Full.

This time, last year, I was extremely excited. New Years Day has always been one of, if not my favorite, holidays. I love the feeling of a fresh start, a clean slate. When the clock hits midnight, it feels as though anything is possible. 

I was ready. I had my goals and plans all lined up. It was going to be a great year. A year to remember. That, it was. 

I will never forget 2016, it was a year of milestone events in my life. A year of extreme highs, I married the woman of my dreams in May, and released my first book on my 30th birthday. And a year of devastating lows, we had a miscarriage in January, and my dear mother passed away in August. Peaks and valleys.

In his famous ESPY speech, a dying Jimmy V said that three things were necessary to have a "full day." 1. Laugh. 2. Think. 3. Have your emotions moved to tears. He stated that if we all did that every day, that we would have an exceptional life. I had plenty of great laughs. I've thought myself to headaches. And I've cried more tears in the last 365 days than in the 29 years prior. I've cried tears of joy and have bawled of sorrow. There were days that I didn't know how I could make it. But, I'm making it. I'm sure that these days will be joining me in 2017, but, I know now, more than ever, that I will not break. 

Life is to be lived. And live I did this year. I had a full year. Full of ups and downs. Wins and losses. Blessings and Lessons. Ayyee. For me, 2016 was the true embodiment of a year in a life. Life has never been easy, this year was not an exception. I've gained a lot, lost more than I could imagine and in the process, learned more than ever. This year has taught me the true meaning of love. On the 28th of May, I was floating. When I said, "I do" everything felt right in my life. I knew that I was headed in the right direction. It was the best decision that I ever made. Three months later, I learned how valuable time is. My mother's time on this earth came to an end. That is still hard for me to type. But that is a fate that none of us will escape. In her death, I learned that your legacy is built on how you live, and not how long you live. Her impact will be felt by generations to come. I hope that the same will be said about me when my time is up. I have to live every day knowing that my legacy is on the line. 

2016. What a year. I'm happy that this one is over. Though it is now in the past, it will always remain with me. A day won't go by in my life without a memory from this year crossing my mind. Both good and bad. Now, it is time to make new memories in a new year. I just pray that this year, the good is heavier on the scale. 

2017. Let's do it. The mission hasn't changed. Do good, be great.