I've never been one to make resolutions at the beginning of a new year. Making a pact with yourself to change or to improve has always seemed odd to me. Instead of making a list of things to change, I like to make a list of things to find.

I feel like this will relieve the pressure to impress myself with things like...working out, drinking more water, and trying new things. Instead, I come into each year with the mindset of a scavenger hunt. With that being said, here's my list:

1. A positive mindset

Overall, one can't be able to find new things in life without an open mind. While I know I've always been a pretty positive person, I would like it to stay that way. While I know there are bound to be challenges and things that don't go according to plan in the upcoming year, I hope to tackle them with a positive outlook and even see the good within them.

2. The opportunity to travel to uncharted territory

Everyone has a little bit of wanderlust in them. Whether it be traveling to a new country, state, or even new part of a town you thought you'd known like the back of your hand, the feeling of stepping into an unknown land is incredible. The new smells, sights, and people are things you will remember for a lifetime. But also, being able to get lost and laugh about it is something you aren't able to do too often.

3. Sunshine

In the below zero weather I'm living in right now, all anyone wants is some warmth. The feeling of the sun beating down on your face and warming your whole body is sensational. The summer season is always the one in which my fondest memories are created so I'm sure that this coming summer will be no different.

4. A new band/music artist to fall in love with

I'm a music junkie. Plain and simple. I'm always looking to find new music or artists to listen to. Finding new artists to love means more concerts I'm able to go to and if you know me, I'm a sucker for a good show. Hopefully, I'm able to rock out and dazzle everyone with my awful dance moves in the new year.

5. Photographs to document the legendary moments

As many memories as I've made in 2017, there wasn't much to document it. I want to take as many pictures as possible while also living in the moment. If all else fails, I have my friend's photos to mooch off of until I get my act together.

6. New friendships

The many friendships I have developed in the past 3 months have been overwhelming. Yes, moving to a new city and going to college will force one to do so, but I believe that each connection you make with another person is another way for you to connect with a world outside of your own. Hearing about others' experiences and lives is a great way to be cultured and to open your eyes to a realm you might have never known to exist.

7. Quality relationships

With the transition from high school to college, I figured out who my real friends are. The ones who text me every once in a while and ask how I'm doing, help me through my times of struggle, and put effort into seeing and being with me are the ones I chose to keep around. I learned what it means to not have that effort reciprocated and it sucks. It's a feeling I would never wish on anyone. I want to be able to figure out who's really going to be there for me and who is really invested in me. With that being said, I also want to become a better friend, daughter, and sister and make sure that the people I'm connected with are overjoyed to be connected with me.

8. Safety

There have definitely been times where I have felt unsafe in 2017. Safety violations due to people and sketchy environments are never fun. Sometimes you can't help the situation or what people do around you or even to you. From experiences I had in 2017, I learned to always travel with a pack of friends that you know and trust. Stay together, do the buddy system, leave together, and all that good stuff. Unfortunately, there will come a day where you will be thankful you were protected by your buddies and I know you will learn from it just like I did.

9. No major injuries

This past year, I endured some pretty hefty injuries. I'm a clumsy person so it's only a matter of time before I step funky on my foot and twist my ankle or cough too hard that I crack 3 ribs (Yes, that actually happened). This year, I'm hoping not to hurt myself too badly so that I can stay in tip-top shape.

10. Good food

Even though I weigh 120 pounds, I eat like I should weigh 250 pounds and have severe heart problems. Thanks to my hard-working metabolism, I'm able to eat just about everything I set my eyes on. I hope to keep this quality because there are lots of restaurants out there with lots of delicious food I'm dying to try.

11. Laughter

I have one of those laughs that are completely silent. When I laugh, I often get asked if I'm okay because it looks like I'm seizing. Only once in a great while will I laugh so hard that I actually produce a sound from my mouth. I am hoping for at least 5 audible laughs this year. At least 5 times someone says or does something that makes me laugh so uncontrollably that my stomach hurts, I tear up and actually laugh.

12. Good grades

If you read my past article, What I Learned From Failing My First College Course, you will know that I encountered a hardship with academics this past semester. I learned many things about myself as a student through that experience. I hope that I can apply what I've learned to my second semester and every semester after that.

13. Quality family time

I have a big family and I love each member with my whole heart. With all the craziness of our lives, it's hard to get a good chunk of time when we're all in the same place at the same time. Hopefully, life can slow down just a bit so that I can see my immediate and extended family more than I did last year.

14. A really good throwback playlist

When you hear a song you haven't heard in a fat minute, the wave of happiness that rushes over your body is unlike any other rush. So if anyone knows of a good playlist or is willing to be an AMAZING friend and make one for me, you'll receive lots of brownie points from yours truly.

15. Fun patterned socks

I have been known to have some crazy patterned socks. I also never wear socks that match. I have socks with Disney characters on them, socks with patterns that you would only see on a Goodwill sweater, and socks with curse words on them. I hope that 2018 will be the year that I find a pair of socks so legendary that I wear the matching pair at the same time.

16. Stability

This past year came with a lot of change. With picking which college to attend, graduating high school, moving out of my childhood home, starting a life on my own, and figuring out how I function without the supervision of my parents comes with a great deal of stress. While yes, I managed, I would not like to experience that much change in a short amount of time ever again. So if 2018 could be slightly boring, it'd be much appreciated.

17. A breathtaking concert

I want to go to a concert that rocks my socks off. The best concerts I've been to have been ones in which the energy level is held at a constant high, the music sounds better live than it does on the record, and I'm able to dance in my boogie shoes. My highlight concert of 2017 was Green Day and while that will be really hard to beat, I have hope that 2018 will bring either a new favorite or a close second.

18. Love

If anything, I've learned I don't need a significant other to make me happy so this is not one of those things. All in all, I want love for myself, my friends, my family, and everyone else in the world. There's so much negativity in this world as of recent. I hope others can tap into their sensitive sides this year and give a stranger a compliment, comment something nice on social media, or even help their mom bring in groceries from the car. Overall, this world needs a lot more loving in its communities. In 2018, I hope to help spread that love to the people I know in hopes that they too will spread it with open minds and open hearts.