2016 was a year

Of hiding, running, cowering

Self hatred, insecurity

Sickness and heartbreak

Full of tears and sadness

2016 had me feeling

Utterly broken, shattered

Completely undone

A shell, a husk

A wisp of the person I am

I was lost, confused, alone

Unable to trust or believe

In others, in myself, in the universe

But the universe is built on balance

Yin and yang

Dark and light

Fire and water

2017 is the year

Of fierce and unashamed self love,

Of surrounding myself with people who challenge, inspire and uplift me,

Of feeding my soul

2017 will be the year

I love myself boldly, passionately, wildly

Finally embrace my strength, my intelligence, my fire

My fight

The year I stop hiding and shrinking myself

For the comfort of small people

No longer will I dim my glow, my shine

Tone down my intensity for fear of being too much

When it was them who weren't enough

No longer will I fight against myself,

Turn that power inward and self destruct

But heal it, harness it, unleash it

2016 was my fall

2017 will be my rise