The end of 2016 has finally past. All the disasters, memes, deaths, and even the happy times are now at the point of being put into future history books as events that changed and shaped the world. Now we bring on the new year of 2017 with welcome arms and resolutions for the year. "New year, new me", right? Well, maybe not.

Every year, we make these resolutions to start working out, drink less, or eat healthier but after the first month or two we just go back to what we did before we started. So why do we keep doing these resolutions? Is it because of the illusion that we get a "clean slate" and can start over since it's a new year? Or is it because it seems like what we're supposed to do? Why don't we have a resolution to not have a resolution--an anti-resolution one could say? As crazy as 2016 seemed, it taught me and most likely everyone else a few things.

This year I finally accepted my body as my own and loved it. I learned that as long as I'm healthy and happy it doesn't matter if other people might not like how I look. My friends and family love me for me, not my body. 2016 was the year that being body positive was a major topic which is great for young girls and even older women who don't feel happy with their bodies because of societal standards. I also learned to be myself at all times even when I think that people will judge me. If people don't like me because of how I am, then that's just another person who is just living with hate instead of loving everyone no matter how different. In a nutshell, love yourself and don't change (unless health is threatened of course) because that is who you are and God loves you just the same.

Now something that everyone probably learned this year, from the deaths of several beloved and influential celebrities, is that life is short. If we want to make a difference, we need to do it now. Like someone? Tell them. Want to join a gym? Do it tomorrow or even better, today. Want to make a change in your city, state or the whole country? Write to your representatives. What I'm trying to say is that if you want to do something to better yourself or the world don't wait for the new year. The new year isn't the starting line, now is the the starting line. So if you're waiting until the start of 2017 to start your "resolution" is it really a resolution or are you just going with motions.

So in closing stay true to the real you, don't change for others, and do that thing you want to do now not later. Most of all, don't let 2016 get you down because it's only one chapter in the great story that is your life.