Remember who the f*ck you are

Oh hi, there. It's been a while hasn't it?

I missed you, and I have a lot to say (lol, when do I not?) So I've actually decided to do my own version of the 12 days of Christmas + do a sort of countdown for the new year. With this countdown will come one week of blogs - between now + the first of the year, I will share 7 blogs with you, incorporating some gorgeous images from photographers I've had the pleasure of shooting with over the last year or so, while I also update you on my life, share some words of wisdom, and hopefully - inspire you to start 2024 off strong. Sound good? Let's go!

If you're a reader of my blog, and a follower of mine in any regard, you're probably also am ambitious person. Perhaps you are a little against the grain, think outside of the box, and feel like a black sheep of your family + community. With this can also bring feelings of isolation - of loneliness, confusion, and sadness - especially around this time of year. But as we gear up for 2024, I want you to turn those feelings of "odd man out" to a reminder: Of who the f*ck you are.

I went a whole year without writing - I didn't write at all in 2023 (at least on here) and looking back on that makes me sad. While I did record my podcast, writing has always been my favorite medium, and realizing that I hadn't done it in over 12 months was wild to me.

EDIT: I just saw two blog drafts from 2022. One from August + the other from December. I attempted, but my heart just wasn't in it I guess. This made me sad. I will never abandon a passion of mine like this again.

I had moments in 2023 of deep confusion, sadness, uncomfortableness - feeling like I wasn't happy with where I am in my life, feeling lost, feeling like I hadn't accomplished enough, feeling like I had wasted some good years with "friends" + men who didn't deserve my love, time and energy (if you've been following me for a while, you know exactly who I'm talking about). There were moments there when I literally forgot who the f*ck I was.

We can get so caught up in comparison + in longing - longing for more, longing for something different. And oftentimes this longing can take us on a journey. And while journeying is fun, and exciting, and also important for our development - as much as we should experience, and endure, and adventure - at some point it's critical to return home.

They say comparison is the thief of joy, and no truer words can be said.

So whether you're content with life, a little further from where you'd like to be, or on your way, you must remember that this is all part of your story. There's only one you + all parts of your journey - even the icky ones - tell the story of you.

My only ask of you is that you live each day with intention. I used to say live each day to its fullest, but sometimes you just gotta chill. With intentionality comes a life lived fulfilled, and that is really the only point of all of this.

PC ALYSSA LIZARRAGA