Monday, December 10, 2018

What I Have Learned in 2018

Happy Monday y'all. I am officially on Christmas break, and it feels SO good! This year has been full of a little good and a little bad and it sure has taught me a lot. I thought it would be nice, to write down what this year has taught me, so I can look back on it down the road.



It is never to late to turn to God for help.
I turn to God in prayer for most everything in my life. However, there has always been one area that I felt was my own fault and that God shouldn't be bothered with it. Thankfully, this year, I have learned that God actually mentions in the bible very specifically several times, how much he cares about what I am going through. Just when I thought it was too late to turn to God for help in this area, He proved that it is never to late. I am still working on bringing these troubles to him on a daily basis, and sometimes I fail, but I think I have learned a valuable lesson and am excited to start on this journey with God through 2019. Me and Him make a pretty good team. (:


Change can be good.
This year has brought more change than I typically prefer, but it has been such a blessing. At the beginning of this year, I changed my major from Elementary Education to Special Education and have never been so passionate about anything in my life. I was terrified of this change, but God has really lit a fire in my heart, and I know this is what He has called me to do.
Halfway through this year, I left my job working in retail after 3.5 years to work as a part-time ESL teacher. Although this new job is much more in line with what I love, I was still terrified of leaving a place I spent so many hours every day for so many years. I knew however, that I wasn't happy there anymore and am so glad God provided this new opportunity for me. I LOVE what I do now and have a smile on my face every day after work. That is truly a blessing and I am so thankful for that change.
Lastly, I made some changes in regards to friends this year. I have expanded my friend group and love that college provides you the opportunity to meet so many new people. I was so closed off to new people for so many years, and have really opened up and made new friendships this year. 


Reading can change your life.
As of right now, I have read 58 books this year (and that number will be higher by the end of December) and I think that is one of my greatest accomplishments this year. I have always liked reading, but always said that I didn't really "have time for reading". Boy have my priorities changed. I no longer binge watch shows and spend hours on social media. I read books. 
This year I got a library card for the first time in years, and have learned more this year through my recreational reading time, than I have in school the past several years. I have learned about World Wars, politics, and the education system. I have learned the stories of people who have been to prison, been in concentration camps, evicted from homes, experienced racial discrimination, and suffered from drug abuse. I have become a more educated and open minded individual through reading, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. 
As someone who is an Education major and book lover, I can tell you that the school system has done students a disservice by forcing them to read books of no interest to them. It has taken me years to no longer associate books with homework and instead just enjoy them. No where in school did I learn how to pick out a good book or find what interests me. This is sad.
I am here to tell you that reading can be enjoyable and I much prefer it now over zoning out in front of a television or aimlessly scrolling through Instagram. My writing has improved tremendously, my vocabulary has expanded, and I am a better conversationalist. 2018 will forever be the year that I discovered a love for reading, that I am certain will last my entire lifetime.
You can read all my blog posts about books here


That was a long post, but I hope you enjoyed it. What have you learned in 2018? I can't wait to hear!
Have a great week. Talk to you soon.

xoxo

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