~*Reflections in 2009~*

As I sat outside watching the sun set, I realized that 2009 is slowly fading away like the evening sun, and 2010 is on the horizon. The thought of another year coming and going is both exciting and frightening. I'm excited because a new year equals a new opportunity to get my life on track, a new set of new year's resolutions and a sort of rebirth that the new year seems to bring. But, I'm a bit frightened about the ending of 2009. I'm frightened because this year has also been full of magical moments. I have experienced some of the most beautiful blessings and witnessed some unbelievable miracles and I'm not ready to leave these experiences behind.

Nonetheless,this year has also been perhaps one of the most trying years of my life. It has been one full of ups and downs. Sometimes the downs seemed to outweigh the ups. In 2009 as, I embarked on a journey of true self-discovery I learned so much about myself, life and other people. As I began to make changes I had to leave a few people behind and a few left me behind. I have learned from each experience. And I have applied my learnings to my life.

We only have 24 days left until the new year and thus I will share 24 things I learned in the year of 2009. I write each word from the heart and I hope my words are like a bridge that connect you to me...Please feel free to comment or share your own experiences of learning in 2009!

1. Lesson Learned: We can spend our whole lives planning and preparing for the amazing future we would love to have, but we quickly learn that futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight and sometimes things simply don't go the way we plan...

2. Lesson Learned: Love is not a binding contract. Love is a beautiful experience that can end as quickly as it began. And no matter how much you may want to force it, you must let go when a season of love ends. Sometimes it is so difficult to let go of relationships and friendships when you really value what you share with someone. But I finally realize that as bad as it hurts, letting go is the only thing to do.

3. Lesson Learned: Life was never meant to be faced alone, that's why GOD gave us each other. To share the beautiful times and to help overcome the tough times :)

4. Lesson Learned: Nobody really wants to hurt, so we spend our lives building
cocoons of fear...like butterflies, but if only we knew we were really free. (an excerpt from a poem I'm writing)

5. Lesson Learned: If there is something you really want to do: DO IT! Do not allow anything to stop u!

6. Lesson Learned: Do not let fear prevent you from being who you want to be. You can spend your whole life trying to be someone that everyone else wants you to be but inside you will slowly die. I finally had to liberate myself and live for me, I simply cannot be anyone else.

7. Lesson Learned: My GOD is bigger than any problem, situation or fear, so there is no reason to worry or fret.

8. Lesson Learned: GOD really does answer prayers. There were some situations that I experienced in this year that I never would have made it thru without GOD. I'm so glad that I can look back now and say I made it :)

9. Lesson Learned: No matter how painful or stressful a situation is, you WILL survive and come out stronger in the end. Sometimes in the midst of our pain we cannot or do not believe that we will make it thru a particular situation, but I'm a true testament that if you just hang in there you will overcome <3

10. Lesson Learned: Sometimes the people we love and trust the most are the ones that tend to disappoint us more than anything. People are only human and sometimes they disappoint us. But we must remember that we are ALL human and we all make mistakes.

11. Lesson Learned: Forgiveness is the most powerful and liberating process. But it can be very difficult. Forgiveness is necessary if you want to experience total peace and happiness. Forgiveness, allows us to accept the past and move into a place of healing. This year someone I trusted and loved hurt me really badly. I felt so betrayed and confused because I never saw it coming, but I simply meditated and learned to forgive. And I quickly moved to a place of healing and I learned to love the person in spite of. After all we are only human <3

12. Lesson Learned: Smiling really does make you feel better. And laughter is good 4 the soul... Try it! Besides "you never know who may be falling in love with your smile"

13: Lesson Learned: "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain."

14. Lesson Learned: Emotional baggage is a sort of prison. Its a self imposed prison. Let go of all of your past fears, hurts and pains and you will feel so much better. You will be free. I freed myself and this is the best I have ever felt.

15. Lesson Learned: Giving is powerful and essential element in life. And more often than not in the process of helping someone else you will help yourself.

16. Lesson Learned: Take a few moments out of each day and connect with yourself. You only get one "you" so love and take care of yourself.

17. Lesson Learned: Enough love can heal the broken heart, fill the most empty spaces and bridge the longest distance. Love really does heal all. Let the love into your life and watch how things magically start to change for the best.

18. Lesson Learned: Dreams really can be come reality. The equation is simple:( hard work + dedication)/ fears x faith=success every time.

19. Lesson Learned: Failure is a state of mind. Life is about experiences. If you do not succeed in a goal the first time, you have not failed you have simply learned what not to do in order to be successful the next time around.

20. Lesson Learned: It is best to be totally honest with people, even when you feel like it will hurt them. The truth really does make you free, while lies on create a web of confusion.

21. Lesson Learned: A good friend once told me that a true friendship is never really over, sometimes you go through difficult periods but time will eventually bring you back together again (Thanks Condi) I believe that this is true and I really hope so because I'm still waiting for my best friend to come back...

22. Lesson Learned: Friendship blooms in the most unlikely places. I have made friends with people I never could have imagined but now I can't see myself living without them :)

23. Lesson Learned: Religion is too judgmental, stuffy and oppressive for me. My spiritual connection with GOD is much more enlightening. And GOD=Love so I never feel judged, oppressed or hated in GOD's presence.

24. Lesson Learned: We are born to be happy. We are born to be free. We are born to be just who we are. Do not allow others to steal your sunshine.

These are the major lessons I learned this year. I'm anticipating the end of this year because it has been a hard year, but I have grown so much. Besides "plants could not grow if there was no rain..." Please feel free to comment or share your own experiences of learning in 2009! Love, peace and blessings are manifesting in 2010 <3