2014: A Year of Change Pt. 2

So, since we recapped how my life came into 2014, I want to tell how my life progressed through 2014.

January 2014 was a rough month. Beginning a new school year, in my mind a new year without my best friend, I turned to the wrong antidote, and did things that I was not proud of. But those things are in the past now, and they do not need to be discussed, since they have been all resolved.

Through talking with one of my other best friends, it soon dawned on me that I would again see Dylan someday. It could be in a month, in 6, or in 2 years, but in time I would see him again. Trying to find closure is hard for everyone, I get that, but finding closure that I would see my best friend again was a long process. 

As the first few months of the year went on, I began to notice changes. My mistakes had been resolved, and the bullying began to back away. It was as if they had decided that picking on me wasn't fun anymore, and they moved on to other things. I took advantage of the opportunity and made the choice on my own to deactivate my Facebook account once and for all. No one swayed me to do it, I chose to do it myself. My best friend was gone, Facebook hadn't done me any good, and every passing day my account stayed open was another day I was lying to my parents. I couldn't have that on my conscience anymore. 

I asked for as many phone numbers and emails as I could, and deactivated the account. That's when I came clean about everything to my parents, and set the record straight with them. I learned it was better to tell the truth than have a lie looking over you forever.

And so life went on. Everything seemed different. My levels of stress were lowered, I seemed happier, I seemed more hopeful. The summer came, and I enjoyed myself with vacations and of course the release of Transformers: Age of Extinction. 

In July, I went to Scout Camp in Beaver, UT and Football Camp in two weeks back to back. Once I got home from Beaver, I felt invigorated, felt more alive than I had ever been from a great experience. Football camp was another difficult experience, but I pushed through it with perseverance.

I came back from Football camp on a Saturday, and dropped my things off back at my house after a delicious lunch at Whataburger. I did a few things around the house, and then I heard the phone ring. When I went to answer it, both the number and Caller ID were familiar: the last name was Dylan's. I answered the phone, and spoke to Dylan, him telling me we could be friends once again.

After about an hour long conversation, he hung up the phone, and I reflected in awe of what had just happened. I realized that it was a miracle, that after going through such hardship and trial, God blessed me with the miracle of getting my best friend back.

Throughout all of these experiences in the last year and half, I couldn't have done it without my Church. As a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or also known as Mormons, I'm so glad I know I have a Heavenly Father and a loving Savior who know me and love me. Without members of my Church encouraging me to go to my limits and keep pushing forward, I would not be where I am now. But this was just the beginning of miracles.

The 2014-15 school year commenced, and almost immediately I loved being a sophomore. The classes were harder but more exciting, my spirits were lifted from the blessings I had received, and I was ready to start of strong once again.

Then, probably my favorite day of 2014 arrived. It was the Saturday of Fall Break, and Dylan and I had planned to meet at the local mall to hang out. When I got out of my car, I tried to find Dylan. I saw him against a wall, and I noticed he had changed. He had changed some physically since the last year I saw him, but I ran to him anyway.

We roamed the mall, laughed, talked about life and things we loved, and I realized that though he looked a little different, he as still the same Dylan as I remembered him: loyal, honest, hilarious, a true friend. After that, we decided to get into a showing of Dracula Untold, and remembered how much we loved seeing movies together.

Once that wondrous day was over, I knew that this was the day my new life began. This was the day that threw my old life away, and paved a bright future for my new life ahead, one I was truly looking forward too. Little did I know, that two weeks later I would meet a pretty cute gal, who is now one of my best friends as well.

Hopefully you're still reading this post, but the New Year deserves a little bit of writing to send off 2014. And now we are here. 2014 changed me forever, and it showed me the power of miracles and hope. I now know more than ever that trials are in our lives for a reason, to strengthen us help us realize what we are capable of. 

Everything in this life is going to happen for a reason. We may not see it now, we may not see it for a long time, but everything in our lives is for our good, and will strengthen us. I look back on myself and ask, "Were you the same person you were last year? The year before that? What about sixth grade?" The answer is always the same: No. I have changed, and I will ever be grateful for the change that 2014 brought.

The photo above of Optimus Prime has become one of my favorite photos. Why? Well let's look at it. Prime has become injured, wounded, covered in dirt, broken, left to die. But underneath the damage still lies a hero, a leader, someone important. The same applies to all of us. I have been broken, bruised, wounded, but underneath all that is still me. I'm still me, the me I wanna be, the me who is important. Underneath all of us, no matter now broken we may seem, is a hero...A hero that can never be taken away, broken, or destroyed.

Now I have one question that remains to ask: 2015- What's next? I can't predict the future, but I still wonder what's next. This year when I make my New Years toast, I'm not going to wish that the next year will be less sucky than the last. That always seems to jinx the year into being suckier than the previous.

This year, I am going to toast to 2015 as another year to learn, grow, gain experience, but also still enjoy life. 2014 was quite a personal year for me, and I want 2015 to be another year with its shares of ups and downs so I can be better than I was this year. That is one of my New Years Resolution: to seek what I can learn from my experiences more, and not take my blessings for granted, because I have learned you don't know what you have until it's gone. And that is something I will never take for granted again.

So 2015, what's next? What's in store for me? What am I going to go through that will make me a better person? Sometimes I wish I had the answers to what's coming next in my life. I'm thankful that I don't, because that's what keeps life interesting, the subtle but powerful element of surprise. Cheers to a New Year, a year to start over, plan goals, strive to do better. Let us all see what we can do to better ourselves to make 2015 the best year yet. I also hope to have Dino-Hungers Part Two done in 2015, so we will have to wait and see where this coming year takes us.

To 2015 Everyone! Goodbye 2014, and hello 2015, a New Year filled with endless possibilities and unknown roads for us all to travel.

Sincerely Signed,

~Samuel Reynolds (TheDHCreator)