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We Are 16 Going On 17

Learning lessons from mistakes and embracing the lows as much as the highs.

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We Are 16 Going On 17
Fustany

Another year, another dollar.

Oh, that's not how that goes?

Regardless, this is the time of year for us to reflect and hit refresh. With 2017 right around the corner, it's about time I look back on what I learned in 2016.

It's okay to quit your job — they'll survive without you just like you'll survive without them. Don't ever feel bad for following your gut and doing what's best for you.

It's okay to put yourself first — those who love you will be patient and understanding and those who don't will let their true colors shine through. Use this as an opportunity to not only discover yourself, but to also find out who you matter to.

Your body really is your temple, so it's important to treat it as such. It needs to sweat, it needs to stretch and whatever you put into it and on it really does matter. It's an invigorating feeling to completely understand your body — and its needs — inside and out.

It's okay to ditch current hobbies, find new ones and pick up old ones — and it's even okay to ditch new hobbies if they don't end up as great as planned. Life is a continual process of figuring out what fuels your soul and happiness. It could be something you enjoy doing for the rest of your life, or for one month. Just go for it — what do you have to lose?

It is okay to postpone life plans and goals and do whatever makes sense for now. Life happens and things change. You can't spend your entire life beating yourself up just because something didn't work out exactly the way you planned at the exact time you planned — if you did, you'd be miserable. If you're still hopeful about this goal, keep it on your list. If not, take some time to reevaluate and re-plan!

It's okay to make new friends — life is ever-changing and people are always coming and going. If you're anything like my friends and I, we work really hard at seeing each other as often as possible. But with more girls to count living in too many states, it's not the easiest task. Just because you make new friends doesn't mean your old friends have to disappear. "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold."

Life is too short to hold anything back so if you feel like it needs to be said, say it. If you don't, you'll regret it.

Chase the dream, even if it doesn't make sense to anyone but you.

Be true to yourself and be honest with everyone else around you.

Learn from your mistakes so you can be better than before. Appreciate the lows, because they bring greater highs. And remember that your happiness is only as fulfilling as you allow it to be.

Here's to a new year, a new you — or even the old you. Whatever.

Cheers!

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