Wow. 2016. When I still hear, like 2005, I automatically think "Oh yeah, that was just like, yesterday or two years ago or something".

FALSE. 2005 will be 11 years ago in less than a month. Who knew time would fly by this quickly. So I say, why should 2016 not be the best year of your life so far? Who's holding you back but you? And what's the best way to have an absolutely-beautifully-amazing-perpetually-happy year? Well, I'll tell you.

Positivity. One of the things that I have changed about my life this year, is my view on the world. Unknowingly, I have changed my outlook on basically everything out there, and shone it in a positive light. And boy have the repercussions been amazing. I would say this is one of the most important ways, and one of the easiest to change your life.

It may because I am a firm believer in the ever so scientific and ever so technical thing I like to call fate, or that I know some things are just out of control. Either way, being able to come to terms with these two things really takes a lot of pressure off of your back. Knowing that some things will happen, and have to happen for you to move on into the next chapter of your life is somewhat comforting if you really think about it. So, in taking positivity with you into this next year, maybe try doing a few different things.

A lot of what we see on the news, is incredibly negative. Someone gets shot, the world is ending, the economy is here or there or wherever the economy goes, which, I don't know about you, but puts me in a pretty downer mood after seeing that as 99% or so of the media in our society.

So, in order to push you all off on your journey to success and happiness (cue DJ Khaled's snap story for everyone), I have done the ever so thoughtful thing of providing you with some ideas on how to get this ball rolling.

1. Find someone in your contacts that you haven't talked to in a few months, and give them a ring.

Not an engagement ring, OR a text. Open their contact, and call them. Chances are, if they are a human being with real live feelings, they will love the fact that you wanted to talk to them and catch up. They will probably appreciate hearing about your life as well, and go on with their day with a smile on their face.

2. Go out of your comfort zone in the Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts/Local Coffee Shop line.

I know you would rather listen to your hipster indie playlist while waiting for your pot of Chai Tea, but maybe just unplug and strike up a little conversation with the person behind you. Who knows, maybe the old woman you meet will tell you an incredible conversation about her job or her childhood, or you'll meet your future husband, and the worst thing that could happen? They chit chat a little bit, grab their coffee, and go their own way. No harm done.

3. Find a stack of fun colored post-its, write some nice, heart warming phrases on them and bring them out with you on your daily journey.

Stick them on your mirror, your car door, someone else's car door, in the book you found at the library. Stick it in the dressing room before you leave, pop it on someone's table in the place you get lunch as you walk by. If you're feeling especially bold, walk up and hand one to someone.

4. Take a visit to your local florist.

This one you could take a bunch of different ways. You could write down a random address, leave a nice little note saying something like, even if you don't know who they are or what their situation is, they deserve to get flowers too, and that you hope they have a wonderful day.

Or if you know someone that is going through a little extra hardship than the rest of us, send them a bouquet or two, and tell them you're thinking about them. That could really make someone's day or week.

5. Smile.

I think one of the easiest, and most overlooked things we can do on a daily basis, can be one of the most influential. Just think about this the next time you make eye contact with someone out at dinner or at the gym, or even just walking down the street. Who knows what they're going through? I'm telling you, sending a little happiness goes a long way.

The world can be a pretty awful, terrible, soul-sucking, life-wrecking shit hole sometimes. There are people out their starving, freezing on the streets of Chicago day after day, and night after night. There are hundreds of animals that go extinct every single minute, and temperature degrees that rise every single second. There are people losing their jobs every day, and people that haven't even had jobs in years. Just take a second to think about how really, terrifying things are.

But now take a second to think about how amazing life is. Think about how there are people out there that have dedicated their lives to helping the homeless, and bring them blankets and survival kits and food each and every day. Think about the scientists and the researchers that have been working relentlessly to develop solar powered *EVERYTHING* and technologies that will correct and reverse all the damage we've done to our planet.

Think about the first Winter snowfall, and the way the sun hits the snowflakes the next morning, and how it sounds when your shoes crunch and break the through the ice the first time.

Think about someone getting proposed to in Times Square, and realizing she has the rest of her life to live with her best friend. Think about a child getting a puppy for their birthday. Think about the way the first sip of coffee tastes, like a little warm hug in the morning.

Think about the way that your family feels when they see you after a long time. Think about giving your mom a hug. Giving your dad a hug. Think about those few days in the fall when the leaves are on the ground and the sun is out, and it literally smells like Autumn.

So the next time you find yourself failing a test, getting broken up with, losing someone or losing your phone, know that there is ALWAYS something amazing and beautiful and absolutely ridiculously incredible to be thankful for.

So just take like, 14 seconds in each of your days on this planet to think to yourself that you are the luckiest person in the world, for being given a chance to live here,

Because it's pretty f*****g amazing.