Farewell, 2016!

Saturday, December 31, 2016


Hello, loves! 

How are you all doing? How were your Christmases? My Christmas was absolutely wonderful- full of family and way too much food and gift exchanges and fun. Christmas is my favorite day of the entire year, and I already miss it! It's been a really great few days, though. I love the days after Christmas. We've been chilling out at home, playing games, relaxing, drawing, and going over to my grandparent's house to stuff ourselves with leftovers. I also met up with a couple of friends, and it was super nice to have a chance to catch up with them. Christmas break is just the best, isn't it? 

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The fact that in a matter of hours it will be 2017 freaks me out to no end. I know that the Internet has kind of blown up lately with posts and tweets about how horrible 2016 was. 

But honestly?

2016 was a good year for me.

That's not to say that it was all sunshine and rainbows. It wasn't, not by far. Some really rough things happened. Circumstances weren't always fun, and I lost people, in several senses of the word. I know the world has been in a rough place as well. People have passed away, things have happened that we may not have wanted to happen. But I don't think that that means that this has been "the worst year of all time". It hasn't been. And frankly, considering the fact that there have been years where the entire world was at war, or we've faced things like 9/11, the fact that people are saying 2016 was the worst? It seems kind of silly. 

Sorry. Rant over.

Anyways, despite the rough moments, 2016 was filled with some really, really great moments. It was filled with new experiences, and deeper relationships, and laughter. I've been really, really happy. So I have to admit, I'm going to miss 2016, I really am. It's been a good one. ♥

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A Year In Review

  • I got to see one of my favorite musicals, Newsies
  • Going back to ballet, and finally doing pointe!
  • Being in my first musical in a few years
  • The Waffle vs. Pancake war took place, and it was the most amazing thing ever. I gained the most amazing group of blogger friends through that war, and I could not be more thankful for them and their amazing friendship. 
  • Going to Disney
  • Dance captaining my first show
  • Celebrated two years of blogging
  • Finally learning how to wing eyeliner
  • Hamilton took over, and I could not be happier about it
  • I completed NaNo, writing 51K in the month of November
  • I turned SIXTEEN. I feel so old
  • Anastasia finally became a musical
  • Freckled Minds was formed, and I couldn't be more thankful to be involved
  • I learned that I'm dance captaining the high school musical this year!
  • I'm helping to assistant choreograph the middle school show and couldn't be more excited
  • I redid my room, and I LOVE it
  • Started writing snail mail to a few close blog friends- it's so fun!
  • This blog hit 100 followers and I almost cried of joy
  • Coffee became a part of my life and I am so thankful
  • Became the student body VP?!?!? Still can't get over that
  • Landed my first ever role in a musical
  • Learned how to make the most amazing puffed French toast in the world
  • Vaguely learned some coding for blog-related endeavors
  • Redid my blog with the help of the lovely Vanessa Best!
  • Somehow survived the PSAT and didn't utterly fail it

To be frank, 2017 somewhat scares me. Thinking about it is a bit overwhelming. My best friend is graduating this spring. I'm going to be seventeen this year, and starting my senior year. That honestly scares me to death. I'm not ready for that. 
I'm excited for 2017, though. I really hope that it's a good year. I want to do things this year. I'm going to finish my novel. I have some posts planned and drafted for this blog that are really important to me. There are performances this spring that I am really excited for, and prom is always amazing. I'm excited. I'm excited, because if I don't get excited, then I'll dwell on all of the things about 2017 that are overwhelming. So I'm choosing to be excited. We can't stop this year from coming, so let's embrace it.

We have a choice going into this year. We can let it be mundane. Or we can chase the things that we want. We can get swept up in the busyness and stress of life. Or we can embrace the time that we do have. That is my challenge to you all this year. Live life. Do things. Do the things that you've put off. Stop waiting, and do them. Because guys, we're only young once. To quote the oh so wise Lin Manuel Miranda, don't throw away your shot. 

Hello there, 2017. We're ready for you.

35 comments:

  1. This is a great post! I know what you mean about being scared about the future. I'm going to college next year. I'll only be 17. Far across the US away from my family. I AM SCARED TO DEATH, but really really really excited! I hope that 2017 will be a great year for you!<3
    -Clara

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    1. Oh my goodness, that's so scary, BUT SO EXCITING!!! I'll be praying for you and your adventures! I hope 2017 is a wonderful year for you:)

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  2. HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Sounds like 2016 was pretty good to you. Hope 2017 is even better x) <3

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    1. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! I hope that you have the most amazing year yet <3

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  3. This is a great post!! It seems like you had a pretty good time in 2016, I hope you also enjoy 2017!

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    1. Thank you so much! I hope that your 2017 is wonderful:)

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  4. Sounds like 2016 was an AMAZING year for you and I am so happy to have found so many blogging friends this year :) It was good.

    Here's to 2017!

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  5. I hit 100 followers on my blog too - it was almost shocking you know??! And now I'm close to 140 and it's like WAHHHHTTTT

    basically this post was awesome and Pancakes VS Waffles was the best thing ever #teamwaffleforthewin

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    1. It's the craziest feeling! Wow, 140 is amazing!!!!!

      #teamwaffleforever ;)

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  6. 2016 was a hard year for me; I struggled with different physical issues, as well as lost some people near and dear to my heart. But honestly, I am incredibly grateful for 2016, as God used it to teach me SO MANY things. I feel stronger in my faith than I ever have, and look forward for whatever joys and challenges 2017 presents!! :)
    I am really excited for the new year; I will be starting my senior year this fall too!

    Happy New Year, and may God bless you, Grace!! :)

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    1. It's crazy how much we grow through the hard times, isn't it? I am so sorry for all of the things that you went through, but I'm so glad that you have grown and learned so much! I hope that this is a wonderful year for you, Sarah Grace!

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  7. Happy New Year and well done for getting the dance captain role!
    Ranyel x
    www.nocaremoreflare.tumblr.com

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  8. It looks like you've had a great year! Happy New Year!

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  9. AHHHH NEWSIES IS THE BOMB. I watched the movie and, don't tell anyone, but I kinda fell in love with the main lead. I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER HIS NAME BUT HIS SMILE LIKE AHHHHHHH *falls in a well*. I'd love to see it on stage. And wow, you sound like you had an amazing 2016! Here's to a greater 2017! I'm totally scared about 2017 too, and I know what you mean when you say you feel so old! I'm going to turn 18-- EIGHTEEN, GRACE!!!! -- in August. LIKE WHAT?!?! I'm so not ready to be an adult. STAY YOUNG!! Lol.

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    1. IT ISSSSSS. Confession- I've actually never watched the movie. I'm obsessed with the Broadway show, though! It's so beautiful on stage. Oh my goodness, you're going to be eighteen??? THAT'S SO CRAZY!!!! I hope that you have a wonderful year, Amanda!!

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  10. WELL YOU WIN AT YEARLY WRAP-UPS. Seriously this is like the perfect blend of wrap-up and inspiring thoughts on 2016 and 2017. :D

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    1. *flails* WOW THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! I hope you have an amazing 2017, Jonathan!!

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  11. WE CAN CONQUER 2017 TOGETHER, GRACE. I'm a little nervous, too. I want big things to happen and I want to accomplish alll the things, but I need to remember that ultimately each day is it's own, and we're granted a new beginning every 24 hours. It's gonna be crazy, but I think I'm ready. (hopefully.)

    HAMILTON. <3 TURNING SIXTEEN. COFFEE. NANO. I relate to all of these and it's fantastic. <3

    Hope your year is awesome, Grace! You can do this. :D

    katie grace
    a writer's faith

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    1. YES WE CAN!!!! "but I need to remember that ultimately each day is it's own, and we're granted a new beginning every 24 hours." << That is honestly the best reminder ever, and something that I REALLY need to work on remembering.

      <3<3<3 I hope that you have the best, most amazing year, Katie Grace!!

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  12. I'm glad 2016 was such a good year for you - sounds like you achieved some great things :) All the best for 2017!

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  13. Wow! You accomplished a ton of great things this year! I'm so happy for you and your accomplishments and I hope you have many more to come this year:) Btw, enjoy your junior year because it goes by fast and before you know it, you'll be a senior like me.

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    1. Aw, thank you so much, Jasmine! You're so sweet:) I'm really trying to savor every moment of junior year- the thought that I'm graduating in a year and a half is so crazy!

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  14. "We have a choice going into this year. We can let it be mundane. Or we can chase the things that we want. We can get swept up in the busyness and stress of life. Or we can embrace the time that we do have."

    Preach, girl! I love this... I love all of it. thanks for a killer post! <3

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    1. Thank YOU for reading it! You are the best, Olivia. <3

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  15. WE ARE GONNA ROCK 2017, GRACE ANNE!!!! WE GOT THIS!!!!

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    1. YES WE ARE!!!!!!! Let's rock this, Aaliyah. *fist bump*

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  16. On a world wide scale, 2016 was pretty bad with all the violence and prejudice and misogyny. But while I don't think people will necessarily look back on it fondly, it could be worse. For me personally, 2016 was okay I guess??? I kind of forget where this year started and where it ended. Everything is kind of a blur. But I'm doing pretty good as of now, so 2016 couldn't have been that bad. And I'm excited for 2017 too.

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    1. It may not have been the best year, but it was a good year, and I'm thankful for it. Here's hoping that 2017 is awesome. :)

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  17. I've been reading some of your posts, and I LOVE your blog! Keep it up! It's so calming and happy and gorgeous and really enjoyable. Also, COMPLETELY agree that 2016 wasn't the worst year! There was a time when a THIRD of the world died because of the Black Death. We shouldn't complain. :-) Good for you for figuring that out! :-)

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    1. Oh my goodness, Naomi, thank you so much! That is so kind of you to say- it means a lot! :) <3 And I am so glad that you agree! There have been so many awful years, that 2016 really wasn't that bad in comparison.

      Thank you again so much for stopping by! I love your blog- it's such a fun place! :)

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