Dear 2016,
You have been quite a year. That is not being necessarily positive either. 2016, you kind of gave me a rough hand this year. Seeing the dissolution of your relationships with others and the birth of new ones has been enough to handle. However, as rough as this year got, I am thankful you were here.
2016, you pushed me to think beyond what I was capable of. You allowed me to be more vulnerable with people and begin the process of what it means to get close to those you want to get closer towards. Especially since I started college, I had a hard time making new friends and adjusting to the craziness of college life. However, this year really tested that, and you showed me that I can learn to trust people again. It may take time, but that's with anything new.
2016 also taught me how resilient I am. I battled weird body pains, aches, and all weird things that come with being 20. You showed me that I am worth way more than I gave myself credit for. I learned how to slowly accept myself for its quirk. I am not perfect nor should I strive to be. I strive to better myself and learn as much as I can.
2016, you also taught me to take chances. You taught me how to open up and how to build healthy relationships, something I was skeptical about ever since I moved to college. I learned where I belong, who my friends are, and where my support system lays. I still am open to meeting new people, but finding out who is in your life at this time and where you want them to be opens your eyes quite a bit.
2016, you taught me how to take care of myself and love myself. Now, that may come across as somewhat narcissistic to some, I think it's quite the opposite. I still struggle with accepting my body, as do many other people out there, regardless of gender. Knowing that people see you for the person you are is quite comforting, but empowering each other and our bodies of all shapes and sizes is quite inspiring. I found comfort in meeting people who would see me for who I am inside and out. I learned where my limits are academically, socially, and in other areas. You taught me to not over commit myself and say no when necessary.
2016, you taught me that even if I may be at my worst and most vulnerable that I can rise from the ashes. You taught me that even though I may have had what felt like boulders crashing down on me, I can get through anything. I realized this year that as a college junior, I have to begin to think about what I want and where I want my life to go. Life is too short to hang onto negative energies and to not follow your passions.
For a while in 2016, I was fairly pessimistic about everything including where my direction was going. I had some incredible things happen to me. I believe that things somehow have a way of working themselves out with hard work. So for now, I say good riddance to 2016, and I am looking quite positively to 2017.
