I’ve had many highs and lows this year and nothing's been quite as easy as I’ve liked it to be. But I guess life is not easy...and it’s not supposed to be. It’s supposed to keep us on our toes and challenge us so that we become a better version of ourselves every day. And that’s what this fall has been for me, an opportunity for me to learn about myself on a higher level than I’ve ever had the chance to. And I’m a better person for it. I’ve come out stronger and more confident in who I am and who I want to be. Here’s what I learned:

1. No matter how many times you lose yourself, you will find yourself again

2. Throw yourself into what you love

3. Listen to good music, and sad music, and all kinds of music, because you shouldn’t miss out on enjoying the songs you love just because they bring back memories

4. Embrace memories and be grateful for the joy they brought to you

5. Don’t swim oceans for people who won’t jump a puddle for you

6. Learn to recognize and accept that, sometimes, the only person you can truly count on is yourself

7. Everyone handles things differently and no two situations are ever exactly the same

8. Accept the things you cannot change

9. Control what you can control

10. Learn to love yourself. If you can’t love yourself, who is to say anyone should?

11. Respect yourself and give yourself the time it needs to heal

12. Let friends and family in that want to be let in

13. If you smile enough and pretend to be happy, eventually you’ll start to believe you are

14. Recognize you cannot help someone who doesn’t want to be helped, including yourself

16. I don’t need someone to complete me, I just need someone to accept me

“In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of the things not meant for you.” -Buddha