On December 31, 2015 I sat down to write my resolutions for the new year. I had the usual hopes for the coming year: dreams of losing weight, of making straight A's, of finally creating a savings. But like most people, I had been making these resolutions for years with no real affect on my lifestyle.

I wanted actual change.

I looked over all my resolutions, and these were all things I wanted but they were all small solutions to the real soul issue.

I was living a life of fear.

In typical first-child fashion, I was afraid of trying anything. Actually, I was afraid of failing anything. Years of being bad at sports and music and all things requiring natural talent had taken a toll. This left me playing it safe in every area of my life.

Upon recognition that fear was running my life, I realized that what I needed was not a workout plan or a Spanish tutor, but a simple dose of bravery.

I wrote down my new resolution.

Be brave.

It was the best resolution I've ever made.

Through the course of this past year I've used the phrase "be brave" to push me out of my comfort zone in every way possible. I transferred schools, I spent my summer working with people I didn't know in a state I didn't know, I lost 40 pounds, I left an unsafe relationship, I got a tattoo, I went hiking alone, I tried new things and I grew.

When it came down to it, setting myself free of the fear that was controlling my life gave me the space to do all those things I had always resolved to do.

I'm so happy to say I'm walking out of this year a different person. I am no longer the girl who won't go to a restaurant alone, only talks to her friend at a party and lets people walk all over her. I am stronger and so much better after this year, and I fully intend to continue pushing myself out of my comfort zone and continue growing.