There is about a month or so left of 2016, the #ThanksgivingClapBacks are wrapping up and in comes the #XmasCountdown. Once your social media feed is overflowed with Christmas trees and tamales then the #NewYearNewMe will arrive.

Earlier this week I was thinking about 2016. I looked back month-by-month and remembered all the good and bad things that I lived through. My perspective, as expected, changed. Although I already felt grown in January, I grew some more. I can wait until the last week of December to write about this but I am feeling this “new me” right now.

2016 is not over yet so of course MANY things can happen from today to December 31^st. However, I feel that enough has happened to me for me to want to become a “new me” and change a few things in life. For example, I no longer have to take public transportation, new people have entered my life and I have learned from them, I tried new workout routines and more.

As you may know, I enjoy working out and I strive my best to live a healthy life. Earlier this fall I wrote about cardio, this new class I was taking in a small studio in my city. I tried it out for a month or and it was good, it had an effect on my body. I stopped going because work took over and something had to give right? I don’t know if it was because I saw a few UFC fights or because of Rocky BUT I wanted to try a more intense routine. I am not talking about the 3am workouts The Rock does, but more weight lifting and training. Don’t get me wrong I like to dance to those Zumba and cardio kickboxing songs but I want to do less cardio.

Since I graduated from CSULB, I no longer have access to that glorious two-story gym (which is why I stuck to local cardio). But just recently I decided to go corporate, to LA Fitness. A phone call convinced me to solely check it out, one-on-one conversation and a tour is what it took to join. The staff is welcoming and optimistic which is great! I have worked with trainers that are helping me get stronger. I thought I knew the dos and don’ts about fitness until I talked to them.

Although I joined in November it feels good. Not only because I am excited to see the results, but to have a change in routine. I am either at work, home or on air for the most part. I used to workout in my backyard and go jogging to the park a few blocks away. But now I can walk into LA Fitness and get a good workout with the trainers, feel great after and sleep like a baby.

Fitness aside, I believe that I have taken plenty of shots from life (I’m sure there is more) and have become more independent and it feels so good. Being a recent 22-year-old college graduate, Latina, multimedia journalist seeking work in the entertainment industry in the city of Los Angeles is…tough. I tried looking at success stories but it was no use. Our stories and connections are different. I do not have a manual and it takes a lot of patience and dedication; slowly but surely I will get there. I truly feel myself getting one step closer each day. What was that saying? Oh right; if you want something you’ve never had, you need to do something you haven’t done.” I like change, whether it's in January or November.

Here's to the new me!