The 2nd Book of Me

2014

So, right now it's December 21st. We went on Christmas break on Friday, and although I know it's still 10 days until New Year's Eve I wanted to go ahead and write this part. I probably won't have the time/motivation to write this closer to time.

I was just laying in bed thinking about how there's only 10 days left in this year. 2014 is almost done. I remember when it started a year ago and I was over a family friend's house with my parents and brother. I remember reflecting on 2013 and wondering what this year would bring. That seems like yesterday.

A lot has happened this year, and it's been a stepping stone to the next stage in my life. In the first part of the year I still didn't really know how I fit into the world as a young adult. Turning 16 is really hard in a lot of ways. At the beginning of this year, I was wondering how I would do getting a job and driving a car, and how school would go... And I'm lucky it all happened.

I got my job on May 1st and now it's December. I got my permit on August 1st. Both of these things were HUGE parts of my life that I wasn't sure how I would handle... But here I am. And I'm doing okay.

I've matured a lot as a person this year. I've learned what it's like to be a young adult. I've taken on responsibilities that none of my friends have and although it's frustrating it's taught me a lot. I'm learning how to grow up and be mature. That's valuable and I didn't know that until this year.

This year I found Elias. I'm blessed to still be with him after almost 7 months. It's so crazy, at the end of my Sophomore year on June 5th I decided to try to have a relationship, and here I am now after all these experiences still being able to hold on to it. I've never known what it was like to actually experience my life with another person. My relationships before now have mostly been so impersonal and careless. But with Elias I actually feel like I'm living my life and it's including him. He's experiencing everything with me. He has saw how I've changed and grown and he's been by my side to help me. And all that's happened in 2014.

So in summary, in the beginning winter of this year I found Noelle (who by the way had her 1st birthday in October and is doing great), in the spring I got my job, in the summer I got Elias, in the fall Junior year happened and now here I am. It's crazy.

I'm thankful that this year happened. I've been dealing with being depressed a lot lately which has changed my outlook on life, but at times like this I try to remember that I have a future. My life may seem hopeless day to day, but in the grand scheme of things I'm growing and changing with each thing that passes. It's so important to reflect on yourself sometimes to see where you're at as a person. It's so valuable to see the perspective of where you are.

This book has been cut in pieces and toward the end I was really bad with keeping up with it. I'm a little sad to say this, but I'm not going to be writing another book for 2015. I just don't feel like putting any effort into trying to get reads for a whole new book when I don't even really ever want to write in it. I've been really trying to get another story together also.

As I sign off for the Book of Me series, I hope you readers have learned that it's good to document your life. Take pictures, write things down, and do things to remember what's happening to you. Life is beautiful when you take the time to look at it, even if you're depressed. I'm trying to remember that, just because I'm sad at the time, I still need to hang on to the concept of life. It's a valuable lesson that we all need to know.

Thank you guys for reading my books. I've really enjoyed your company.

If you're not crying from this very epic exit part, you go Glen Coco.
-Danielle <3