A wise man once said "a negative thinker see difficulty in every opportunity; a positive thinker see an opportunity in every difficulty."
This man was Chikku George Thomas, and because he was human, he had good and bad days. We all do. Sometimes those good and bad days turn into good and bad weeks, or good and bad months, or even good and bad years. And this year, if you ask almost anyone, they will say that it's been a bad year. With everything that has happened, from the election to terrorist attacks, it's really easy to take this year and look at the negative side to it.
But, if 2016 has taught me anything, it's to always look at the positive side of things. That was something I always struggled with if I'm being honest, but this year was my time of self discovery and self realization, and I've realized that I don't like being a pessimist and I don't like looking at everything with the glass half empty instead of half full. So I've decided to take on life with a smile, and if I'm being completely honest with myself and you, I've never felt happier.
With 2016 having been over for about a week now, I'd like to take this time to reflect on why this year was one of the best years yet, and hopefully this encourages you all to look on the brighter side of things.
1. I got to see my favorite band in concert and meet them for the third time
2. I got to sing on stage with my favorite band after two years of trying
3. I got to see my other favorite band with some of my best friends (you can't tell from this picture but it was 5 Seconds of Summer)
4. I started down the path of following my dreams
5. I got accepted to my dream college, Point Park University
6. I got my first job, and my first paycheck
7. I lost weight...FINALLY
8. I realized who my true friends are
9. I got to go to a Halloween haunted walk-through thing
10. I reconnected with old friends and family
11. I got to go on the greatest vacation of my life
12. I got a onesie
13. I rediscovered my old passions
14. I finished something I was working on for one and a half years
15. I learned how to do my eyebrows
16. I got to buy Christmas presents with my own money for the first time
17. I got a new phone after having the same for three years
18. I survived my last marching band season
19. I went to the local fair and had one of the greatest nights of my life
20. I went to the beach and watched the sunset
21. I reunited with my best friend from New Jersey for the first time in over a year
22. I went on a segway tour on the beach
23. I went to the zoo for the first time in over two years
24. I went parasailing in Maryland
25. I became a senior in high school
26. I was in some parades
27. I made new friends
28. I watched the Cleveland Browns actually win a game
29. I ate lots and lots of french fries
30. I tried new food and liked it
31. I became an adult
32. I lost people who weren't good for me
33. I went to prom with an awesome date and an awesome third wheel
34. I discovered I can pull off hats
35. I had my last band banquet with some of my closest friends
36. I had my last Model United Nations adventure
37. I swam in the ocean for the first time in eight years
38. I went trick-or-treating
39. I performed in my last talent show
40. I performed at my last marching band championships
41. I went to my last homecoming with some of my best friends
42. I went restaurant hopping with one of the greatest people on this planet
43. I ate a few Oreo churros
44. I discovered that my true best friend will always be my mom
45. I went to baseball games
46. I went to hockey games
47. I participated in a Kids' Stampede for the first time since I was a kid
48. I got to go to a summer camp for a third time and this time I got an award
49. I went to Washington D.C
50. I went to Dave and Buster's
51. I survived my last band camp
52. I went kayaking for the first time
53. I went apple picking with my family
54. I rode a Ferris wheel three times, which is huge because I have a huge fear of heights
55. I went to Cedar Point
56. I celebrated the Fourth of July with some good people
57. I got to celebrate Ashton Irwin's birthday with him
58. I heard If You Don't Know by 5 Seconds of Summer live which I never thought would happen in my lifetime
59. I held Ross Lynch's hand and highfived him...that's two hand touches within an hour. Do you hear me screaming?
60. I went to the drive-in movie theater
61. I found out I was in my favorite band's movie (it's hard to see but I'm right there in the front row)
62. I sang the National Anthem at my high school football team's Military Appreciation Night
63. I got a signed CD from my favorite band
64. I reconnected with my childhood best friends
65. I went to Waldameer & Water World
66. I snuck up to fourth row at a concert
67. I finally watched Big Hero 6 and now it's my favorite movie
68. I went to Sky Zone
69. I jumped into TWO different foam pits
70. I job shadowed at my local radio stations
71. I cuddled with my dog a lot
72. I fit into a pair of jeans that hadn't fit me for three years
73. I tried Dunkin Donuts for the first time
74. I skipped school to go to the beach and it was worth it
75. I got my fake tooth fixed after nine years of it being slanted
76. I got a new leather jacket and I love it beyond belief
77. I read more books
78. I found out both of my favorite books are getting a movie/TV series adaptation
79. I got a necklace I've been craving for three years
80. I saw wild horses on a beach in Maryland
81. I went sand crab hunting in Maryland
82. I had a bonfire on the beach in Maryland
83. I discovered what true happiness feels like
84. I had an amazing last birthday party, just for old time's sake, to celebrate my entrance into adulthood
85. I went Pokemon hunting with my friends literally all night
86. I realized that life is too short to be negative all of the time
87. I performed in a dinner theatre with my other two Dinner Theatre Musketeers for the last time
88. I began standing up for myself and stopped letting people walk all over me
89. I learned that my happiness doesn't depend on anyone but myself
90. I ended the year with someone who is a true blessing in my life
91. I began having a relationship with my little brother
92. I learned what's truly important to me
93. I became an editor for my school newspaper
94. I became a writer for Odyssey
95. I was on the news for my first article on Odyssey because it literally blew up
96. I got to play in autumn leaves
97. I got my senior pictures done and they turned out amazing
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