The concept of the New Year has always seemed somewhat strange to me. As a kid I can remember watching the ball drop on TV and feeling extremely underwhelmed by the entire thing. I was struck by how impossible it is to encompass one whole year into one fragment. How is it fathomable to gather up the dreams and memories, as well as sorrows and disappointments of 365 days into one singular idea? Even now, thinking back to the beginning of the year seems impossible because it feels like it was so very long ago. Every year has good things and bad things, and it’s important to recognize and appreciate both. As 2016 comes to a close, I wanted to stop and take a moment to celebrate this year- the good and the bad.

There are 525,600 minutes in a year. Granted, not all of those minutes are good. Some of those moments are very painful and heartbreaking, but that doesn’t take away the beauty and wonder of the numerous other moments. To say that 2016 was an awful year is simply not fair. It was a year, just like all the rest with good times and bad. As for me, I’m not afraid to say that this year was a very difficult one. There were so many times when I felt fearful of the future, and numerous times when I felt like I couldn’t go on any longer. 2016 has tested my faith and several times it has almost succeeded to steal my joy, but I know that I have come out of this year stronger and more ready to face the future.

Despite the struggles that have been endured this year by myself and many others, there were also a lot of amazing moments and experiences that changed my life. I can easily say that this year I have developed the most as a person. I have significantly changed in a good way and grown more into the person that I want to be, and this has only been possible through good and bad experiences alike. The experiences I have had this year have been some of the most amazing of my entire life, and because of that, I’m extremely thankful for 2016. This year, I’ve met some pretty wonderful people and done some pretty incredible things, and despite the heartbreak and the pain, I can still confidently say that 2016 was a good year.

As I type this final paragraph, I am struck once again by the idea of New Years, and it’s significance, however strange it may seem to me. It could be likened to the turning of a page, the start of a new chapter. 2016 has been a unique year. There hasn’t been a year quite like this one, and that’s a good thing. There’s been pain and sorrow, but there’s also been joy and laughter. This year played a big part in shaping the person that I am and the person that I want to become, so I’m thankful for every tear, every smile, and every single moment. I look forward to find out what 2017 brings and I’m confident that it will be full of wonderful things.