Happy New Year

Goodbye 2018

I know that everyone and their dog has been saying that 2018 was the best and worst year of their lives, but for me it honestly was nothing less. I had some of the most awful times of my life happen last year, but I was also repaid with some of the most amazing experiences that I will never forget. I learned so many lessons throughout the course of 2018, that were crucial for my well-being and for my style of life. Here are some of the most important things I learned in 2018:

1. Do not take anything for granted. You never know when something will happen causing something so normal to you to be gone forever. It can be huge things, like death, which I unfortunately experienced way too much of this year, or it can be simple things, like fights that ruin everything. Sometimes we get so used to a certain routine that we forget to appreciate the  little things that dramatically change our lives. We don't realize that those little things aren't so little until they gone. I know that I witnessed this happen many times throughout the last year, and I am working on always appreciating the little things and what I have. I am learning that even when I know I am blessed, it is important to reflect on how blessed I actually am. I encourage everyone to take a step back once a week and notice a blessing that you have never really took time to appreciate before. I promise that a little bit of reflection can change your entire outlook on your situation in life.
2. It is okay to not be okay. I experienced many struggles and a lot of heartache this past year. Sometimes I would just push the pain aside and act like nothing was wrong, when in reality there was a lot wrong. Pushing the pain aside helped in the moment, but eventually the pain begins to build up until you cannot take it anymore. You break. Breaking looks different for everyone, for some it is crying uncontrollably, for others it's unprovoked rage and violence, and for some it's shutting down and cutting off from the world. I realized that dealing with the smaller things at hand was a lot easier than putting it off until the smaller things were one huge thing. I realized it is totally fine to have a bad day and to stay home and be alone. It is important to continuously heal yourself so that you are always able to make it through the times that you are not okay in. So many people think that being sad is a burden or that you can just get over it, and "be happy," but until you are actually in a place where you can be truly happy, you will feel pain and sadness every time you try to pretend. Mental and emotional health is just as important as physical health, and I ask everyone to take care of themselves in all ways, not just physically. Happiness will find you, but you need to guide it to you.
3. Do things for you, no one else. It is easy to change yourself or to start doing things because someone else has asked you to or because they need you to carry them. It is hard to think about yourself before thinking about the people you love, but if you are constantly doing things for other people and not for yourself, you will lose site of the person you are. It is important to be there for the people you love, and even for people that you might not love, but it is more important to be there for yourself. In the end, all you have is you. Always make sure that the things you are doing are changing you into a person you love, not just a person someone else loves. You have to love yourself before you can let someone else love you completely. People come and go, but you will always have yourself, so treat yourself like you are your best friend, because in reality you should be.
4. Always be kind to everybody. It is easy to not want to be nice to the girl spreading rumors about you, or the teacher who gives you bad grades, but you have no idea what those people are going through in their own lives. One of my favorite quotes, from Nicholas Sparks, is, "When you're struggling with something look at all the people around you. And realize that every single person you see is struggling with something. And to them, it's just as hard as what you're going through." I know that when I am struggling the last thing I need is for someone to be unkind to me. I never want to put someone through pain when I have no idea the pain they are feeling already. I make it a goal every day to treat people kindly, and to do nothing that will hurt someone. I hope that everyone can realize that being nice is a lot cooler than being a total jerk. 

2018 was definitely a rollercoaster of a year, but I came out of it on top. I like where I am in my life right now, and I plan on continuing to do things to like my life. I'm thankful for everything that happened to me the past year, good and bad, and I am glad that I learned the things I learned.

Hello 2019

2019 is a new year, but that doesn't mean you can just set a few goals and become a completely different person. If you want something, work for it. If you don't like something, change it. If you want to stop caring about something, or someone, who is hurting you, then find a healthy way to move onto better things. It is never too late to set and work towards goals. I hate seeing posts that people have already ruined this year and that next year will be their year, no. Do not waste an entire year because something bad happened five days into the year. It doesn't matter if you forgot to start your new year's resolutions, start them now. Become a better you. Work towards happiness every day, even if you have some off days here and there. Work on making your life the best life every single day, and don't just do it because the calendar turned to January 1st, do it because you want to. I hope everyone has a great year, but more importantly I hope everyone savors every day and treats every morning like it is January 1st.