I learned that 

happiness and love

come hand in hand with pain and sadness

there isn't one without the other and that's okay

because feeling everything and feeling it as deeply as one can is beautiful

we need it to grow

we need it to be complete

 

I learned that 

although I am thankful for the good people who have come into my life this year

for they have watered my garden and brought me beautiful flowers

I am even more thankful for the poisonous ones

for they have made my garden grow stronger for when the storms come 

 

I learned that 

there will be good days 

there will be bad days

but after a cloudy day the sun always seems a little brighter

 

I learned that 

happiness doesnt have to be a haven you one day reach

happiness wasn't meant to be felt all of the time

you are to feel all emotions as they are what make you human

and once you learn to embrace them all in the best way

 

only then will you be complete