Hello 2017  its Me,

2016 was a year of ups and downs. It had both good times that brought joy and not so good times that brought on sadness. Overall it was a year that I grew a lot and learned about what is truly important in life and what makes me feel happier. These are some of the things that I learned in 2016 that I hope by sharing will help you make 2017 your best year yet!

1. Don’t compare yourself to others

I think the number one thing that I learned was not to compare myself to others. I had to go through a lot to understand that when you compare yourself to others you  are ultimately going to set yourself up for failure. You can never be anyone else but you. There are always things that are hidden beneath the surface that can make things look like something they are not. You will always be disappointed when what you expect to happen does.  Everyones’ life path is unique and there is only one you.  By doing what you enjoy it will lead you to feel more confident and happy with the person that you are rather someone that you are trying to be.

2. Confidence is noticeable

The second thing that I learned was that confidence goes a long way. This means to be confident both in your personality and looks. It is a work in progress but I have definitely learned what it means to look in the mirror and be happy with what I see. By being confident does not mean that you have to think that you are better than others but rather that you believe that you are being the best version of yourself.

3. Surround yourself with good people

2016 was a year where many relationships in my life were put to the test. Some friendships didn’t make it while others flourished. I realized this past year what a true friend is. They are someone who can tell you the truth no matter how hard it is, someone who will drop whatever they are doing to call and  see how you’re doing. A good friend is one that brings you joy instead of sadness and discouragement. I learned that when you surround yourself with good people and feel trust that you can feel like an equal and part of a special bond. I have finally found friends where I can be who I truly am and that have accepted me for me.

4. Kick Butt and Keep the Big Picture in Mind

The fourth thing that I learned this year is that there is no limit to what I can do if I just set my mind to it. 2016 was the year were I started to think more about  my future and think about what was necessary to get to where I want to later in life.  I set goals and every time I achieved one it  made me feel really good about myself and more confident to keep going.   I realized that working my hardest now will  pay off in the end. Spending countless hours in my room studying and doing homework may be horrible at the time but I always need to remember that it is just a small portion of my life that will lead me to the big picture.

5.  Be good to others

This past year, I have really thought about the saying  “Do onto others as you would have done onto you”. I believe that I have taken this saying to heart because I have grown an understanding towards the virtue of empathy. I think that as a person gets older they have a better understanding of what someone is going through because they have experienced it themselves or can put themselves in the other persons shoes. I have learned that even though I may be happy in a situation another person might not. I have learned to give back to those that I love and those that I feel are having a tough time. This past year I have sent more smiles to people that I pass by, sent random texts to people to see how they are doing, helped friends through hard situations and much more. By doing these things I have learned that by being good to others I am being good to myself.

6. Love yourself first

Another really important thing that I have learned this year is to be strong and to not let myself get pushed around by people or by negative emotions. I have dealt with a fair share of people this past year that only think about themselves and take no consideration towards how other are feeling. I learned that even if I try my hardest to please these people it will never be enough. On top of that I learned that I should not blame myself for not being good enough because ultimately it is their loss. I know now that I cannot please everyone and if someone or something is weighing me down and taking away my happiness it is not worth it and I need to get it out of my life.

I hope to carry on all of these things throughout the new year and to continue to grow. This year will be the year I proclaim #SelfLove2017 were I will focus on surrounding myself with positivity and strength. I hope I have inspired you and helped you think about ways you are going to make 2017 your best year yet! How are your going to proclaim Self Love!

Always remember to Add A Little Touch Of Gold to everything that you do.

From Laura

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