You may not necessarily care to know and that's okay but, I thought that I would join in on the whole, "let's post about what I learned in 2016" trend. Honestly, a lot happened for me and I just kind of realized it as I thought about it some more. Take what you will from the following...

2016

I started the year off as a fresh college graduate. I was working at REI full-time and applying for a real career. I spent hours looking through posts, reading job descriptions and having moments of complete self-doubt because I didn't feel qualified enough for the positions that I wanted. Then I caught a break. My previous internship adviser let me know about an opportunity with the Jacksonville Zoo. I applied, interviewed and received the offer. Just like that, I left REI and began working at the Zoo. Three days into my job with the Zoo, I got into a paddle boarding accident on a Saturday morning and had to take leave for a few days. It was the very first time I had ever been in an ambulance and also my first time ever receiving stitches - 35 of them to be exact.

After the accident, things picked up right where they left off. At the end of June, I took my first trip out West to visit a good friend of mine. I traveled from Phoenix, Arizona to Portland, Oregon and then to Seattle, Washington for a week. The trip was entirely too short and I didn't see much of anything. Unfortunately, it was a great disappointment. I know I will have to take another trip out West to get the full experience later in life, which is better than not to have gone at all. When I got back from my trip, I decided to resign from my position at the Zoo. It wasn't what I expected it to be and for other circumstances. At this point, I was feeling pretty down. I went out West with high expectations and I had a job that I also had expectations for that weren't even closely exceeded. It was a difficult time for me yet, I still persevered.

Within two weeks, I landed a job where I currently work as a social media specialist for a law firm. It's been steady and I have learned a lot about myself over the course of a few months while working at the firm. Aside from all of the work mumbo jumbo, I have been maintaining my portfolio by offering to take photographs for brands and clients. My work for IceMule Coolers allowed me to become one of their representatives and as such, I got to attend one of the largest and longest-running board sports and beach/resort lifestyle trade shows in the world known as Surf Expo. The trade show was everything I had hoped for. The experience with the IceMule team, the energy of the show, the culture of the brands and the overall personalities of those that were attending (buyers and retailers alike) were incredibly bodacious. Yeah, I just used that word. It's spot on.

I also moved into a place with my brother and our other roommate. Another first for the year, living with guy roommates = BEST DECISION. I have had 8 female roommates in total throughout college and I must admit that it doesn't work for me. Things are a lot less dramatic now and there is way less stress involved. I am entirely self-sufficient and I rely on my own bank account to take care of bills, gas, insurance and all of the other expenses rolled into being an adult. I am a very fortunate individual that has been given two super involved, extremely loving and generous parents. Not everyone has that. I also have a best friend who is not only my brother but is now my roommate. I couldn't predict a life without him nor would I ever want to. These three people are genuinely such a big part of my world. Every year I find myself never taking them for granted and incredibly grateful for their support.

2017

10 things that I have learned from 2016, which have helped prepare me for 2017 and just stuff to keep life interesting:

You have to let loose because you can only have so much control about what will happen today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year or even in the next few years. Try not to get so caught up in planning for the future and enjoy the now.
People are going to change. People are going to change for the good and people are going to change for the bad. All you can do is hope that the time you spent with them was worth it and be able to let them go when you need to because some people are like anchors - they will only bring you down.
If you begin to doubt your own self then how will you expect others to have faith in you? Self-doubt is ugly and it's a vicious cycle of the mind. Believe in your passions and take the leap even if it doesn't work out because at least you can say that you tried.
Do the things that make you happy. Not everyone is going to agree and people are always going to have an opinion about what you do or who you are. Take a moment to realize that at the end of the day it's your life, not theirs.
Don't allow yourself to get stuck in a corner of comfort. Break walls and become the person you envision yourself as. Why keep looking in the mirror wanting to be someone else when you can become whomever you want? Be honest about it though.
Put more time aside to find hobbies or ways to invest your time into a skill. We often find ourselves making excuses to spend our free time getting drinks with friends, watching Netflix, sleeping in or simply avoiding from doing anything at all. It's okay to "just chill" every now and then but, I think we tend to overindulge and consciously choose to not produce anything. I am guilty of this and I know my personal level of creativity has suffered from it.
Everyone has their own set of problems. Spend more time relating to others and getting to know their story. Be patient with those that seem bitter or angry. The world may be tougher on others and we all have a different way of coping with it. Plus, you'll be surprised to find the commonalities that you do have with certain individuals.
UNPLUG. Put the phone down and make an effort to be more perceptive of the things around you. It's refreshing to get lost in the details. For instance, become more aware of people's body language, strike up a conversation with a stranger, truly listen to all of the sounds that you hear on a daily basis, the conversations that are had as you are walking in a supermarket, in an office, at the mall or on a college campus, the expressions people make as they drive by while you are at a red light and so forth. Do you find this weird? Try it. Life itself is pretty entertaining to watch as the daily happenings, just happen.
If you don't already, then learn to love to be outdoors (I have always loved the outdoors and this point is only to express that love). There's so much to do and see out there. It doesn't matter if you travel one thousand miles or even just five miles down the road. Explore your own backyard for a bit. Check out all the nooks and crannies of your hometown. You're bound to find something you didn't know existed. Traveling is cool and all but, you should consider the opportunities that are already in front of you as well. You don't have to be so extreme about it either. A day hike or a bike ride is sufficient enough. It can be as long or as short as you want it to be. Just enjoy being in the sun or under the moon, day or night, outside.
Hold on to your youth. I don't mean act like Peter Pan. Instead, be a responsible adult that connects with childhood moments. There's something about riding a bike and popping a wheelie that reminds me of how excited I would get when I was a kid. It's easy to do now but, it wasn't so much back then. I also had the hardest time learning how to snap my fingers, which I now do at ease. When you're by yourself and no one is watching, take two pieces of gum instead of one and try to blow the biggest bubble that you can. Why hold back? After all, you're an adult now and you have the ability to make your own decisions. It's good to reflect on the little achievements that made growing up so fun.