Dear 2016,

I would like to say that it has been a pleasure experiencing all that you have done for me this year, but to tell you the truth… this year has not been that great. You have been a long, dragged out year, full of so many sad memories that I cannot wait until 2017.

I know this may be harsh, but if you ask anyone else, they would probably agree with me. You, 2016, have been an awful year.

Loved ones were lost and memories filled with tears are what I’ll remember about this spring. Health issues and pain is what comes to mind when I think about summer. And this winter? Well this winter was cold and filled with even more loss. 2016, you have made yourself go down in history, and not in a good way.

But, I guess everything was not all bad. Most of the memories have been sad, however, not all of them. In the midst of losing a loved one, more memories were made with my family and I could not imagine feeling so much love from others until something like loss brought us all closer together. There were so many old memories shared, laughs heard about the times we all had with grandma and grandpa, and I realized just how important family is. How important it is to stay in touch and cherish the memories that are made because you might not get the chance to make more.

I also learned a lot more about myself. Learning lessons that no other year has been able to teach me. So, 2016, even though I won’t miss you and all the hard, sad times I had to go through this year, I am thankful for the lessons and memories I did make. Those hard, sad times are what have changed me, taught me life lessons, and created a year I will not soon forget. So, thank you 2016. But, I won’t miss you and I hope 2017 will bring even better memories with much more happiness.