2016 was hard.

When I say “hard”, I don’t mean like my cumulative geography final or that huge end-of-semester group project that somehow conveniently ended up being a solo project.

I also don’t mean cracking an egg with one hand or spelling Cara Delevingne’s name right every time or maintaining good grades, a decent sleep schedule, and a social life in college all at once.

When I say “hard”, what I really mean is that 2016 was one of those years that – if I’m being honest – kicked me down a few more times than the rest, and it also left a few more scars than I would care to show.

2016 was like a year-long nagging voice in my ear. It was picking at scars that were already healed, fighting battles that were already won, and waiting for ends to change on mistakes that I’d already made a million times before. It was turning my back on open doors and waiting for far too long in front of closed ones. It was a performance by actors whose lines were never quite right and whose spotlights were never shining on them at quite the right times.

So yeah, 2016 hurt a little bit.

But as much as it was a year full of discomforts, criticisms, and rock-bottoms, there’s still a little part of me that has to thank 2016. Not because I enjoyed waiting in front of closed doors or watching the spotlight shine on the completely wrong people, but because it was a year full of moments – moments that opened the cage around my heart just a little bit farther so that it could learn, grow, and love just a little bit more than it did last year.

Of the lessons I learned in 2016, the most important ones are those that have reminded me that I am so unwittingly resilient, so perfectly imperfect, so humblingly human. If 2016 had to go down the way it did, I’m glad that it’s done at least that much for me, and I’m glad I’ve gotten these 10 things out of it.

1. Don’t say “it’s okay” when it’s not.

2. You are the only person in this world who knows everything about yourself.

3. If it’s meant to be, make it happen.

4. Do give second chances. Just not third, fourth, or fifth ones.

5. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself first.

6. Don’t just wait. Do.

7. If it doesn’t make you better, it’s probably making you worse.

8. Happiness is just as much of a choice as sadness is.

9. Don’t feel guilty for letting go of toxic people.

10. Fall in love every last bit of yourself.

I would be lying if I said 2016 didn’t have its ups. 2016 has had some of the most “can’t stop smiling from ear-to-ear” ups since I finally got my childhood crush to notice me back in 2008.

2016 has shown me that I am 100% in love with where I am – physically and mentally. I have grown alongside some wonderful people that stuck by me through all the thick and thin of 2016 (emphasis on the “thick”), I have found passion in things that would have torn my comfort zone to shreds a few years ago, and I have eaten a banana with peanut butter every single day this year (!!!).

But the reality is, no amount of bananas or peanut butter could stop 2016 from doing its thing – thick or thin, open door or closed door, spotlight or no spotlight. And do its thing, 2016 did.

2016 might not have been my favorite chapter in the book so far.

But how foolish would I be to close the book and never read it again when “Chapter 2016” ends?

There’s a whole freaking book to keep on reading. Bring on "Chapter 2017" – I don't know about you, but I want to read that.