2016, Part I

I want to use the last two blogposts of 2016 to do some reflecting on the year that I have had.

I've been seeing numerous articles, videos, and people in general complaining about how terrible of a year 2016 has been. And while I can't speak for anyone other than myself, I can honestly say that my year has been nothing but one of the most unique times in my life. It wasn't even close to terrible.

It didn't start that way though.

My 2016 began in the worst way possible, with me in a bad mood. The clock struck midnight, and as everyone around me was celebrating the start of a new beginning, I was sitting in a chair, staring blankly at the ground, and worrying about the next 12 months that where ahead of me.

I wanted nothing to do with 2016.

I'll go into more detail next week, but what I thought was going to be a year of doom and gloom ended up being a year of achievement, experience, and growth. I discovered a real love of writing, I finished college after being in and out of it for almost seven years, I got to travel to a place I have wanted to go since I was a teenager, I released two different albums and two different EPs, I lost friends and gained them back, and I learned an immense amount of detail about who I am and what I excel at.

2016 will always hold a special place within my memories.

Even though I began the year in such a negative place, I wouldn't change anything about that. As a matter of fact, the negativity I was feeling throughout the beginning of the year pushed me to create this website. I didn't know how it was going to turn out when I first put it together, but over the course of the last 11 months, I've had an immense amount of positive feedback about how it has been an encouragement to others.

I couldn't be happier knowing that it has had some sort of positive impact.

So I want to thank each and every one of you who has taken the time to read anything I've written over the course of this year. Thank you to those who have listened to my music. Thank you to those who have watched any of my films. Thank you to those who have viewed any of my photographs. Thank you to anyone who took the time - even if it was a single minute - to observe any one of my artisitic endeavors.

Whether you are someone who knows me in real life or you are one of the countless anonymous users from around the world that stumbled across this site in some way, I want you to know that your visit here has meant a lot.

The attention you've given to my work is appreciated more than words can say.

- JZ