Phew, 2016. You really did a number on the world this year. From all the tragedies across the globe to beloved celebrity deaths, you were simply ruthless, torpedoing through all of our hearts as the days, weeks, and months went by as we wondered, "when the fuck is 2016 going to end?"
Source: a meme account, all of them, because they all steal from each other anyway.
But despite the whirlwind of negative media, 2016 was a great year of personal growth. I think I finally learned the true meanings of friendship through the people I'm happy to call my second family (#NoNewFriends), and I mustered up the courage to do something for my own sake.
2016 was a year of adventure, both physically and emotionally. While I found myself in Europe for the second time ever, more importantly, I learned the everlasting importance of female friendships. I admittedly used to pride myself with the fact that I had more male friends (lol, what a frickin' LOSER), but there was always something lacking, something that you can only understand over bottles of wine over pizza or a night of facemasking with a group of gal pals. I also realized how much love others had for me, even at my ugliest times. If that ain't love, I don't know what is, because trust, my ugly is ugly. Coming to this realization was also extremely humbling and has give me a lot to reflect on for the upcoming year.
I've also realized how ugly others can be this year. I'll leave that with this: don't invest time in people who don't value your time.
Creatively, I failed this year. The flame from my ambitious self in 2015 that furiously typed out blog posts and whipped out the camera to snap pictures has burned out. I'm eager and ready to bring that person back. PREPARE YASELVES.
I think my outlook on life is more or less the same from my first post of 2016. I find it funny that I'm entering 2017 in a completely opposite manner than I entered 2016; I was starting my job going into 2016, and now I'm entering 2017 having left that exact job. Funny how life works, but when it comes down to it, you have to do what you need to do in order to propel yourself forward. Upwards and onwards, I say!
Wishing you all the happiest, safest, and healthiest of new years. Cheers to more adventures, experiences, and more! :)