(Exceptionally today I will share my new year's message in english so it can be understood by all people to whom I wrote it for! I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors and I warn you that I was a bit lame.)
The end of the year is just one more date on the calendar, however it imposes us the feeling of change and take us to put everything in perspective. We start to think about what was good or bad in the last year, about what we conquered and what is (yet) to reach, about people and places we met, and on the other hand inevitably create expectations and define those so typical new year's resolutions, that most of the times end up not happening.
My 2016 wasn't bad like to the rest of the world. It was the year in which I had more twists and turns in my life, and I can't stop thinking that the way I have started is completly different from the way I have finished it. And I'm so happy about it.
In 2016 I lived in Porto, I did an intership in something that I loved, I've fought the thesis monster and finished my studies. I worked in McDonald's and I felt the tough reality of working hard to have money in the end of the month. I learned that adult life is no piece of cake. But mostly, I increased my openess to experience and jumped into the biggest adventure of my life.
And this is how I have finished my year, practically in the beginning of this journey, but with a lot of memories and experiences on my luggage. So far, I've been in four new countries, I already spent a whole day on an airport and I've been in three different countries in only one day twice. I already travelled alone by bus and train, without any ideia about where I was, without speaking the local language and where nobody were speaking english and being fine with it. I already spent seven hours on a bus and seven hours on a train. I've met amazing people whom I'm sure will become my friends for life. Also I've had my heart broken saying "see you tomorrow" to my persons and I can't describe the feeling of knowing how much good they wish me.
I just want to thank you all who had an important role in my year. To my old friends, to the ones who 2016 brought me and new travel companions. To those who gave me strenght to go ahead or those who gave meaning to my path. To those who are always on my safe heaven and to those who are giving me a new family. Each one of you have a special place in me. I hope that each one of you have all the hapiness and all the best in this world, not only in 2017, but always.
And my advice is for you to challenge yourselves a bit more everyday, get out of your comfort zone and allow yourselves to enjoy everything that life can give you. The world is yours! Thank you from the bottom of my heart <3
