The countdown to 2017 is officially on. As a lot of people review 2016, they see that it was a rough year. I am in the same boat. As I watched the ball drop on the TV with my friends to ring in 2016, I claimed wholeheartedly that I thought this was going to be my year. “The Year of Sami” I told myself, it could only go up from here.

Well, to hell with that. I was wrong. Like, extremely wrong. It’s not that my year was all horrible, but I felt like I experienced a lot of moments where so many things went wrong. One thing after another and I felt like everything came crashing down. I had different problems with my friends, my childhood pet died, and I was filled to the brim with school work. It all made me feel so small and alone in the world. I wanted to put up my flag by calling it quits and starting a new life somewhere. I did not make any big changes about myself or stay fit like everyone and their mother claims they will. I kept saying, “How is this happening, it’s supposed to be my year!”

The only time my year really started getting better, was when I had accepted that 2016 just was not for me. Not every day is meant to be my best, nor will every year be one with only good memories. I will never say that a certain year will be my year again. I am going to take it day by day. I am not going to wait for everything and everyone to change to try to better themselves. My only resolution is to go with the flow and stop forcing things that are not supposed to happen. I know 2017 will have some great parts to it and some bad. But, if it wants to be a super good year for me, the universe will let me know.

So I welcome the good, bad, and the ugly of 2017. I hope you’re a good year, but I will take you as you are.