And consequently, this is the last Zen & M’s article of the year 2012.

I thought that this would be a good time to reflect on the year and my journey towards a healthy, balanced lifestyle enjoying both Zen and M&M’s.

A year ago, I wouldn’t have believed that I would be a health blogger for WSPN. Back then, I was a reporter, struggling to make ends meet in between deadlines and APUSH seminars. But now, I am an enlightened senior who would like to share some of the wisdom I’ve acquired over the past year with all of you. I’ve compiled a list of 12 lessons I’ve learned over this year, one for each of the 12 months of the year.

1. Respect your own opinions: Just because some people may have an opinion they believe is right doesn’t mean that yours is wrong. State what you think loudly and proudly, and you may be surprised at how understanding people are of your beliefs. Of course, if you’re obnoxious and close-minded, people will tune you out, just like you would tune them out for the same reasons. But, if you’re respectful of yourself and of others, people will listen. You may even find yourself in for an interesting and eye-opening conversation.

2. Healthy living is gray, not black and white: At the beginning of last year, I decided that I needed to relax, which was true. I was taking too many things too seriously. But, relaxing does not mean entering a prolonged period of inertia in front of the TV. One needs to be able to relax on certain days and burn off pent-up energy in the gym on other days.

3. You do have time to read: During my junior year, I wouldn’t allow myself to read because I had “too much to do.” Now, I still seldom read during the day because I do have a lot to do, but reading before bed helps me wind down and relax. I can read a whole chapter and still get to bed at a healthy time because it’s a routine. Time spent inside your imagination is time well spent.

4. Work hard, play hard: You could say I have a tendency to put too much pressure on myself. But, if there’s anything I’ve learned this year, it’s that my brain functions better if it had time to rest and recover in the same way every other part of my body requires.

5. Listen to Lady GaGa: Yesterday, while allowing my brain to recuperate while reading Glamour, I came across this quote from one of the musicians who has been fueling my workout playlists since freshman year, Lady GaGa. I believe this statement speaks for itself: “When I wake up in the morning, I feel like any other insecure 24-year-old girl. Then I say, … ‘you’re Lady Gaga, you get up and walk the walk today.’”

6. Reach for the stars: If you fall, the worst case scenario is that you’ll end up with an awesome battle scar and an awesome story. But, if you don’t even try, you’re only left with a “what if.” Try new things and set high standards for yourself, especially if the obstacle you face scares you.

7. Don’t write holiday letters in Sharpie when you can write them in pen: I just did that five minutes before writing this, and now I have a headache.

8. What others do has no bearing on what you do: I hear too many people comparing themselves to others or limiting themselves to a particular set of choices because of other people’s choices. Please, dear readers, don’t do that to yourself! Make the choices that make you happy, even if someone else is making different choices, the same choices or if someone tells you you’re wrong.

9. Food is your friend, not your enemy: Just as one must balance working out with relaxing, one must also balance healthy eating with splurging. I do honestly enjoy my whole wheat bread and apples most days of the week, but I’d be lying to you if I told you I didn’t enjoy a cookie or two at Muses rehearsal or a plate of nachos on the weekend.

10. That chip on your shoulder is heavy, but it won’t build any muscle: Being angry doesn’t give you anything but more anger. Channeling all of those negative vibes requires a lot of effort and energy, but not the kind of effort that gives you satisfaction in the long run. My advice? Go to the gym. You’ll release your anger, and this kind of effort will provide positive results.

11. High school goes by fast: We are lucky to live in a town where being smart is cool. But getting good grades and doing a lot of activities doesn’t come without sacrifice. What we give up is worth the sense of accomplishment we feel after getting an A or helping out a team by putting in 110% of effort. But sometimes, our heads are buried so deep into all of our books that moments spent with our friends and family zoom right past us. Enjoy the challenge that school and after-school activities offer you, but never let it get in the way of enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

12. Laugh: Live in the moment. Tomorrow’s worries are for tomorrow. Worry about what you need to do today and how you can make today the best possible day. In the meantime, don’t let any opportunity to smile or laugh slip by because life is pretty funny.