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Reflecting on 2017. Highlights and Lessons I Learned.

Reflecting on 2017. Highlights and Lessons I Learned

Reflecting on 2017

Reflecting on 2017. Highlights and Lessons I LearnedReflecting on 2017. Highlights and Lessons I LearnedReflecting on 2017. Highlights and Lessons I Learned

Lace Top: c/o Lilla P
Sequined Pants: Alice & Wonder, also here ($45.99)
Blush Heels: Marc Fisher ($59.99)
Tassel Earrings: c/o SUGARFIX by Baublebar ($12.99)
Bracelet: c/o Pieces of Me ($29.99, Get 10% off with code ‘Rach’)

Reflecting on 2017

I can’t believe it will be 2018 in a few days! Thinking about the new year got me reflecting on 2017. 2017 was a crazy year for us. Lots of ups as well as lots of downs. It started off very challenging. I thought being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 was challenging, but to be honest it is life after the diagnosis and chemo that is even more challenging. But the challenges I face every day motivate me to thrive every day.

So in this post, aside from sharing this fun New Year’s Eve outfit, I thought I’d share the highlights and lessons I’ve learned in 2017.

Highlights of 2017

There are a lot more highlights when I was reflecting on 2017, but I wanted to share some key ones that were significant to my life. Overall, it gave me a better quality of life. Without a doubt, there were down times. I’ve lost a few people in my life, but I like to think they are angels now watching over me.

  • No more wig. At the beginning of the year, I barely had hair so I still wore my wig. When my hair started to outgrow the wig, despite my insecurities, I started sharing photos of me without my wig. I totally rocked the mullet hair style for awhile until I decided to get a hair cut. And now, I can put my hair in a mini messy bun!
  • Finally recognizing myself. After chemo, I started to notice the effects treatments and surgeries had on my body. I didn’t recognize who I was looking at. But I worked hard to focus on myself and I learned to love the ‘new me’. The old Rach is not completely gone; the old Rach helped shape who I am now.

Reflecting on 2017. Highlights and Lessons I Learned

  • We are starting to travel. Traveling has been my passion since I was 12. But I had way too many obstacles growing up, that it had to be put on the back burner. One of our goals right after marriage was to travel and of course, cancer got in the way. I am glad to say we have now been to several places: Florida, Montreal, Oakland, San Francisco, and Quebec City. In 2018, we have more exciting travel plans! Woohoo!
  • Taking time off from work. I was miserable and I was trying to navigate through the long-term side effects, but the demands of work pushed me back. It wasn’t until my doctors mentioned that recovering and rehabbing is a long process and I shouldn’t push myself that I thought more about my options. So a few months ago, I decided to take time off. It took awhile to get used to it, because a lot of anxiety was caused from work, but I can see the progress.
  • Giving the support my husband needs. Just because I am going through cancer doesn’t mean he does not go through it too. He sees everything firsthand and responds right away. He fully understands the effects of cancer. It is a lot on him, and I’m glad he is now getting the support he needs. Caregivers deserve the same amount of support as someone with cancer.

Reflecting on 2017. Highlights and Lessons I Learned

  • I am so grateful for my family. No matter what, they have our backs.  They support all the decisions we make and are always there for us no matter what. Reflecting on 2017, just one quick phone call, and there they are. I am so grateful for our close friends who took the time to understand what we are going through. I’ll admit, not many people do, but we are fortunate to have friends who make the effort.

Lessons I Learned in 2017

When I reflect on 2017, I realize it was definitely a learning year. With the challenges I faced, there was a lot I took away from this year.

  • Self-care is important. I never fully understood why people dedicated time for self-care until this year. And now I notice the positive effect it has. It is so important to take care of yourself and unwind. It helps resets your mind and give you clarity. I can go on and on about self-care, but I now know that going forward, I have to put me first.
  • Work isn’t everything. I used to care a lot about work. I always want to be the best, the fastest, and the most knowledgeable. Looking back, I’m not quite sure I got a lot out of it. Yes, occasionally, it was acknowledged I did a great job, but doing great meant more work which led to more hours which led to less time to live my life. Don’t get me wrong, I will still give my fullest effort when working, but there definitely needs to be a balance between work and life.

Reflecting on 2017. Highlights and Lessons I Learned

  • The power of ‘No’. I was one that always agreed or said ‘yes’ to almost everything. Even if it meant more stress on me. I thought it was an easier route than disappointing others. It wasn’t until last year’s New Year’s Eve and a bunch of friends wanted to have a year of ‘yes’. Yes to them meant more adventures and experiences. When I was hearing all the things they were saying, I panicked. I stayed calm during the conversation, but when I got home I realized I always said ‘yes’. And that was why I barely had time to sit down, recover from cancer, and why I wasn’t improving from side effects. So I gradually started saying ‘no’ to things. I only did what I could handle. And you know what, I was able to enjoy life more and the best part is, the people who care won’t hate you.

Reflecting on 2017. Highlights and Lessons I Learned

What about you guys? What did you learn this year?

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year’s Eve, and I will see you guys in the new year!

xo RD

 

 

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Comments

  2. Kasie says

    I’ve missed a great deal of your journey but have to say that I love the concept of reflecting back on important lessons learned in 2017, especially when some of those lessons came from serious struggles. I hope 2018 brings you health, happiness and a whole lot of travel. Happy New Year!

    Reply

  8. Mica says

    First up, I love those sequin pants! Secondly, what a thoughtful post! It’s definitely been a big year for you, but I’m glad that there have been so many positives to it. I agree, self care is so very important!

    Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are having a great week! It’s hard to believe there are just a couple of days left in 2017! A happy new year to you.

    Away From The Blue Blog

    Reply

  16. Kara Aragon says

    Great post. You are so amazing. I really admire your strength & openness about what you’ve gone through in the past couple of years! One of the top things I learned this year was also “the power of no”. It’s still hard to not feel guilty when saying no, but just gotta get over that I suppose. Anywho I love your outfit, your pants are so fun! I hope you have a wonderful 2018 & look forward to continuing to follow along & see more of your travels 🙂

    Kara Aragon
    http://www.thekaragon.com

    Reply

  23. Deborah says

    I really loved reading this – 2017 was such an adventure for you and I loved seeing your growth on this blog. I also like the lessons learned. Like you, I tend to be a bit of a yes-man and I’m trying to get better at saying no to people without giving a long elaborate excuse.
    On a sartorial note, I LOVE your sequin pants! They are so fabulous!

    Reply

    • Thank you so much Deborah. That means a lot to me! Saying “no” without guilt is really difficult. I have learned to embrace that it will take baby steps. Hope you are having a happy new year!

      Reply

  34. Missy May says

    Beautiful lady you are. Seems like you’ve learnt a great deal of lessons that I’ve learnt too. Self care was definitely my highlight in 2017 and I hope to continue in 2018. I agree with you when it comes to work. No more overworking ourselves. Love your sequin pant.
    Cheers to a happy new year.

    https://www.missymayification.co.uk

    Reply

  37. Christina Beauchamp says

    Loving the reminder that “Work isn’t everything”

    I definitely used to have the same mindset. It’s hard not to want to be the best or do the best every time. It’s such a relief to remember that life is more than that.
    🙂

    hugs,
    Christina

    Reply

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