouldn't be so great had I not been the type of person I was even two years ago. 
A new year gives me the feeling of a fresh beginning and chance at a better life. Not a new life. Not a new me. Just a fresh clean slate to be better. Any crazy mistakes I made in 2020, I can charge that to the game. I can tell myself: Well, that was last year. I have a road in front of me that is free of whatever craziness I had going on last year. All the things I can control, are in my control. I have the power to make sure that I don't slip down those slopes for this new year. Instead of making resolutions, I now make an "Intentions" list. A list of things that are in my heart and that I intend to do. Most of my intentions are things that I have control over and that will help put me on the path to greatness. A few of my intentions this year have a lot to do with my mental health, peace, and happiness. Making sure I do things that are good for my mental health and doing mental health check ins throughout my month. There is nothing wrong with resolutions. However, I feel that the term "New Year resolutions" has been played out over the years. Most people find themselves not doing what they set out to do a week into the new year. So instead, write a list of intentions. So you want to lose weight, huh? Ok, make an intention for the year to make healthier food choices and to workout at least 3 times a week. Instead of just saying, "my resolution is to lose weight", make sure you are putting yourself in the mindset of what you need to do to achieve that goal. Am I making sense? Do you catch my drift? Great. 
This year is also going to be a very full year for me. Not only did I just get accepted to the Creative Writing Review Club at my University, but I am now enrolled in two different programs at the same time. Yes, you heard right. I am pursing my Bachelors in Creative Writing and English at SNHU which I am set to graduate in 2022 and I am now enrolled in a Medical Billing and Coding online program as well. I know right. You're thinking that I am nuts. I know. The reason why I decided to take up Medical Billing and Coding is because I have found how much I love working from home. I also have some medical background and the medical field was my second passion after writing. The thing is, is that I know that a writing degree will only take me so far, but I love to write. Don't get me wrong, there is money to be made and ya girl will make it! I will love to one day work in a publishing house and edit manuscripts while simultaneously writing short stories, poetry books, and novellas. However, I know that sometimes things don't always go the way we want. So, I wanted to make sure to pick up a trade that will make sure I will always have a way to make money. That way, I am not a "struggling writer or freelance editor" and I won't be so worried if a book doesn't do well or if I don't get as many editing clients. I will still have another source of income. This year is full of opportunity for me and I cannot wait to see what is in store. 
I hope that every single person reading this has an abundantly blessed year. 2021 will be good to us, but even if it isn't, we will progress and push forward. That is what we were made to do. 
Comment down on this post and let me know what some of your intentions are! Look out for a new short story coming this month! 

Peace and love my friends! 
Happy New Year!