I am constantly on YouTube. I am especially a fan of watching vlogs. Over this past year I have been keeping up with one specific vlogger, MarissaLace. For 2016, she took part in the Year of You. In many of her videos, she explained how she didn't want to change who she is, but improve who she is for herself to feel better about herself. She explained how everyone has their down days, it's going to happen, but in these down days it is easy for her to pick herself up again. She has cut out negative relationships, moved to a different city, and even started her own business. There is a book entitled Find Your Happy Daily Mantras: 365 Days of Motivation for a Happy, Peaceful and Fulfilling Life by Shannon Kaiser. This book has a mantra per day for the reader to reflect on as they begin their day. Although I only get to see about 10 minutes of this vlogger, in 10 minutes you can see how much she has changed. Not for the bad, but for the good of herself. From these videos she has inspired me to take on the Year of You for 2017 and go through Kaiser's book.

Many do not believe in setting new years resolutions, and that's okay. Here is my take on new years resolutions: anytime is as good as ever to set a goal for yourself. Whether it be going to the gym every other day, having a better attitude, or completing that hard task at work, everyone is different. I think that the new year is a perfect motivational time to say "this is it" to begin your goal. Use a planner or a calendar. Set reminders on your phone. Set goals with your friends. Set little goals then make them into bigger ones. Reward yourself. YOU have the power to motivate yourself to be a better you and that is my goal for 2017.

This past year has been an adjustment period for me. I graduated from community college to move on to Mary Washington as a junior living away from home. It took time getting used to the new pace. I had to do well in my classes. I had to work. I had to make friends. I had to adjust. During these adjustments though, I was thinking about the wrong things. I believe I was thinking too far into the future. Let's be honest, thinking about the future as a college student is terrifying. It can cause us to feel anxious, stressed, and even self conscious, but while you are worried about finding your dream job right out of college or getting into your grad school of choice, remember that you will also look back on your time in college. While this may not be what we are all thinking about, it is important to live in the now to be able to look back and think "I had the best time."

By going through the year of you, I do not want to change who I am (I think I am pretty great already, but I digress). I want to have a more positive outlook on everything I do. I hope that this will also make me feel even better mentally and physically. I would like to do things that I do not normally do, not to fit in, but to be more open. I want to establish a sense of routine, motivation, and an overall better attitude. I have always been told that I am a pretty independent and motivated person, but I believe there is always room for improvement. For those reading thinking this is cliché, think about it. Wouldn't it be great to take in your day and focus on the good that happened? What about if there was bad? How you can improve that instead of getting yourself down? 2016 has been a year that people look at and think "what actually just happened?" Through the year of you, sure you will look back on your past year and see some bad, but there will be the good and more importantly you will also be able to see how you have grown as a person. If you live a more positive life now, it can help you create your future.