Octavia Reese

I normally post these reflections on Road to Relovery, but 2019 has a new vision for that — you’ll see more of my thoughts here. Well. What a year.

When I first stepped out to reinvent myself and really become the person I always wanted to be, I adopted a mantra to get me through the tough times: #andshewillflourish.

Sidebar, this has oddly come full circle. I quoted Louis C.K. in the article linked above, and here we are four years later, I am rising, and he is, well… learning…

Anyway.

I needed to remind myself that no matter how dark the night is, the sun will always reappear. I told myself just as winter always comes, so does summer. I reminded myself that when you go through something difficult, you still go through it. Through. Motion. Movement. No one says “I’m going into something never to emerge again.”

No, you go through. And so I told myself, when you do go through, and through you will, you will flourish. You will be fine and you will flourish.

And so, while not short, or easy, or seamless, or fully pleasant, or smooth or comfortable, I am going through something and finally seeing that light at the end.

I have a lovely home. My boys are thriving. I have incredible friends. I adore my circle of chosen family. I transformed my hobby business into an official business. I republished my first three books in the format I always dreamed. I sold nearly 400 of them. Independently. I’ve started two other novels. I attended 15 events in the name of The Hibouleans. I have about 50 consistent subscribers to the first podcast my business launched just three months ago. And all of this… within the last year. I’ve kept my head down. I’ve stayed focused on tiny wins. And so. When I stand up and look back, I see how much land I’ve covered and how many mountains I’ve scaled. And no, I didn’t do it alone. Keep your friends close, kiddies. The real ones. The have your back in many moment ones.

I’m happy. I’m content. I’m not just good — I’m thriving.

2018 has been good to me. And as this year, finally one more full of abundance than scarcity, closes, I am looking forward to 2019. Because my mantra has arrived. Flourish. There’s no more #andshewillflourish; the will is gone… she is flourishing now.

Looking back on those early adventure days, I used a fun goal – A Word A Day – to keep trekking along on my Road to Relovery. This year, I’ll be doing A Haiku A Day. I haven’t written a haiku since fourth grade. This will be fun.

#staycurious #sheisflourishing