Towards the end of every year I always find myself looking back on all the changes that have occurred. It's funny because you live day to day thinking your life isn't changing, until you look back over the course of twelve months and realize how much it actually did change.
2016 was a year that changed my life in so many ways.
It was a year full of the usual ups and downs, hysterical memories, heartbreak and of course I've learned lessons that I'll take with me for the rest of my life.
1. Don't give up on your dreams
Nothing ever goes the way you plan it to, but this doesn't mean that you'll never reach your dream. There's going to be obstacles you encounter throughout your life, that will make you change your sense of direction, but do not give up. Sometimes these obstacles are needed, they're needed to make you change your outlook, to work harder and to make you not give up. Keep going, you'll get there I promise.
2. Don't be so hard on yourself
Ever listen to the song 'Vienna' by Billy Joel? "Slow down, you're doing fine, you can't be everything you want to be before your time." Chill out, stop thinking you need to have your life all figured out. You'll get that dream job, you'll lose that weight, you'll find someone who loves you just give it time.
3. Heartbreak doesn't last forever
You may have loved him or her, you may have thought they were the one, but it just didn't work out. Stop thinking you'll never get over it, stop thinking there's no one out there for you. There's someone out there for you, there's someone out there that's willing to give you the world. Love comes when you least expect it, and this pain won't last forever.
4. Always say 'I love you'
Always tell your family members, your friends and your significant other you love them. As cliche as it may sound, life is short and we don't know if tomorrow is promised.
5. You don't have to be a size 0 to be pretty
Who cares if you're a size 0 or if you're a size 14, you're f****** beautiful!! Don't compare yourself to anyone, no one can be you.
6. Being nice does get you far
I constantly hear people saying how being nice doesn't get you anywhere. IT DOES. Be nice to everyone you meet, you don't know how much it'll make someones day. People that are nice get recognized for it, they're respect for it and people like them for it. Be that person.
7. Go out of your comfort zone
Do stuff you've never done before. Go skydiving, go swimming with sharks, do all that crazy stuff. Do stuff that you can look back in forty years and think of what a savage you were for doing it and to have cool stories to tell your children.
8. Stop caring what people think
You can't be best friends with everyone, no matter how hard you try. There's going to be people that don't like you, or judge you for what you do with your life. IT'S NOT THEIR LIFE, IT'S YOURS. Do what makes you happy, be with who you want to be and say what you want to say.
9. Don't argue with people you care about
Don't start arguments with your close friends or your family members of stupid crap.Talk it out, be mature and handle it like adults. It's better than losing someone you care about.
10. Don't force relationships
Don't force any kind of relationship, whether it'd be friendship or boyfriend/girlfriend type. People that want to be with you will do anything in their power to be with you, there'll be no excuses and no lies. If someone isn't going out of their way to see you, or talk to you, drop them. Yes it may be hard, but it's better than having someone who doesn't care about you have a place in your life.
11. Sometimes you need a 'me' day
It's okay to have a day to yourself where you stuff your face with food and binge watch Netflix. We all deserve a day dedicated to us, where we can take a break from everyone and everything.
12. Work hard for what you want
You want that 4.0? Study. You want that new car? Save. You want to change the world? Go out there and do it. No one is stopping you, the only person stopping you is yourself. You can't just get stuff handed to you in life, you have to get out there and earn it.
13. Life could be a lot worse
Stop complaining about how bad your life is, or what you wish you had. If you have family and friends that love you, and a roof over your head, you have everything you need. There's people in this world that have none of that, people that are laying on the streets of NYC wondering if there'll ever be something more. Be grateful for what you have, and who you have in your life.
14. Be selfish
There's nothing wrong with being selfish...with certain things of course. Be selfish when pursuing your dreams, be selfish when spending the money you worked hard to earn and be selfish when it comes down to what people tell you to do. This is your life.
15. Intelligence is sexy
I used to hate people knowing I was intelligent. I hated it so much, that I never would act like I was intelligent. How stupid was I to act this way? Intelligence is sexy. A pretty face may get you a guys number at the bar, but intelligence will blow a guys mind. Be intelligent, show it off, because there's no better feeling than someone saying how intelligent you are.
16. Start living in the present
Stop thinking about the past, and stop thinking about what the future holds. Do stuff today, that your future self will thank you for.
All sixteen of these lessons were learned by me throughout this year, some of them the hard way. I hope you can look back on this article, learn from my mistakes and motivate yourselves into having the greatest year of your life. Have an amazing New Year.
