2016 and Beyond

​Dear 2016,

You have treated me like the last 3 years: Like an adventure. People have stated that you was the worst but honestly, I feel like I have been the same person who has been trying to improve myself as the day goes by. I learned from every mistake and grown from every experience.

People have gone on. I have grieved over the living. Been blessed with people that I never thought or desired to meet but realized that they were there when they were supposed to be there. 2016, you are not as bad as they made you out to be. When people start to take responsibility for their own shortcomings, they will acknowledge that you are just a scapegoat. A mere excuse to stay stagnant. As always, I create a bucket list because I hate resolutions. I hope that I get a lot of these done in 2017 and if not, there's always another day, another year and right timing. Here's my list:

1. Read 100 books
2. Create 100 items in forms of creative expression of my choice
3. Travel to 4 states, two that I never visited
4. Get my fitness certification
5. Travel out of the country
6. Meet 5 more social network friends in person
7. Learn/become fluent in a foreign language
8. Learn to swim
9. Go ziplining
10. Go paragliding
11. Go hiking
12. Go paragliding
13. Do 3 ultra marathons this year
14. Finish 2 marathons
15. Reach 75 medals by the end of 2017
16. Learn how to rollerblade and ice skate
17. Sign up for my first triathlon
18. Complete one biathlon this year
19. Do one public speaking event
20. Publish an article on a topic that I am passionate about
21. Do something outside of my comfort zone
22. Continue living fearlessly
23. Continue improving my health
24. Smile more; frown less; cry ugly tears when needed
25. Teach my son how to be the best adult that he can possibly be by embracing who he is as a person without anyone else's permission
26. Mentor someone
27. Assist 3 people in their weight loss, fitness journey or running goals
28. Watch the sunrise and sunset more
29. Find a balance in my career
30. Start and finish a huge personal project that means a lot to me
31. Hug someone
32. Continue to dig deeper in knowing my worth.

Bucket list items do not need to be intricate. I think for me, it serves as guidelines that I'm getting shit done. I wrote 32 because if life allows it, I'll be 32 this year in June.

I thank whatever there is in this universe that's watching over me because at so many points of my life, I was told that I wouldn't be here. Life isn't perfect but the perfection is in the efforr that I put in and the people who I have been blessed to be around.

With this said, thank you 2016 for the life that you granted me. It's been real. 2017 will be here in a few minutes.

Warmest Regards,

Latoya Shauntay Snell

P.S. Thank you to all of my readers who have been with me for the last several months. Thanks to you, I have been averaging 900 people a week, :). It means so much to this Brooklyn girl. Love and light. Tell me what's on your bucket list.