As the unparalleled elation, seasonal bliss and seemingly eternal food comas begin to fade away and the sub-zero temperatures, consistently overcast days and inevitable return to campus nears, there comes the realization that the holidays are over and it is, in fact, a brand new year. For most, this means that on January 1st the endless list of New Year's resolutions needs to begin. But this year, rather than compiling a ten page list of things I am going to do to lose weight, people I am going to get back into contact with and study methods I will unfailingly turn into habit, I decided to put down the pen and pad of paper and simply self-reflect, making mental promises to myself.

By taking this time on the final day of 2016 to look back on the challenges and triumphs that had presented themselves throughout the year, I was faced with the realization that 2017 needed to be more than a text to a friend I've lost contact with, extra hours in the library and a few more trips to the gym. While all of those things will definitely be beneficial and probably should still happen this year, it is most important that I do the following things to make this new year include a better version of myself:

1. Strive to be accepting. Work towards gaining tolerance of the different parts of my loved ones’ personalities and habits that may not always be of my liking.

2. Understand that mistakes may be mistakes, but they are more importantly teaching tools. I have made many of these this past year, I’m sure we all have, but what makes a person great is their ability to turn a mistake into a lesson. Personally, my mistakes have taught me how to be a better friend, how to take care of myself, how to ask for help when I need it and how you can always choose to be a better person.

3. Make it through the hard times to better enjoy the good times. Everyone will experience highs and lows each year, but by having a clearer idea of how time and hard work can heal those tough situations can make all of the difference.

4. Never forget to appreciate. I think we all tend to take things for granted. Whether that be the people around us or the things we have. I want to remember how blessed I am for every single thing, every single day.

5. Always be optimistic. It will never hurt. But also know that it is okay to be sad. Expressing our emotions is all a part of being human. Its usually better to let it out than keep it in.

6. Use the surrounding support system. This may be family, friends, a significant other, doctors, teachers or others. They all are routing for you and we can’t forget that!

7. Stop saying, start doing. It really is as simple as ‘actions speak louder than words’.

8. Love myself. By fully and entirely loving our bodies, minds and souls, we will naturally want to take good care of all three.

These eight things are very personal to me as an individual and to this year specifically. While we typically find that the passing of each collection of 365 days, coming to a close at the end of December, is an ideal time for reflection, it doesn’t need to be the only point at which we can start improving. It is always a good time to turn our mistakes into lessons and use what we’ve been taught by them.

After 2016 I now know to be less critical of myself because all of those ups and downs are just a part of life. We each will go through year after year encountering new kinds of turbulence and set backs, but individually finding new ways to tackle them as well. Rather than sitting back and writing out a list of what I assume (not offensively, just based on personal experience) will be somewhat superficial goals, I challenge anyone who reads this to take the time for a deeper self-reflection. We are the only ones who can directly improve ourselves as people every single day. I hope that by making small efforts to push myself to be the best I can be, I will inspire those around me to do the same.

Here’s to a great 2017!