Around this time last year, I wrote an article about 16 hopes I have for 2016. It feels like I just wrote this article and now I am writing an article about what I accomplished this year.
Feel free to check out the aforementioned article, I'll touch on the hopes I had and whether or not I accomplished them.
1) To be happy.
In 2016, I learned what happiness meant to me. It took a lot of reflection and time alone to realize what happiness meant to me. In 2016, I learned a new definition of "happiness". I'm thankful for my loved ones who supported me in finding myself and my own version of "happiness".
2) To be healthy.
This year, I had a life-changing surgery. Although the recovery was horrible, I am so happy with the results. I had a septoplasty in March and although I am still recovering, I am now breathing better than I ever have in my entire life. Besides that, I also learned how to live a healthier lifestyle in numerous aspects.
3) To be an overall better person.
This is something I think I can continuously improve on. I am constantly learning how to be a better person. This year I realized that what matters is not whether people think I am a good person, but whether or not I think that I am (thanks to the novel, "Before I Fall" for teaching me this lesson).
4) To live every day with purpose.
In 2016, I refused to let a day go to waste. I made something out of every day. I used to love having "days off" to hang around and be lazy. I refuse to do that now. I now love my days off because I have no plans made in stone. I don't have to set an alarm to wake up (even though I still wake up pretty early), get to do the things I have to do, take my time, and do what I please. I can treat myself to lunch or a haircut or make last minute plans with friends.
5) To fall in love with life and everything it has to offer.
I was actually hoping to fall in love this year. I can't lie and say I didn't. Even though it didn't work out, I learned so much about love this year. I did fall more in love with life and realized just how wonderful it is and how blessed I truly am.
6) To travel as much as possible.
One of my favorite trips this year was a last-minute trip to Atlanta, GA this summer with my best friend. I noticed that I only had two weeks off of work this summer so I decided to spend my first week off with my best friend in Atlanta. We had such an amazing time and made plenty of memories. The memories began before we even left for Atlanta (when we got a flat tire on the way to my house). What I learned that trip was more valuable than I could have ever imagined. I learned that "things happen" and you have to make the best of it. We ended up bowling in a nearby town and making an adventure out of it. It was rough, scary, and uncomfortable at times, but I learned how to roll with it.
7) To stop looking forward to the future, and instead, live in the moment.
This was a hard one, but I think I am finally getting the hang of it (12 months in). It seems like we are always "waiting" for something. Waiting for the weekend, waiting for our semester to end, waiting to get married, waiting- we are always waiting instead of living in the moment. Although I still find myself saying, "I can't wait", this year I have better learned how to live in the present.
8) To learn as much as possible.
I challenged myself academically as much as possible. I worked my hardest in my courses and I learned something new every day. I want to continue this desire in 2017 and cannot wait to see how much I will have learned by the end of 2017.
9) To stop letting others keep me from doing what I want.
This was such an important goal for me in 2016. I wanted to stop giving people the power to control how I live my life. It is something that I still struggle with, but this year I was able to find a few ways to keep the power in my hands.
10) To give more of my time to others.
This year, I volunteered whenever I could. However, I feel that work overpowered my life and that I didn't give back to my community as often as I would have liked. This is something that I want to improve on and change in 2017.
11) To experience new things.
I constantly stepped out of my comfort zone. Experiencing something new should always be something someone should strive for. I want to continuously step out of my comfort zone and become a more well-rounded and cultured woman.
12) To learn to disconnect from technology to better connect with others.
This year, I learned how to have better and more wholesome conversations with people. I called more of my friends and family members on the phone instead of sending a text. I also put my phone away when I was with my friends or if we were out eating dinner.
13) To find a new interest or learn a new hobby.
So, I didn't really accomplish anything here. I took more of an interest in reading, but didn't stick with it too well. I hope that I can find something new to take up in 2017. I would love to learn how to crotchet or coupon or scrapbook (professionally) in 2017.
14) To find joy in the little things.
I made an effort to find joy and happiness in every day. Every day may not be good, but there is good in every day.
15) To finally learn to listen to my mom.
It took about 21 years, but I finally did it. I learned to listen to my mom and her advice, even when I don't want to. I love you mom, even though you drive me crazy sometimes. I know that you're only trying to help me be the best version of myself and I can't thank you enough for that.
16) To have the greatest year ever and to cherish every high and every low.
From my reflection, I hope you can see that I took 2016 and made it my year. Yes, things went wrong. 2016 was far from perfect. I had numerous lows, but the highs made it worth every struggle. 2016 was a year of unimaginable experiences; a year of learning; a year of finding myself. Whether I accomplished these goals and hopes within the first few months of 2016 or I am currently still working on them, this year was truly an unforgettable one.
