At
the end of every year, people across the world decide it’s time to make a
change. This
year, I read so many posts about the horrible year that was 2016. As I began
thinking about 2016, I thought of mostly happy things. I presented my own research. I graduated college. I
was accepted to graduate school. One sister got married. Another is expecting a
baby. I made a few new friends and strengthened relationships with others. Sure, yeah, there were some bad things that happened and most of those
things won’t get any better going into 2017, but they still don’t take away
from the good things that happened to me last year.
The
trick with entering a new year is reflecting on the previous year in a positive
light rather than a negative one. Think about the things you experienced, good
and bad. Consider how they have shaped you and changed you as a person. Were
those good changes or bad? Events will
always happen that are out of your control and most of the time those things
will change you in one way or another. The beautiful thing about being your own
person is that you are able to decide how you’re going to let things change you.
Will you let that break up make you a bitter or a better person? Are you going
to use this year to continue holding your grudges or will you decide it’s
finally time to let them go? You can’t always control the things you go
through, but you can control what you take from them and how they affect you.
I’ve
never been a “new year’s resolution” kind of gal. However, I always take time to
reflect, pray, and make plans for the new chapter in time. Everything that
happened in 2016 shaped me in one way or another. I’ve become more independent
while also realizing I don’t need to be independent all the time. I’ve learned
that there is a line between letting things go and letting people take
advantage of me. I’ve learned that I need to stand up when something is
important to me. I’ve learned that considering another side of a topic may
change my view and that’s okay. I’ve learned that there are a lot of scary
people and beliefs in the world, but my job is to spread love instead of
intolerance and hate.
My
goal for 2017 is to be better. This is something I’ve been trying to do for a
couple of months now, but I’m nowhere near where I need to be. I need to work to
be a better Christian, (grand)daughter, sister, aunt, friend, student,
employee, etc. I don’t feel like I’m failing in any of these areas, but I could
go on for days about how I need to improve. Why do I want to be better? Because
if 2016 taught me anything, it taught me that the world is full of hate. This
isn’t something I’ve been entirely naïve to, but I feel like it came out a lot
more this year than others. People are hated because of race, religion,
political beliefs, sexual orientation, mental disabilities, educational standing,
whether they drive a Ford or a Dodge, how many piercings they have, etc. As I’ve
gotten older, I’ve learned that listening to someone else’s opinions shouldn’t
be as difficult as people make it out to be. You may never agree with someone’s
opinion of something, but that does not make either of you less of a person.
Your ability to sit, listen, and consider someone else’s opinion and have an
intelligent, productive conversation about it is exceptionally important. I
could go on about that for another six pages, but I’ll leave it at that.
Long
story short, I’m challenging you this year. I challenge you to be better. Be a
better parent, child, member of your religion, sibling, worker, student, spouse, etc. Don’t be confused, though. Striving to be better does not
mean that you need to be better than everyone else. Your only competition is
you. Be the best you that you can be (I know, I know, it’s so cliché). If we
all strive to make these changes and to love others rather than spreading hate,
lies, fear, and intolerance, then the world will be a better place. You don’t
have to agree with everyone. You can still hold strong to your morals and
beliefs, while still accepting others for their morals and beliefs. Strive for
peace, both within yourself and with others. That will be my focus of 2017. I
hope you’ll join me.
Smile always,
e.
