We’ve all seen it over the past few weeks, it’s a trend that happens every year around this time. The infamous “New Year, new me” trend that begins around Christmas time and includes a list of things people promise to leave in the past year. Now, I have nothing against change, in fact I encourage it and I love watching people change for the better. What I don’t understand is why embracing the New Year makes people feel that the past year was horrible. Everybody has bad days, bad weeks even, but a whole year? I’m sorry, but I find that a little hard to believe.

This past year had its challenges and its hardships, and there were days in which I sat in bed because my anxiety made it hard for me to be motivated to do a single thing. However, even during those times of hardship I learned more about myself and the people I surround myself with. During the days when I didn’t want to go out, I learned who were my true friends; the ones that called me and asked me how I was doing. The days when I felt lonely and reached out to my friends, I learned who really cared when they reached back out to help me. I did have some very hard times this past year with it being the first time I lived away from any family to go school, but I would never say that it made 2017 a bad year for me or I wished it over. I’m grateful for everything I experienced, especially the hard times.

I look forward to the start of another year. I’m building on my personal growth from 2017, my relationships, and the good and bad things that I endured. I wish we could all have this attitude of positivity and instead of jumping to a new start we could look back, reflect, and move on with gratitude.