2017 Reflection!

Holy Moly, the year is already over! I just went back and read my 2016 reflection, and was laughing at how different life is now haha. Crazy how much can change in one year!
2017 kicked my butt in the best way possible haha. At the beginning of the year I had no clue what I was in for! So many people have said 2017 was the worst year ever, but I completely disagree. Honestly, in a weird way, it's been one of the best years of my life. This year started out in a very dark place, probably the unhappiest I ever been, and now that it's come to a close, I'm the happiest I've ever been. This year:
- I finished my Junior Year (A miracle really haha)
- Went on my first date!
- Turned 17 (which I think has been the best)
- Went through counseling (the best decision I've ever made)
- Got called to be one of the two chairs of Stake Youth Council!
- Started Senior Year!!
- Survived my first 2 terms of AP classes!
- Worked until September!
- Quit my job
- Went to Prom at the State Capital!!
- Went to the conference center for conference for the first time!
- They announced a temple to be built in Saratoga Springs!
- Planned and went to Priest and Laurel Retreat and Youth Conference!
- Hit two years with type one diabetes
- Sang at Sydney's Homecoming!
- Spoken in Stake Conference!!!
- We went Kayaking and camping all summer!
- Jon and Sydney got home from their missions!!
- I became an Aunt!!
- I went on my dream trip to San Francisco
- Joined a new club at school!
- MADE THE BEST FRIENDS IN THE WORLD!
Honestly the greatest blessings this year have been people. I have met some of the greatest people this world has to offer. I'm blown away by the support and love that I receive from so many people. Even just my friends who pass in the hall and smile at me. I've made the best group of friends this year, and they make me smile and laugh like crazy. All my teachers have been awesome this year, and I feel like they actually care about me as a person! My church leaders are so caring and loving, and they do so much for us. I just feel insanely blessed, which is a complete 180 from the beginning of the year!
I felt completely alone and out of all control at the beginning of the year, and I thought that I needed to gain all control to feel stable and okay with my life. And I've learned that you will never have all control, but you can trust in God, because he is in control and he will never lead you astray. I may never understand why I went through some of the things that I did, but I know that God knows, and he has a plan. Multiple times this year, when I simply let go of my need to be in control, I found that I became an instrument in God's hands, and He led me to places I could have never dreamed of! If I had to go through counseling just so I could talk in Stake Conference and get that message out there, and help even one person, I would do it a million times. My life has not turned out to be anything that I would have pictured, but it's 100% better. I felt true happiness this year. I felt true love this year. I've cried real genuine tears this year. I've served with all that I can this year. I've made lasting friendships this year. This year was real and raw and vulnerable and I felt uncomfortable more often than not. But those words describe change. And I've changed. And I'm proud of who I am becoming. My overarching word at the beginning of the year was Self-Love. And now that I've learned to love me, I'm hoping in 2018 I can start to bring that love out, and share it.
I hope you've had an amazing year, and if you are in the spot that I was at the beginning of the year, hold onto hope. Keep the faith that things get better. Your best days are ahead, your hardest laugh, cheesiest smile, happiest tears, and tightest hugs are all ahead. Look ahead to the light. Good things are coming for us! Have a very happy new year, hug your fam, celebrate hard, and I will see you in the New Year!!

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