It's that time of the year where you start seeing people post their Top 9 on Instagram, share their best moment videos on Facebook, and pin hopeful New Year resolutions to their 2019 board. You watch videos like Google's Year In Search 2018 and while everyone else feels nostalgic and reminiscent, you can't help but roll your eyes and mope.
Google - Year In Search 2018www.youtube.com
When it hasn't been your year, it's easy to feel the bitterness.
It doesn't go away from seeing your Top 9 or your best moments videos because you know what happened in between each of your social media posts that the world does not see. You know the challenges that you faced and the hard times you chose not share with the world.
In the real world, you know that 2018 has genuinely sucked for you and you can't wait to say goodbye.
But just because it's been a hard year for you doesn't mean it was all that bad. All the challenges you've faced, the hardships you've endured, and the losses you've taken might have hurt your year, but it shouldn't define it. It shouldn't define you either.
You're not a failure because you're not where you thought you'd be.
You're not alone because you've lost people you'd never thought you'd lose.
You're not a lost cause because you've made a few mistakes.
It's called growing pains and the sooner you recognize it, the better off you'll be.
If you've ever experienced growing pains, you know it's an excruciating ache. I would get massive migraines, my friends would complain about their knees, and some would have it very easy not having it at all. But this is a universal pain because you haven't experienced it quite yet, you'll for sure experience it in college or in your 20s. It might not be the same physical ache, but you'll know the pain when you feel it.
It isn't fun.
It's not expected.
But it's good for you. It means you're - what? GROWING!
Yes, 2018 was hard, but 2019 is coming.
Instead of putting expectations on your year, keep it wide and keep it open. I've always been a New Years Resolution list kind of gal, but I think it's time to try something new by not limiting all that next year has in store.
You can look forward to next year without putting so much pressure and expectations to complete a list of things you have to do.
You can even look forward to next year without bashing on this year.
Skip the hate on '18 tweets and just try to enjoy the good moments that 2018 did bring you because I'm positive there were good times. You had good days, good weeks, and even maybe a good month. Post your top 9's and share your best moments videos because it's okay to remember them even though it wasn't your year.
It's not the end of the world and yes, it will get better from here.
