5 lessons I’ve learned in the last 5 years

Time flies by with the speed of light, as of recently. The past five years are already in a blur as I still feel like 2012 was two years ago, not six. I have experienced many emotions in these past five amazing years and I have learned and gotten through a lot.

2013 taught me how to love myself

I had been through a not-so-happy period in my life where I didn’t know how to love myself and I honestly didn’t even know how important it really is.

I was constantly getting down on myself, seeing the glass half empty. I was not happy with the way I looked and the way I carried myself in life. I used to obsess over the calories that were in whatever I was eating at that moment. I used to always criticize my body and tell myself I am not what the magazines say I should be. I grew up in the era of ‘looking like a model to be considered beautiful’. Stretch marks? God forbid. Thigh gap? A must. Slim figure? To die for.

It was the summer of 2013 when I decided to make a change. I lost a few pounds, got a haircut and promised to love myself no matter what. The most important thing in life is our health and mental health as well. So accept the fact that you are amazing just the way you are just like wise Bruno Mars once said.  We only get one life so we must make the most of it.

2014 taught me how to have fun

I think of the time when I was in high school, and I think of my best friends and how now we are miles away from each-other. I remember how much fun we used to have and how many hours we spent laughing.  They say high school is the best time of your life. And I agree. Take advantage while you can and enjoy each and every bit of it. It flies by, believe me.

2015 taught me that being lonely is okay

Do you know that moment when each of your best friends has a boyfriend and you are the only one single? It happened to me. I once read a quote by Mandy Hale that goes “Until you get comfortable with being alone, you’ll never know if you’re choosing someone out of love or loneliness.” When I read this quote I understood that being lonely is okay. It spoke out to me and I stopped thinking that I need a man to be happy and that I should be comfortable being single.

2016 taught me how important it is to dream BIG

Since I was a little girl, as cliché as it may sound, I wanted to study in London. I used to imagine myself moving to England and starting a new life.

Over the years I started to forget about this desire. I went to high school and thought that I could have a future in Romania as well, “after all, my family and friends are all here”. I was in the 12^th grade, last year of high school.“Who knows what is going to happen?” Like a hurricane, I told my parents that I wanted to move to London and in less than two weeks I sent my application. They both encouraged and supported me so much. So I applied and I got accepted into all five universities. I even had an interview with Westminster University and it all went extremely well. Dream big, believe in yourself and what you want to achieve.

2017 taught me that distance makes the heart grow fonder

I couldn’t agree more with this proverb. I’ve been in a long-distance relationship for over a year and a half. I never imagined myself being in a relationship, not to mention a long-distance relationship. But life happens and it happens for a reason. I feel like the happiest girl in the world and I love my boyfriend more than words can ever describe. But distance…it is hard. There are bad days as well when missing him feels like the darkest cloud keeps hovering over me. I truly believe that when you don’t see the person you love for a long time you realize if it is meant to be or not, or if your feelings for each other are true. And if it is raw love then distance only makes you love the person…who is not next to you…even more. So distance can be a good thing, sometimes.