14 THINGS I LEARNED IN 2016

As 2016 draws to a close, it's time to take a look back at the year that was. In no particular order, here are the 14 most important things I learned this year:

1. Enjoy the view. And take lots of pictures while you're at it. Life is too short to not enjoy every moment the best way you can.

2. Get over it. You got cheated on? You didn't get the job you've always wanted? Your friend betrayed you? Sure, it was unfair and cruel but you can't let these things define you. At some point, you just have to MOVE ON. When God tells you to let something go, always trust that He plans to replace it with something better. Always!

3. Being lonely makes you tougher. Because you're a strong independent woman.

4. The less you care, the happier you'll be. People are going to say all kinds of things about others and it's inevitable. It's a free world after all. However, it will only affect you once you allow them to. Ignore them or better yet, block them on your Social Media accounts. It's not an immature move, it only means that you choose to focus on having a happy life rather than focus on what they say about you.

5. Mom always knows best. Don't you hate it when your Mom tells you to do something you don't want to do? Whether it's not dating someone which you think is "the one" for you, or not going out with your friends to a part of town that isn't entirely safe. Trust me, I know the feeling. You'll realize that your Mom is right when you look back and see everything she told you would happen actually happened. Or in my case, I realized it sooner.

6. Chivalry is not dead. You thought it was until you met this man who will walk in front of you so he could open the door, greet your parents before you leave for a date, calls you beautiful everyday, sends you sweet long messages when you're feeling down, surprises you with the little things and when you needed a hug he will call you up to tell you he's outside your house. Romance and chivalry aren't dead we just happen to live in a society where they are desired yet not appreciated. If you come across these kind of people, keep them and appreciate them because they are really hard to find.

7. Hang in there. Whatever you're waiting for - graduation, love life or job offers. Be patient and trust that everything has its time. You are as good as everyone else is, instead of doubting yourself, put your mind on positive things that will help you in the future. Like what one of my friends always say, "enjoy the process." Don't rush, sweetheart. You have a long way to go!

8. Always smile. A friendly gesture and a smile can really cheer someone up and make their day. You never know who you are helping along the way.

9. Never fall for words. Instead, watch their actions.

10. Stalking people online is a waste of time. This is a common pastime millennials engage themselves into and I must admit, I'm guilty of this too. It is not necessarily bad, but if it is starts affecting you emotionally then that's another story. Whether it is checking your crush's girlfriend's Facebook or the Kardashian sisters' Instagram you should know that your time is precious and doing these kind of activities won't do you any good. If you begin to feel insecure and bad about yourself, always keep in mind that what you see are just the façades these people hide behind. There's always more than one side of a story. So stop making it a habit and start improving on yourself instead.

11. Keep your circle small. Number 1 rule: Never open up to people you've just met. Sure, they're fun to talk to and you get along quite well but you can't always guarantee their trust. 2017 is a time of growth and success, you have to make sure you have the right ones on your team.

12. One must learn discipline. We can't always rely on motivation because sometimes it's not there. Self-discipline, however, is unwavering. Once you have that, maintaining your weight goal or keeping a healthy lifestyle will be effortless!

13. Take chances. Because you never know how perfect something can turn out.

14. Learn to appreciate the little things in life. Many of the little things in life have yet to grow. Appreciate them, and they may just show you something bigger than you could have ever imagined.

Writing something like this is actually very refreshing for me, it makes us realize how far we've come and how fast things change in a span of 12 months. Despite the bad things that happened this year, a lot of good things came out of it - many life lessons, personal growth and love. I wonder what 2017 will hold for us? I don't know - but I'm looking forward to finding out.

So, what have you learned in 2016? Share it with me. Happy New Year everyone! :)

Stay Sassy!