2016: glass half full

With 2016 almost coming to an end, the majority might look back on this year with looks of grief and anger. And although there are definitely events that have happened that are unfortunate, the good things that happened should also not be forgotten. Here is my list of good things that have happened to me personally in the eventful year of 2016.

-Truly understanding the concept of friendship: Both with making new friends and becoming closer with older ones, I am really, really grateful for everyone that I consider my close friends. Through my three years of high school so far, I have had fluctuating friendships but this year, I think I have truly found the people that I am closest to. It honestly is better to have a few very close friends than a huge group of semi-close friends.

-Restarting this blog: Blogging is such a creative outlet for me and I knew that I needed to start fresh. It is a way for me to unleash my thoughts on anything that I want to talk about and helps me practice my writing. I am ever grateful for the opportunity to blog and I see myself continuing for a very long time.

-Advancing ideas on my future: Especially last year, I really started to question what I wanted to do with my life in the future. For the three years that I have attended high school, I was always set on majoring in psychology in the future. But now, I think that I want to go into communications. I am not sure what exact area, but I hope to figure that out soon. I have also narrowed down my college choices, but that is still a work in progress.

-What the greatest form of motivation is: I have tried reading motivational quotes but the only person that can actually motivate you is you. It just takes a lot of willpower to think to yourself, "I will do this thing!" But if you train yourself long enough, gradually, the motivation will come. (I'm still in the beginning stage.)

-Learning how to drive/getting my driver's license: This may seem like such a small thing, but I am very happy that I can drive. It allows me to go home without having to inconvenience my parents, and it is a valuable life lesson because it tests your patience on the road and that patience can then be transferred to everyday life.

-Realizing that not everyone likes you: I am one of those people that cares about what other people think about me. It's a bad thing, I suppose because you shouldn't have to worry about other people's opinions. I want to learn how to build a shield from that because if someone says something that is hurtful to me or about me, I think about it for the entire day. It pains me that I have left a negative impact on someone else and I try my hardest to make it up to them. But I have realized, even if someone says something bad about you, I don't have to change for them. I don't have to prove to them that I am the opposite of the bad thing they've said about me. Because I'm not. I'm me and if someone doesn't respect or like me, then it is their problem. Not mine.

2016 may be an unpopular opinion, but I would like to cherish and focus on the good parts instead of the bad. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

j.j.