4/4

2016 is finally coming to a close, and what a year it's been. Long time readers will know it's been a crazy year for me, but I'm happy to report that things look like they've finally come together at the last second. Although I'm so so so happy to be out of the hole I was in and can finally start moving on from the negatives, I know this was an important year to have had to live through.

In October, I finally received my certificate for my qualification in specialist body piercing, something I had been dreaming of getting for so long. I couldn't believe it when it finally came - I'm so used to 2016 just generally shitting all over me, it seemed impossible that I had actually managed to accomplish one of my dream goals. Not long after, the uni semester finally finished. I did pretty well this semester, it was definitely a good decision to switch to part time because it gave me the time I needed to finish all my assignments without stressing too hard, get my certificate done on the side, and deal with the emotional bullshit life threw at me.

With November came a time where I felt pretty useless. I wasn't going to uni any more, and I was still unemployed. I spent most hours of my days applying for jobs online, since I was immediately turned down by anywhere I went in person, people always telling me 'sorry, you need to go online'. With Christmas just around the corner, not to mention the looming debt I had gathered up throughout the year, I spent most of November feeling stuck. All I needed was an opportunity. I know I'm a good worker, I just needed someone, anyone to give me a chance. Everything that was stressing me out in November was due to my financial situation, and it ate me up every day. It sucks knowing that your problems are so easily solvable, but the solution is just out of your reach. I managed to scrape by with the money I earned doing online surveys and also selling some of my things.

At the very end of the month, I got an email from one of the first places I applied for. It was a beauty salon that was looking for a new piercer to work with them over the summer. They asked me to come in for a job interview. I was so excited, I couldn't believe it. I couple of days later, I went to the salon, where they asked me to pierce some people as an example of my work, and lo and behold, I landed myself a new job!

That takes us into December, and now life isn't nearly as stressful. I thank my lucky stars every day that I was finally given an opportunity, I'm so incredibly grateful to my boss and all my coworkers for giving me a chance and accepting me into their little family. I used my first paycheque to pay off everything I needed but couldn't afford throughout the year, and now I'm working on building my savings account back up - it took quite a bit of damage this year. I'm so so happy with how this turned out, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I feel like I finally have a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and I'm so grateful that I'm lucky enough to be able to work in an industry that I'm so passionate about.

2016 was probably the hardest year of my life, but I'm really grateful for what's come out of it. I really feel like the things I've endured this year have made me a better person. The toxic friends I've had to leave behind have taught me to put more effort into showing kindness not only to my friends, but my family and myself. Getting fired and being unemployed for so long was one of the toughest things I've ever had to work through, but it taught me the value of what's really important. I can see now that I used to have a serious problem with materialism; and don't get me wrong, I'll always love having pretty things, but I'm much more sensible with it now. I know it sounds cheap, but I can really see now that all I need to be happy is to be surrounded by positive people. It's the people I chose to surround myself with this year that helped me get through it all. It really put things into perspective for me, and I think I really needed that. I wasn't happy in my old job, and although I hope I never lose a job and am in such a horrible financial strain again, I'm grateful that I got to grow into the person I am now.

I'm so happy right now. I know the next thing is probably around the corner, after all, as you get stronger, life becomes more difficult, but for now, I'm happy. I'm so grateful to everyone that's helped me get by this year. I will never forget the things I have experienced in 2016, and I hope you puddings can learn something from all this. It does get better, you just have to keep holding on. One of my resolutions for next year is going to be making more of an effort to meet with my friends, and to keep taking care of myself; not by filling the hole with new clothes, makeup, and pretty things, but by remembering to take a step back and look out for my best interests.

2016, you gave me hell, but I'm stronger because of it.
2017, let's do this!