2017 was a rollercoaster ride of a year. As most years go, there was a lot of bad (thanks Trump) as well as lots of good (thanks Ellen DeGeneres). To honor the ending of this tumultuous year, here are 17 things that I learned in 2017.

• Ben & Jerry’s and New Girl make for the best Friday nights.
• Try to take most things with a grain of salt.
• I really, really, really love coffee.
• Don’t take the good things in life for granted, people included.
• Every day can be an adventure if you have a sense of spontaneity.
• Money is really easy to blow in college.
• College really isn’t one big party (the people who have the most fun are probably going to peak in college).
• Embrace your body fat. Life doesn’t need to revolve around açai bowls and workouts.
• This world is a mess.
• Having a sense of direction is important. Literally and figuratively.
• Alcohol sucks. I’d much rather spend my money on a tub of ice cream.
• Love really does make the world go ’round.
• Just because someone has differing political views, doesn’t make them a bad person. (unless they’re a white supremacist).
• Coffee, cuddles, fluffy animals, and a good laugh are the remedies for life’s low moments.
  Life is filled with low moments.
• Your body is your own, so cherish it, decorate it, pierce it, moisturize it, and honestly, just do whatever the hell you want with it. It’s yours, and yours only.
• You don’t owe an explanation to anyone. This is your journey, so live it how you want.

Embrace Your Misfit Soul,
xoxo Julia B.