Setting Intentions 2020

I think setting intentions is such a critical part to the start of each year. This year, it is extra important considering it will be my intentions for the next decade so here are just a few of them. They’re from me for me, shared with you. 💫

1. Be kind. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. Be kind to those you love. Be kind to those you hate. Especially those you hate. 
2. It’s okay to not be 100% all the time. The anxiety and the sleepless nights are not worth it. You will get where you need to go and an extra day will not even register in the next decade. You are more important than anything else. 
3. Be happy with what you have. Your life is different from everyone else’s so to compare you to anyone, even a twin, would be like comparing the sun to another star.  We are all centers of our own universes, for better or worse. 
4. Money is not a big factor. It comes and goes. But the experiences that you make and the memories that you build will last forever. So spend that extra $$ to go on that spontaneous trip with your friends or family because nothing and I do mean NOTHING can be as worth it. 
5. In the same vein, travel the world. Don’t get complacent because you think you have seen so much of the world. That’s a lie. There is always more to see and to see more is to experience more and learn more. And for me, that’s life. 
6. Learn from others. When you compare yourself to someone else then you are intimidated and you close yourself off to all the opportunities that other people can give you. They can teach you about life and love and even academics in ways that you will never be able to do on your own.
7. Negativity kills creativity. It kills us slowly. It is a rotting corpse that hangs in your closet, waiting to be exposed. It tells you that you are not worth it and that you are an imposter. None of that is true. You are worth it. You are where you belong. You have put in the work so be cocky and be proud of yourself because at least then you won’t drag yourself down. 
8. But it’s okay to be sad and have so called negative emotions sometimes. It’s okay to be angry and to be sad and to be jealous. Let yourself be okay with experiencing these emotions because they will come and go. Just don’t let them take up room in your mind or life. They are visitors not dwellers. 
9. Know what you want. This list is what I want, yes. But I also what a lot of material things. I want a house that I love. I want to own a car. I want to be able to adopt fur babies. Those are not shallow. As long as what you want harms no one else and you have intentions set for yourself not others then there is nothing wrong with that. 
10. Let go. Let go of all that was “bad” in the last decade and let us start anew. 

The photo above was a photo I took at the start of 2019 on a plane. It is on fire. Very similar to how Australia, my current home, is on fire. This is a reminder to myself that fire renews us all but is also a devastating natural disaster. Let us learn from the old and appreciate the adversity we are put in but also move on so this never occurs again. 

Negative Reviews Lead to Negative Thoughts

I woke up this morning mentally preparing myself for the big day ahead (I am getting the keys to my new apartment and getting all the furniture delivered). I did what most millennials do, I checked my phone... hmm.. there was an airbnb review left for my past Atlanta trip. I checked the host's review. It was negative.

To put things in context, the airbnb was booked for two nights but I was only using it for one night as my flight got delayed. When I arrived at the airbnb it was already midnight (we had gone to see some friends and explored the city), so upon noticing that the bed frame was smack dab BROKEN in the middle, I did not notify the host to be courteous. The next morning, I immediately notified the host as well as customer service (not to ask for a refund but to make sure that the next guests did not need to live on a broken bed as well as to ensure that we were not liable for any damages done prior to our visit). The host apologized.

However, the review that was left said that I was both a scammer asking for a refund as well as blaming me for the damages to the bed frame.

I was understandably upset.

It was completely rude of these hosts to not take responsibility for their own property and blame the guests. Furthermore they had asked me to leave constructive criticism privately, which I did as to not affect their source of income. Yet, they did not have the courtesy to address any issues with me directly.

After brushing my teeth and giving me some time to cool down, I also realized something else. Their review means NOTHING to me. And, it shouldn't. These are people I do not know that are putting negative energy into the universe. This negative energy even plagued me a little bit. But, by allowing their negative energy to taint me, I was letting them win.

Instead, I need to learn to brush it off and realize that I need to put POSITIVE energy into the universe. I need to be happy with who I am regardless of the validations of others. Things will happen to and for me regardless.