How have you changed the past two years

I really want to say I've grown taller but sadly, I don't think that's happened. 

I've become more accepting of my hair that's for one. A year ago I had straightened it and I didn't like my curls but now I wear it natural. There are some days when my curls are annoying and I just want straight hair but I've come to accept that a head full of curls is what I've got and it's up to me to rock it. I'm still learning to be proud of it and own it but for the most part, I'm at peace with my thick, frizzy locks of curls. 

I'm better able to ask for help. Two years ago, I didn't need any. I was doing just fine on my own and that was good- great even but a year ago was when I probably started realising that maybe I do need help. I did eventually ask for it and got it but it's not something that comes easy to me. Asking for help is a huge thing and it takes a lot for me to admit that I need it. I'm better at asking now. 

I've learnt that it's my life and I can't allow myself to be a victim of circumstances. Like the wise words of J.K. Rowling "there is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you". I was listening to her speech at Harvard and she mentioned this and it just stuck with me. I did blame my parents for a few things that have happened in my life- A Level to name one but like she said, I have to stop blaming them and I have. I've come to the realisation that everyone gets dealt a set of cards it's what you do with them that makes a difference. 

I'm also starting to accept the fact that I'm broken. I say this a lot of the time and people think it's a joke but I'm being serious. I was not okay for a long time. There are things that happened that just broke me and I don't talk about it but I've acknowledged them. It's what made me who I am today. It's a part of me and I can choose to make it a strength. I may be damaged but that's okay.  

Friends have also played a huge part in why I'm so different today and it's because I've found a group of people that I have and love for life. They've thought me that there is such a thing as unconditional love out of the context of religion and they've helped me learn that I don't need to try and be perfect because they'll still love me despite all my flaws. For me that's huge. 

My tongue is slower to argue and I'm less likely to judge. I've come to the shocking realisation that I used to judge people so severely. Partly it's because society has conditioned us to think that way but I've taken the phrase "you know my name, not my story" to heart. 

Maybe there's more to the list that I've not added but for me, these are the big differences.