Each year on Dec. 31, I think it's fair to say that we all take a second to think about where the time went and how another year has already passed. We wonder how time flies by so quickly, we reflect on the year, we prepare to make changes and we start new beginning on Jan. 1.
As I reflect on this past year, the most important lesson I learned from 2015 was to cherish the time with your loved ones. With the movie theater shooting in my hometown, the death of two of my grandparents, the Paris Terrorist Attacks and a bicycle accident of a former co-worker; I've realized that life is shortly lived, and anything can happen at any time. I learned to never go to sleep angry and to always always apologize. The relationships we form in life should not be taken for granted.
My 2015 goes out to my grandparents, who showed me what love is supposed to look like and what it means to work hard and live life to the fullest. Internet, apps, texting and cell phones in general are a nuisance to them because they want your presence and full attention. The heart of my grandparents is the heart I aspire to have. It's a heart full of giving, compassion and strength. Watching their simple actions for 20 years has been such a blessing. Thank you, 2015, for the unforgettable chaos that made me a little bit softer but a whole lot stronger.
This year, 2016, will be a year of listening to others, to yourself and to your body. We all have a multitude of things to learn from one another, and if you listen carefully, you, too, can learn many things from yourself individually. I'm looking forward to the adventure of this New Year!
"I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something."
-Neil Gaiman
The midnight celebrations of NYE make for some of the greatest memories! What better way to end the year, than with friends, family, champagne, sequins, fireworks and maybe even your mother hiding black eye peas in your food!
Cheers to Gramps! Cheers to Granny! Cheers to a year to remember, and cheers to an even better 2016!
