As I am only (although it feels like I should be saying already) 18 years-old, there are some things that I thought that I would have figured out by now. I thought that I would have figured out what I want out of life, or maybe I would have figured out that studying should come before Netflix marathons (some things will never change). One thing that I think that I've already known and seen on signs throughout houses is the saying "it's the little things in life that matter the most." Unfortunately, it has taken me quite some time to fully realize the depth behind this saying.

With the start of 2017 I've been presented with multiple opportunities that most people would not necessarily look at and think to use the word "opportunities" when describing. These opportunities are what brought me to my revelation.

It was when my best friend was able to visit me, and my college friends showed him what it's like to be friends with the people you also call your neighbors. We made breakfast and spent the morning all together, and we drove out of town to find some trails to check out just to make the most of our day.

It's when my roommate and I took a walk on a nice night, taking in the abnormal February warmth. We talked until we had nothing to say and laughed while we almost tripped on the railroad tracks.

It's when my other roommate and I dropped everything to go see my favorite artist in concert. We sang our hearts out and danced like we were the only two in a sea of red, white, and blue loving country fans.

It's when my other best friend asked if I wanted to drive to the lakeshore just for something to do. We ended up on the beach in the freezing cold, walking the frozen pier with waves crashing on us, swinging on the beach, and shopping in town on a day that would have otherwise been another day on the couch.

It's all these little things that turned into something much more that made me realize how great life is.

It's about laughing until your stomach hurts and you're crying tears of happiness. It's about listening to your friends when they're sad and being there for them. It's about sitting in a parked car, jamming with your friends because your song came on. It's about driving down backroads at 2 a.m. while screaming the lyrics to that throwback song that you haven't heard in forever. It's about taking long walks, pouring your heart out to the ones you love on a warm summer night. It's about admiring the waves as they hit the shore during a sunset and wondering how life could get any better. It's about driving out of town to throw up a hammock and listen to music with a group of people. Life is all about anything and everything that makes you happy.

It truly is the little things in life that matter the most, and if we don't stop to take them all in we might miss our chance to experience life.

"You only get one life, so you gotta live it" -Jake Owen