Dear Tierra,

Look at you sis, you made it to the end of 2017. You cried a lot, laughed a lot, and had plenty of ups and downs but it only made you stronger. At the end of 2016, you set A LOT of goals for 2017.  Some you hit and some you didn’t fare so well with but don’t beat yourself up about it. 2018 will be here and you will get another chance to do it all over again. Remember that as long as you continue to strive and reach each goal you are bound to achieve them. It might take a little longer but once you reach them still be proud of yourself and celebrate.

You were pretty hard on yourself about having to move back in with your mom. You felt like a failure like you were knocked a stepped back in life. That couldn’t be far from the truth. You did what you had to do to continue to survive and it was the right decision no matter how you feel about it sis.

Depression and anxiety hit you pretty hard at the start of the year, didn’t it? Was it the fact that you were lonely, afraid, were past feelings and memories coming back during idle time? Not sure, but you also managed it and those feelings have definitely subsided. You smile more and you cry less. You’re a lot happier and those bad days only come every once in a while.

I know that you love God and that He ain’t through with you yet but what happened to going to church sis? You can count on your hands how many services you attended. Let’s make sure that we do better in 2017. He did keep you and bless you all year long the least you can do is go to church and pay your tithes and offering.

Relationships were pretty decent this year. There were the f-boys as always but your emotions and feelings were intact from a romantic standpoint and your friendships were stronger than ever. You’re still single but it’s all good. Maybe 2018 will be the year of love for you. You’re open to that right? Trust issues have decreased and you can finally be open to love again. Let’s how 2018 goes and report back next year.

Not all of 2017 was bad though. You got a new car, your credit score went up, you received a promotion, you went to Disney World (and it was pretty damn magical), you finished your second to last semester of undergrad and the list could go on and on. The point is that sometimes you focus on the bad or the rough times instead of celebrating the great achievements and good times. You have to start doing that more.

In 2018 let’s continue to live our best lives. Becoming more of the women that God has destined you to be. Don’t worry about the past only focus on the future. Forget what people have to say and do what’s best for Tierra. You can achieve any and everything that you want to. You are an intelligent, funny, hardworking, loving (and so much more) badass beautiful black women ready to take on the world. This letter is just a small look at what you have endured and overcome in 2017.

You got this sis!

Love yourself, feed your soul and believe in the impossible.