Well, this year flew by. I remember sitting in my kitchen last year writing my farewell to 2016, and it feels like writing one for 2017 has come sooner than it was supposed to.

I grew a lot this year. Emotionally. (I haven’t grown in height since 7th or 8th grade…) Twenty sixteen was a year of pain, and I can only be grateful for it, because twenty seventeen has been a year of strength. It’s been a year of letting go.

Letting go of things, situations, feelings, and the most difficult; people.

I’ve always held on to people (admittedly, sometimes longer than I should) because I believe in people and I truly cherish the connections I make with others, even when I know that they don’t hold those connections as dear to them as I do. This year, I decided that some things are simply unnecessary. If someone/thing wasn’t good for me, “Bye.” If someone was using me, “Bye.” If someone was constantly putting me down, “Bye.” If someone made me question my worth, “Bye.” If someone didn’t value me, “Byeeeee.”

This didn’t happen immediately, flip of the switch on January 1st. It really didn’t start happening until like, May or something, and from there it gradually became easier. It was a process. I took more time this year to just sit with myself. To listen to myself, to feel myself, to take the advice that I give, but never put into practice…

I had a friend tell me that letting go of people is “burning bridges.” I think that what my friend fails to understand is that, you can’t burn a bridge that was never there. It was a one way road with a dead end. To me letting go is, no longer accepting negative energy in your life. No longer giving in to things that make you stressed, give you anxiety, or make you feel down. Doing what is healthy for your mind, body, and soul.

I’m a people pleaser. Making others happy truly warms my heart. But the happiness of others is not worth the cost of your own. Not everyone that you trust is going to be loyal, and not everyone that you love is going to love you back. And this is true, no matter how good you are to them and no matter how much you want it.

I stick to what I said last year – My life is a badass party and only cool kids are invited. The shitty people can go kick rocks.

I’m not perfect. Not even close. And this is not about not caring or having a cold heart, because my heart is soooo far from that. It’s about taking care of my heart in all aspects, so that I can continue to fill it with beautiful things, situations, feelings, and most importantly; people.

I’m staring you down, 2018. And we’re going to have fun. To you, 2017, thanks for all of the lessons.

As always, I wish you all LOVE, LIGHT, and PEACE. And I send you so many hugs, and so much love, to wherever you are, across the land and sea.

Happy New Year,

Mangó

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