17 Ways to Improve Your Life Before the Ball Drops

With just one day left of 2016, like many others I have spent the last couple of days reflecting on the past year. As I scroll through my Twitter and Facebook feed, there are countless memes, gifs, jokes and complaints about how bad 2016 has been. From the death of well known celebrities to the history shaking presidential election, 2016 has been full of tragedies, firsts, seconds, lasts, tears, joys, successes and failures.

At this time last year, I was at the best point I have ever been at in my life. I was finally feeling like i fit in somewhere. I was on the road to doing something I love. I was surrounded by people I care about. I couldn't have asked for better.

 Everyone is talking about how 2016 has been the worst year of their lives, but 2016 was my best and each year I live another healthy, safe day it gets even better.  This year has been dubbed "the worst year in the history of the universe" on social media with others adding " 2016 can end now". For those that think 2016 was bad, maybe it was your attitude.

You lived to see another year. Is that not a good enough reason to look back on 2016 as a successful year? So what? You failed your finals. You gained some weight. So what? You're single again. You lost your job. So what? What now? You live. You try again. That's what. You try again. The ending of a year and the starting of a new one gives you that chance to try again and thats enough to sing praises.

So what if your desired presidential candidate was defeated? So what if an actor you never met or a singer you never listened to died? That's life. We live in a world where terrible things happen everyday, but we also live in a world full of completely fantastic and beautiful things where miracles happen everyday.

The Cubs won The World Series for the first time in 108 years. Harriet Tubman is going to appear on the $20 bill. USA won the gold medal for gymnastics in Rio. The Americas became measles-free. United States high school graduation rates have reached an all time high. Leonardo DiCaprio won an Oscar, finally. Gilmore Girls and the Tanner family reunited. The gene responsible for ALS has been found. The number of tigers, manatees and pandas are growing. Families grew. People survived cancer. People overcame depression. You had another birthday, another Thanksgiving, another Christmas, another year. Wow 2016,  you did all that? Don't be modest . You really outdid yourself. You don't deserve people telling you how awful you've been. What a shame.

I had the highest expectations for 2016 (mostly because 16 is my favorite/lucky number) and looking back on it, 2016 went above and beyond. Yes i failed. Lots and lots of times. I cried and screamed. Lots and lots of times.  I suffered through trials and tribulations and some anxious moments. Sometimes, I did't get what I wanted or what I worked hard of, but why is that 2016's fault? This year, I laughed. I smiled. I sang. I kissed. I hugged. I lived.  I don't give 2016 all the credit for making my life happy and fulfilling, I appreciate that I had another year to do those things, but I credit this wonderful year to myself. Because like Hannah Montana said, " Life is what you make it, so let's make it right." Knowing that I get to have another year to do it all over again and do it even better is the best feeling in the world.

For all of you that are ready for 2016 to be over and for 2017 to start, with an attitude like that your years won't get better just by the change of the date on the calendar. Don't rush. Quit waiting around for your life to change just because the year is changing. Quit waiting for Friday, for summer, to be another year older. You don't get to be here forever. If you want a change, you make the change. Be the change you wish to see because I promise you 2017 won't change it for you.

Before the ball drops, here are 17 things to make 2017 your year:

1. Stop trying to please everyone. 
Sometimes it's okay to be a little selfish. This is your life and you need to do whats best for yourself. Start doing things you want to do because they make you happy not because it is what you're supposed to do.

2. Try new things.
Try sushi. Go sky diving. Try expanding your horizons. Dye your hair. You don't know how long you get on this earth so you may as well try everything. Taking risks is the easiest way to succeed. If you don't know what you are capable of, the year will keep changing, but you won't be.

3. Find balance.
It is so hard to have time for everything you want to do in your life. How are you supposed to juggle school, work, homework, working out, eating healthy, having a social life and getting more than 4 hours of sleep per night? It is all about finding balance. Plan your priorities in to your day. Literally pencil in "go to the gym" in your planner it makes it harder to ignore.

4. Radiate positivity. 
Negative attitudes will destroy you. Your own negativity will be your own demise.

5. Live in the moment.
Go where the wifi is weak. Unplug. Stop and smell the roses. You might be amazed at what's in your own backyard.

6. Set goals.
Setting goals gives you a direction. It paves the road for success. Write them down. Set small goals, but aim high. New Year's resolutions are the new black.

7. Life is short, buy the dress. 

8. New miss an opportunity.
Your life is defined by opportunities, even the ones you miss.

9. Drink a cup of get shit done.
Or coffee, milk, tea or water. Whatever floats your boat.

10. Speak in kind words.
Make it a resolution to gossip less. Gossip is bad for the soul and is the root of negativity.

11. Be a voice, not an echo.
Stand up for what you believe in. Make your own choices. Be proud of your opinions. Be confident in your decisions.

12. Apologize quickly and sincerely.
Life is too short.

13. Be extraordinary.
You did not wake up to be mediocre.

14. TRAVEL
See the world, as much of it as you can. Save your spare change.

15. Eat breakfast every morning.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Give your brain what it deserves and you day will improve by 100%. Make it a good breakfast. No Lucky Charms.

16. Do things that don't suck with people that don't suck.
Cut out the people in your life that bring you down. Surround yourself with inspiring beings.

17. Wake up early, drink coffee, work hard, be ambitious, keep your priorities straight, your mind right and your head up. Do well, live well, dress well. Do what you love, love what you do and start living.


I hope everyone has had a wonderful and successful year full of love and blessings. Thank you to everyone who continually supports my writing and loves me for it. Thank you for reading this no matter how much I might seem to ramble. I hope you all have an even better 2017.

Here's some highlights of my year:

January
Started my second semester of college
Visited the Ice Castles in Midway, Utah. 
Celebrated Easton's 20th birthday
Landed my internship at Good Things Utah. 
Went to a movie at Sundance Film Festival. 

February 
Went to the Mummy exhibit at The Leonardo.
Celebrated Valentine's Day at The Roof restaurant.
Attended a fashion show at Utah Fashion Week.

March
Road tripped to St. George/ Las Vegas with my roommates.
Hiked Angel's Landing in Zion National Park.
Bought my own car.
Went on our annual Snelten spring break trip to Disneyland.
Saw Justin Bieber in concert.

April
Celebrated Olivia's 16th birthday.
Finished my freshman year of college.
Moved back home for the summer.

May
Celebrated Mother's Day.
Started my summer.
Hiked to the Y.
Produced my own segment on Good Things Utah.

June
Was on air for my own segment on Good Things Utah.
Attended my oldest cousin's wedding.
Spent Father's Day weekend in Park City.
Volunteered at The Ronald McDonald House.
Partied at the Jason Aldean concert.
Boated at Jordanelle.





















July
Went to The Stadium of Fire to see Tim McGraw perform.
Went camping with my family at The Spruces.
Celebrated the 4th of July at Lagoon.
Road tripped to Seattle.
Got a job at Zions Bank.
Worked the Bachelor casting call.
Spent a weekend boating in Bear Lake.
Cheered on Real Salt Lake on the 24th of July.
Saw Keith Urban in concert.
Saw Florida Georgia Line in concert.

August
Spent a weekend in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Ended my internship at Good Things Utah.
Went to the Lantern Festival.
Started my sophomore year of college.

September
Spent Labor Day weekend in Park City.
Went to Dierks Bentley concert.

October ( the best month of the whole year)
Saw my favorite singer Luke Bryan from the pit.
Went to Thriller in Park City.
Celebrated my mom's birthday.
Celebrated my birthday as many chances as I could get.
Saw Brantley Gilbert in concert.
Went to San Francisco for my birthday weekend.
Went to Disneyland with my dad.
All the Halloween/ fall activities.

November
Celebrated 3 years with Easton.
Celebrated Ella's 13th birthday.
Celebrated my dad's birthday.
Gorged myself in Thanksgiving feasts.
Went to Top Golf.

December
Went to The Christmas Carol at Hale Center Theatre.
Came home for Christmas break and slept in a normal sized bed.
Spent Christmas with my family.
Ice skating at the Gallivan Center.
Slept in my mom's bed on Christmas Eve.
Snowshoed.
Awarded my Associate's Degree in University Studies.

XO- Sydney Lauren

When The Holidays Aren't So Jolly

With Christmas just a few days away, it is the busiest time of year for shoppers getting last minute gifts, parents taking their children to see mall Santa's to get the perfect picture for their Christmas card and families coming together for parties, laughs and treats. For some, Christmas is the most magical and happiest time of year. Christmas is the time of year they look forward to most.

For some, Christmas is the hardest time of year. For some, Christmas is a reminder of loss as they try to get through the holiday season without their loved ones. For some, Christmas is a gigantic pressure to make sure they can still make ends meet while making sure they've gotten gifts for everyone on their list. Bank accounts and pockets just dollars away from despair. People wondering how they will pay their heating bill and still give their kids the best Christmas possible.

For many, Christmas time is a reminder of the blessings received throughout the year and the ones promised in the next year to come. For others, it is wondering where their next meal is coming from while trying to find the warmest spot in the park to spend a below freezing night.

It is hard to remain as holly jolly as the carols tell us we are supposed to be. It is hard to not feel guilty when you are leaving the mall with bags in hand and you see a ragged man on the side of the freeway with tattered clothes, torn gloves and a damp cardboard sign with all of his belongings in a backpack asking for anything you can spare. It is hard to feel like you deserve your blessings when you hear on the news of the drunk driver that kills a child's parents just days before Christmas. It is hard to feel that joy when there are kids who won't be getting anything for Christmas, anything for dinner or even living to see the new year.

We all work and earn the blessings we receive, but it is hard to feel like we are worthy of them when we see those that aren't as fortunate. It's hard when your desire to help them is so strong, but you yourself are working hard and living pay check to pay check to provide for yourself or your family or both.

Christmas is hard, but Christmas is also so happy. It is hard for the families that aren't able to spend Christmas together. For the ones over seas, the ones with angels watching over them, the ones with broken families. It is hard to feel jolly when deep down below the egg nog and gingerbread cookies, you feel lost and dark and like you don't deserve what you have. Though, it is so happy when you realize how blessed you are to live to see another Christmas. To have a warm house to come home to, a Christmas ham on the table and presents under the tree. It is hard to feel the guilt of having so much when some people have so little.

For those dealing with depression and anxiety during this holiday season, the pressure to feel jolly can almost feel unbearable. It can be hard to have the motivation to get out of bed and put on a smiling face. To head to your job where stressed out people are trying to make ends meet for another holiday season and let it rub off on you. It is hard to imagine what trials and tribulations another year might bring you.

For those showered in blessings this holiday season, take the time to think about what other's who aren't as blessed might feel. As you leave the grocery store with bags full of staples for your Christmas feast, share some with the man on the side of the freeway. As you pass around gifts to all your family members, take a moment to pray for those who don't get to be with their family. As you smile and laugh through the ice skating, sledding and caroling, think of those you struggle to be as happy as you.

It can be easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, but please remember those out there who are not as fortunate as you are this Christmas. Keep those in your mind, you thoughts and your prayers who don't find Christmas as jolly as you do. Don't think of all the presents you will unwrap come Christmas morning, think about the gift that you have a winter coat, a bed to sleep in and a happy heart. That is what Christmas is all about.

I hope everyone has a merry and blessed Christmas and that 2017 is full of more blessings than you know. Everyone deserves blessings. Even if Christmas isn't so jolly for you this year, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one simply remembers to turn the light on.

-XO Sydney Lauren