As the New Year is approaching, we all know our timelines will be covered with the classic “New Year, New Me” and “Finally time to hit the gym” posts. People start to make long lists of resolutions that they will probably forget about by the time January comes to a close (sorry but it’s true) and everyone who is anyone makes a pack to ~change their lifestyle~.

But I’m here to tell you that I do not want to live by the phrase “New Year, New Me” come 2018. Instead, I think I will stick with New Year, Same Me. The reason behind this is that I see no need in changing who I am just because a new year is rolling around. If we are being honest here, I actually LOVE the person that I have become. I have opened up, made friends, and I have learned how to enjoy the little things. I have become someone I'm proud to be.

Just because I do not want to change myself, does not mean that I don’t want to better myself. Yes, I realize that it would not hurt me to go to the gym every day instead of every other day, and I should probably stop eating pizza and try to sleep more, but that is not my main focus this year. Instead, I am focusing on being the best “me” that I can be, I mean, after all, there is only one Kenzie Hansley.

Come 2018, I am going to focus more on myself and those around me. I want to learn to fully love myself and embrace my flaws. I want to be able to make new friends and create memories that will last a lifetime. Do something utterly crazy that pushes me out of my comfort zone, and lastly, devote more time to realizing how utterly amazing the life I have been blessed with truly is. I see no reason to change myself because I love the person I have become. I just want to better the person that I have grown into.

So this year, instead of making resolutions that might change who you are, make resolutions to better yourself instead. Allow yourself to grow and experience new things, influence others, set REAL goals, dream a little, love often, and stay true to your utterly imperfect perfect self.

Who you are right now might be exactly who you're supposed to be. So remember, although it's a new year, you don't have to change with it.