My 2017 in 7 Points....✨

Hello Internet!

I hope you are doing well wherever you are in the world today 🌏

It's a tad later than I had hoped, but I thought it was still important for me to wrap up 2017 in the world of Miss Memphis with some general feelings.

It is brief, but I didn't want to bore you with stuff that was particularly heavy. It's been an intense and emotional year for me, but it was still awesome ⛅

So, in between your party, hangover or general existence, please enjoy:

For a lot of people, 2017 was an incredibly average year. A lot of shit happened, but there were also some really amazing and important things too. Our world changes and evolves with every passing year humans have on Earth, and I believe 2017 was a really good representation of that.

Regardless of what the world is doing, the past year for me was certainly a journey. I can safely say that the person I was heading into 2017 is not the person waving goodbye to it at midnight on December 31^st. Don’t worry, I think that’s going to be a good thing in the long run.

Like a lot of people, I’ve had some amazing memories to hold onto from this year. But I’ve also had moments where it has been really tough for one reason or another.

So, as the last moments of 2017 slip away into the night, let me take you on a quick little reflective rollercoaster to sum up my year in 7 points....

1. My inner bookworm has finally resurfaced.

Reading has come back in a big way for me this year. The workload of university has made this difficult at times, but I’ve still managed to get through a tonne of good books. I am a proud bookworm, and no amount of reading will ever be enough for me. My mind has benefited from the nourishment of novels. YouTube and the digital world are great, but there is nothing quite like getting lost in the enchanting pages of a novel.

2. My YouTube pool has grown in the best way.

It’s no secret that I’m slightly obsessed with YouTube. I’m not kidding – I have spent an obscene amount of time on this website over the past 12 months. I’ve probably wasted a shit tonne of time; but I’ve also found some insanely cool Internet people along the way. I’ve been following Dan and Phil for 8 months now, and it’s been super lovely and fun. The uber talented dodie, hilarious Jacksepticeye and adorable Rosanna Pansino have also joined my subscription box family in recent times. Better late than never, am I right?

3. Some triggering turning points.

In more serious news, this year has been a turning point in a personal battle of mine. I’ve considered writing a more in-depth, factual piece about this in 2018, but for now I’ll tell you I experience anxiety around my phobia of balloons and other loud noises. It can be emotionally difficult to deal with in certain social situations, and this year has been especially exposing in this regard. But I’m taking steps to learn some new techniques, so I’m heading into 2018 optimistic.

4. Musical memories were a plenty.

I’ve been to a lot of concerts this year. 4 mightn’t seem like a lot to you, but that kind of environment isn’t usually somewhere I’m comfortable. Having said that, these ones were a tonne of fun. Seeing my queen Adele was a night I’ll never forget (the review is here if you want to have a read!). Little Mix was a good night with my friends but the end of my mosh pit career. Train was a lovely surprise, and Andy Grammer was just utter craziness. Plus, I still feel weird about the fact that I met the guy! I still feel slightly uncomfortable about it. Overall, it’s been a great year for my musical mind.

5. Cultural adventures were the name of the game.

I love art, culture and creativity a LOT; but I think my obsession has gone to a whole new level in 2017. Whether I was writing a review for an assignment or a blog, or I was just there to have a good time – I experienced some cool things this year. These included a late-night trip to the Van Gogh exhibition, the Night Life fashion exhibition over at Ripponlea House, the illuminating Hokusai art exhibition at the NGV, and the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival – just to name a few! Here’s to more cultural adventures in the future.

6. The end of an important chapter.

At the beginning of 2017, I was obsessed with a little TV show called The Next Step. It was a Canadian teen dance show, and I loved it. A lot. I’m not ashamed to admit that. But by about May, the love affair I had with this show was done. The intense time I spent obsessing about this show was important for me because I learnt on it during my first years at university. It took up a lot of my emotional space when I needed something to fill it, but now I’ve outgrown it. I’ve filled the space with things that are more rewarding for me, but that chapter of obsession has officially closed.

7. Creating the blog... the sanctuary I didn’t know I needed.

Above everything else, this place right here has been the absolute highlight of my year. Creating the Miss Memphis universe in blog form, and then extending it into Instagram and recently Twitter has been so damn rewarding and fun. Getting to share parts of myself – whether that’s an artsy flower, inspirational quote, random review or more personal rant times – has been incredible for my personal growth both as a writer and a consumer in the digital age. I’ve learnt a lot, I’m still learning a lot and I’m having a great time. What more could I want?

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But the time for reflection is over, and it’s time to look to the future.

Reflection can be difficult because you try so hard to cram a whole year’s worth of memories into a moment so you can move from one year to the next.

But there is something really exciting about embracing the fresh and exciting opportunities of a brand-new year. It’s a chance to be better, to do better, to do more, to love more, to be more than what we were before.

Whether your 2017 has been fruitful, average or a glorified dumpster fire; I hope that the new year brings you all the things you desire for your life and more. 2018 here we come Internet people, make it a good one 💖💖💖💖💖

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So there we have it, I hope you enjoyed it 💙 I always feel like I can tackle the new year once I've done something reflective. Now, I am well and truly ready to tackle 2018 😊😊😊

If you want to stay updated on my blog adventures in 2018, follow me @miss_memphis98 on either Instagram and/or Twitter, and you won't miss anything 💚

Thanks for reading,

Love and loud but pretty fireworks, Emily xx 🎆🎇🎉