I was thinking about New Years’ Resolutions just dow, in the belated way I do when I don’t exactly care for something, when I came to the realisation that there’s just one thing I want for this year.
It’s the 8th of January – a week after 2017 made its quiet entrance – and through the hectic whirlwind of school, dealing with muted and altogether unpleasant emotions, that I’ve finally thought about 2017 as a whole, as a follow-up to the disastrous way my 2016 went downhill. It started and ended with no hint of earth-shattering event – like I said in this post but still, I know that it started happily and ended with my mental exhaustion coming to the fore, only held together by the presence of Robin and the fact that I knew I could tell her anything – which I then did a day later.
Before I started writing this post, I asked myself a simple question in the vague jumble of ideas that comprise my thoughts: “What makes you happy? When were you last truly, truly happy?” I couldn’t come up with a definitive answer, but now I’ve released a little of my thoughts, I’m finding it easier.
I spoke to bloggers for 5 hours last night on Skype, and the laughter I experienced, in the addition to the love I felt for everyone, shocked me. I may not have been exactly ‘happy’ then, because recently whatever I do is tempered by either paranoia or a sense of worthlessness, but it was much much better than anything I’d felt before that for a while. It’s all of you that makes this all worthwhile, because you’ve supported me through pretty much everything.
A lot of people don’t seem to understand, through no fault of their own, just how scared I am of getting hurt. Especially after the way in which my last relationship ended, I’ve become even more cautious, but then I’m also prone to stupid amounts of recklessness, of doing something on the spur of the moment that makes me scream at myself after. That needs to stop: I need to find a balance that won’t make me shake out of terror whenever I think about it, that won’t make me tell myself I’m a bad person, because I’m not. I never have been, I don’t think, and admitting that is hard but I’ve done it.
If I want to be okay, I’ve got to hold onto the friends I have. Making new ones makes me happy too, but the stability of already existing friendships – and even more than that, this blog – lets me feel secure. It’s always been like this, and ever since I started being Elm, I’ve noticed that being away from my blog or not talking to you, or even not investing myself, causes me to become nervous and anxious. Having an outlet is something I have to continue, for my own health and also to help others if I can.
There are certain people that are absolutely toxic to me, who I still talk to despite both not wanting to and it damaging my perceptions of myself and other people. I find it very hard to let go and follow the sensible and great advice people give me immediately, above all relating to cutting out people who bring me down even for their moments of loveliness. I want to start following people’s suggestions more, because my own wellbeing should come before any guilt I experience.
This year, I want to carry on being a good person. I want to meet bloggers, cry if I need to, laugh and take my own future and happiness into my own hands. I want to love and be loved, without worrying when it’ll end, and without becoming so desperately clingy that I lose all sense of a healthy relationship. Fear of the future and of myself is something I feel regularly, but I can’t let it rule me because there’s more to life than that.
The simple thing I want? I just want this year to be better than the last one, and I think it will be.
From Elm 🙂
Just Call Me Elm or Something 
That is like the most amazing thing I have ever read
Ahhh, thank you!!! 🙂
THE SKYPE CALL WAS VVV SNAZZY AND I WANT TO DO IT AGAIN NOW BUT IT’S 2:00AM AND LMAO WHY AM I TYPING IN CAPS IM DELERIOUS WITH EXHAUSTION AND WILL REGRET EVERYTHING TOMORROW
trish @ autumnof2003.wordpress.com
YOU ARE AWESOME!!!
AWWW THANK YOU QUEEN BLOGGER
I AM NOT A QUEEN!
SAYS THE GIRL W 2,300 FOLLOWERS AT LAST CHECK
Shhhh
Aww…Elm we’re always there for you! *hugs*
Thanks so much, and I’m the same for you! X
😊
I really hope 2017 is your year, you’ve so earned it😊
I hope that I have, honestly 🙂 thank you! You’re lovely
No problem!🙂
I really hope 2017 shakes up all the happiness inside you! Let’s not think about 2016. ‘Every end is a new beginning!’
Yes, exactly! I hold onto that thought 🙂 I hope 2017 will be okay, to 🙂
HAHAHA our skype call was hilarious, im still waiting for you to pronounce my name.
One day, I’ll promise I’ll try! But trust me when I say that you’ll laugh so hard that you cry
i wouldnt mind hahaha but one day we should talk again.
Yesss we should!!
Aww – this was such a nice & inspirational post! I also hope that this year will be much better than the last one! I live your blog btw! Keep it up! ❤️
Check out my blog – if you don’t mind. I’d love to hear your thoughts! 😊
I absolutely will, and I’m so sorry for not getting back to you in ages! Thanks! I hope your year is great ex ex
No problem – it’s ok! 🙂 It’s My Pleasure – Thankyou! I hope your year is great too! ❤️
Hope this year is way better for you than the others!! I also think you’re gonna have an awesome year!! XD XD
This post was just A.MA.ZING!!!!!!!!
Now YOU are amazinggg! 🙂 Thank you; I hope it’s better too! xx
Awww thanks, you are more!!! XD XD And no problem!! XD
I think you are learning that life is not a rose garden and you still have many lessons to learn. Enjoy yourself but don’t get to serious about anything right now. As you mature you will find the right path to take.
I really hope that I will. Thank you!
Well done with coming to some of those realisations; I think the most important and hardest step is always making a decision to feel better. I 100% agree with focusing on the people that make you feel good, valued and proud, whilst keeping the toxic people at arms length. It’s hard, especially if those people are naturally close (parents, siblings, members of the same friendship group) but if you bear in mind their toxicity, you can distance your own thoughts from theirs with a little practice (even if you can’t distance yourself physically). I think 2017 will definitely be better for you, you’ve decided on a destination for a journey and you’re taking the steps necessary to embark on that; well done 🙂 Keep going. Keep using your outlet. Keep processing those emotions. We’re human, I don’t think we ever truly reach a stage where everything is exactly as we want it to be, but we can keep learning and keep bettering how we deal with it.
Great post!
Your comment was so encouraging and lovely and I really appreciate that! You’re right – and I hope this year will be good. I hope that I’ll be able to do all the things you say I can, and I’m sure that I will. Thank you so much XX
Just stay determined 🙂 you’ll get there!
I hope that I will!
I’ve never actually talked to you, Elm, but you seem like an amazing person, and I’ve read enough of your posts to be able to tell you with certainty that you brighten so many people’s lives with yours. I don’t actually own a hat, but if I did, I would doff it. May this year be just as amazing as you.
Hey, I’ve always thought that you were awesome too! Thank you so much for your kind words – I’d definitely like to start talking to you as I love your blog and your comments. Have a great 2017 🙂
sure thing, Elm. That would be great
This post is AMAZING. I hope that this year is your year and way better than the last!!
So do I, and I hope it will be! Thank you loads – I hope this year is brilliant for you too XX
Your positive attitude will no doubt make this year better than last. X
I hope that it will! Thank you so much 🙂 X
That is the single best New Year’s Resolution since I tend not to believe in them, you don’t need one specific day to make a change right? But this I fully support and I wish you all the best in future endeavours and hope that this year is exactly what you need.
So do I, honestly. Also, thank you so much – I need to catch up on all your posts by the way 🙂
That’d mean a lot, thank you. I’ve started again so there’s not really much to catch up on 😅
i think that it is very hard to let go of any relationships and you should be proud of what you have achived so far 😊
I hope that I can be! Thank you 🙂
This was a wonderful, inspiring read 🙂 Thank you for your beautiful honesty 🙂
And thanks for your amazing comment! 🙂 I’m glad that you liked this
I love your attitude! I hope this year is so much better for you.
Thank you so much 🙂 so do I
Literally the same thing as me: whenever i stop blogging, my days are a lot more gloomily and unproductive and boring tbh. I need to get my spark back before blogging again 😛
Yaaaaas sameee!