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Let's be proud of what we've achieved

Let's be proud of what we've achieved

I'm sure you've seen a lot of people posting about the three things they are proud to have achieved in 2017 after Adam J Kurtz's tweet about personal achievements went viral. Every other post on my feed seems to be my blogger pals and favourite people stating what impressive things they have done and I think it's awesome to see people taking a moment to recognise how great they are. 365 days is a long time, and we are all capable of achieving a lot - so give yourself a big pat on the back for getting through it all. You did it! Whilst I say that, I do also think that it is important to not feel bad if you haven’t achieved life changing things in 2017. I wouldn’t say that anything I achieved was even in the slightest bit earth shattering, but to me, they meant a lot and I am proud of them from a personal point of view. 
So to end this (slightly chaotic and bizarre) year, I thought I would tell you the top three things that I am proud to have achieved in the last 12 months.
I survived over a year in my London job, and got a pay rise. Now saying that I survived a year in my job doesn’t sound like something to shout about, but this time two years ago I was settled in a nice job in Cambridge and was far too terrified to do a ‘big move’ to London. So I really am impressed with myself that I not only managed to quit one job that I quite liked back home, but also that I managed to get a new job in the big smoke, and didn’t get fired/bored. I know that the current job market isn’t amazing, so I think that if you can stick it out anywhere and still be happy to go to work each day - then you’re doing well! Then, because of the hard work of everyone in my team, we managed to all get a pay rise. It wasn’t much, and isn’t anything to shout from the rooftops about, but London life is pretty pricey, so every penny counts!This year has been an interesting one in terms of my health. I started the year feeling fit as a fiddle, without a care in the world. I was eating too much, drinking too much, and generally not taking care of my body. Then in the early summer I was hit with ongoing bouts of cystitis and kidney problems. Of course, it is very easy to assume that this was because of the normal reasons (google it if you’re unaware), but unfortunately that just wasn’t the case for me. I was getting more and more ill, and ended up crying in agony in front of doctors too many times to count. After a number of visits to A&E, NHS doctors and private consultants, I was told that I have an incurable hereditary kidney disorder which means that my body is susceptible to more infections than a normal person. Every time I get sick, it is more than likely to be because of something new, and the only cure for it is long term antibiotics. Only problem is, each infection needs different antibiotics, so it means that I am basically a human sample testing machine every time I am ill. So months after this debacle started I am now in a more stable position, and am feeling positive about my health moving forward. I have had to give up a lot (including two of my faves - wine and caffeine), I’ve had to switch up my lifestyle so I am not exhausting myself, I’ve had to change a lot of the products I used to avoid infections, and finally, I spend my life living with sample pots, antibiotics and water bottles in my bag everywhere I go - but I will take all of this if it means I’m not in pain, miserable, and missing out on life. I am so proud of myself for not giving up when times got tough, for persevering with tests and drugs and doctors appointments, and I am proud that I have managed to survive despite at one point feeling like there was no chance i’d ever get better.
My third achievement is something pretty general, but awesome all the same. In 2017 I met so many incredibly amazing new people and I am feeling very grateful. I met new friends, new bloggers, new colleagues and a new man, and it is very exciting to think back at all the awesome experiences I had with each and every one of these people. There’s no denying that a new romantic relationship makes a huge difference to your life, but I genuinely think the success of 2017 has been because of a combination of people who have all contributed to making the last 12 months incredible for me. I've met like-minded individuals who are not only interesting, but they are also interested, and that makes for an awesome time together. I'm learning from my boyfriend and friends all the time, and I feel like I am constantly developing as a person with the help of a fantastic support system around me. I am so thankful that I am able to meet new people on a daily basis, whether that is through work, at events, or through friends, and I hope that 2018 brings a lot more fascinating people in to my life.
The move into 2018 is literally just the clock moving from one minute to the next, so try not to put too much pressure on things. I didn’t ask for or plan for any of the points above, but I achieved them because I had an open mind and saw happiness as my number one priority. I’m not expecting miracles in 2018, but I am going to continue each day with as much positivity as I can muster up, and I am going to relish the opportunities that come my way. I’m not going to set goals, but I wish you all the luck in the world with whatever you want to achieve in the next 12 months, and I can’t wait to see how much we have all grown this time next year. 
CTx

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