It is crazy that 2016 has already come to an end. It feels like just yesterday I was ringing in 2015 as a senior in high school, just waiting for graduation day. 2016 was a year of many changes, ups and downs, and lots of new beginnings. As I sit here and reflect on the past year, I realize how many life lessons I have learned and how much I have grown as a person.
1.) Put yourself out there.
Never be afraid to put yourself out there. Whether it’s a job or starting a friendship, it can never hurt you to simply ask a question or invite someone to go do something with you. I never have really struggled with putting myself out there, but since going to college I have realized the importance of it.
2.) Never be afraid of failure.
Never let fear hold you back from reaching your full potential. This took me a while to figure out. I was always nervous that I was going to say the wrong thing to someone or that I wouldn’t have what it takes to get the job done. But if you put everything you’ve got into whatever you are doing, you will be able to succeed.
3.) Create your own happiness.
This year there were times when I was just down in the dumps and there was nothing or nobody that could cheer me up. In cases like this, I decided I wasn’t going to allow myself to sulk in my sadness. So instead I created my own happiness. I did things that made me happy such as sitting on the front porch and reading a book, or driving down the back roads of my hometown with the music up as loud as it can go.
4.) Family is everything.
Friends will come and go. They will hurt you and make you happier than you have ever been. But when friends are nowhere to be found, family is always there. Through every situation life has thrown my way, my family have been the first ones to support me 100 percent. I had a very hard time adjusting to not seeing my family every day when I went to college, but I have come to appreciate and cherish my trips home even more now.
5.) Keep the good friends close.
Good friends are hard to come by. Ones that keep your secrets, love you for who you are, and that are always a phone call away are the ones that will be there for you forever. It’s better to have a few friends that you can always count on rather than tons of friends that don’t have your back. Quality over quantity.
6.) Everything happens for a reason.
I was never a firm believer in this saying. But in the past year, I have learned that certain people come into your life when you need them the most. No matter how bad the situation may seem, to begin with, there is always a reason behind it. This past year, I have heavily relied on this saying to carry me through some of my darkest times.
As 2016 comes to a close and we begin to start a new year, I am so thankful for all the lessons I have learned. I have changed as a person for the better because of the events that occurred in 2016, and for that, I am so grateful. So here’s to one heck of a great year, and let’s hope 2017 has some amazing things in store
