My Dear, Crazy, Wonderful Year of 2016,

What a whirlwind this time we have spent together has been. You were greatly anticipated and yet, in the blink of an eye, it seems that you are already gone. We both know that this season we have spent together is coming to an end, but it is no one’s fault but time. Still, I want to express to you what a thrilling year it has been and recap on the memories we have shared.

You will never understand the joy it brought me to wake up every morning and thank my lucky stars that I had the opportunity to live on this planet another day. How blessed was I that I got one more chance to change the world, even if it was only for 24 hours. Those days I spent in your year whether they be happy, sad, joyful, angry, etc., were well spent and made me who I continue to become.

I want to thank you for the budding relationships that began to bloom in your year. I thought I was content with the people I already had in my life, but you knew that I needed these relationships…and that they needed me, and for that I am thankful. I am also grateful for the friendships that you ended. Although it may have been painful and I was sore with you for a while, sometimes you have to pluck some weeds to keep the garden growing.

The places I got to visit in your year were exquisite, each filled with their own irreplaceable memories and, yet again, friendships that I never saw coming. At first I was scared to leave where I felt the most comfortable, but now my heart longs to return to the places I’ve visited and yearns to explore even more. Although my phone is overflowing with pictures I captured on the way, and I have close to no storage left, I smile every time I look at them and once again, feel overwhelmed with joy that I was there to take them.

This year was filled with many great and wonderful times, but the bad times were there, too. I cannot deny that some days, I was extremely angry with you. During those times, it felt like I was in a sea of chaos. Sickness overwhelmed my senses and my stress levels seemed too high to come down. The new friends I found deserted me, and the ones you took away taunted me. I wanted you to end. However, during those times, I was reminded that we must “consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1: 2-4). Then I remembered this year was not lacking in anything. It was exactly what it needed to be.

My sweet 2016, you were absolutely wonderful in every single way. Yet, there comes a time where we must move forward and embrace the future. I will not forget you, but it is not wise to dwell on the past. However, sometimes it is good to glance back every now and then to gain some motivation to keep moving forward.

All my love and all my thanks for auld lang syne,

The Present.