Though the posts for the blog stylebysyraluna have been silent for the past couple of months, I haven’t forgotten about you, my readers, or the overall purpose of why I started the blog. I needed time to refocus on myself and the many changes that were happening in my life and I couldn’t give the attention that my blog deserved. Now that I’ve been focusing on healing, I’m ready to blog again.

Personally, 2022 was an amazing year and I’m looking forward to 2023. Self-care was my theme for 2022 and it has been so very rewarding. The past year was about self-reflection, healing, and choosing to be at peace. Choosing self-care also means being intentional about my time and who I spend it with. Being intentional is helping me learn from my past mistakes and not to agonize over them. It is also teaching me to be very aware of my feelings, especially after interactions with particular people in my life which resulted in some much-needed “life edits”

Throughout my journey of healing and self-reflection, I’m learning that you can’t heal in the same place that hurt you, so I had to make some moves…physically and emotionally. First, I moved into a fantastic apartment, which has given me the much-needed space, privacy, and order I needed to heal. I didn’t bring old furniture or dishes with me because I wanted a fresh start; furnishing my new apartment has been fun and therapeutic. Changing your space also means changing your mindset and gaining clarity. Second, my divorce was finalized and truth be told I felt relief. My marriage had become a huge stressor in my life and after much prayer, therapy, and counseling, I knew that divorce was the ultimate answer. I walked away from my marriage without doubt and peace of mind. So begins my self-care journey.

Self-care will take many forms: Prayer, journaling, spa days, pampering, or therapy (and yes retail therapy counts, within a budget of course). For me, self-care does include those things but it also requires setting boundaries, learning from my past and being intentional about my time and who I share it with. It has also required me to create an environment filled with beautiful and serene things that brought peace and joy into my life. Most importantly, I’ve learned (and am still learning,) that self-care is about forgiving yourself and others. You cannot move forward while keeping yourself tethered to the past. Love yourself enough to let go and move forward, take that first step into your potential, and open yourself to receiving your many blessings

I want to say thank you for your patience and Happy New Year!