Kids, I was going to limit this to 10 posts. You know, the way I did my Top 10 posts based on popularity. It made sense to pick 10, simply to have a sense of continuity. But as I was looking through each of my posts from 2016, I realized that picking favorite blog posts is like picking my favorite children. It’s just not fair. So I picked 20 instead. And I think that’s a pretty decent narrowing down, considering I wrote 361 blog posts last year.

That’s what you’ll find below: my 20 favorite posts from 2016. Why none of these were snatched up by WordPress to be Freshly Pressed, I’ll never know. Some I picked because I think I’m funnier than I may actually be. Some I picked because I felt like I had something important to say at the time. Of course, you’re invited to look back at these posts and agree or disagree. But don’t worry, I won’t ask you to go back and look through all of those 361 posts to pick your own favorites. Unless you really want to. I won’t tell you not to do that.

Clay
This is one of those where I had a slight spiritual epiphany after thinking about the illustration that theologians like to use when comparing us to clay and God to a potter.

Eating Disorder
This was a spur of the moment post when I was working as a counselor and received an email from HR reminding me that it was Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Upon reading that email, I decided to write about my personal eating disorder experiences.

For What Job Am I Best Suited?
This was written in a time when I was unhappy with my job and desperately seeking alternative employment. I was also incredibly discouraged because I had been getting a number of interviews, but no job offers.

10 Ways to Know I’m Old
A little self-reflection after reaching my 36th birthday.

Where Misery Takes You
You know how I mentioned that I was, at one point, unhappy with my job and discouraged at the lack of other opportunities? That sort of continued here. Looking back, I think I was a little depressed during that first quarter of 2016.

The Importance of the Small Group
But at least I had a group of friends that I could lean on. That’s what this one is all about.

Why the Letter X Is Unnecessary
This is one I pondered after spending so much time working in a kindergarten classroom and extensively studying the alphabet with 5 and 6-year-olds. This post caused my friend Alex to get upset. But I still thought it was funny.

My Story…
Throughout the year, in my church, people were encouraged to share their stories with others. This was what I came up with when it was my turn.

Hanging Out at the Pottery Barn
On the way back to Virginia from a conference in Atlanta, the ladies I was traveling with wanted to stop at the Pottery Barn outlet somewhere in South Carolina. This is the true story of that experience.

7 Types of Friends and How to Identify Them
Some friends have a positive effect. Some are negative. I feel like this is a helpful and humorous list.

The 5 Talkers You Meet at the Movies
There’s always someone talking when you’re trying to watch a movie. This is how you can identify the different types of movie talkers.

Why Daniel Should Have Lost
This, of course, is in reference to Daniel LaRusso of Karate Kid fame. There’s no way he should have won against Johnny in that tournament. There’s also no way he should have beaten Chozen in the sequel.

How I Quit My Job
I reached a point where I was able to make a very positive change in my career path. And I’ve been thanking God every day since.

#DescribeYourselfin3FictionalCharacters
This is one that was actually in the Top 10 based on popularity. Must’ve been a good one.

Appropriate Uses of the Word Ouch!
And some inappropriate uses, as well.

Six Fictional Presidents I Would Rather See Win This Year’s Election
Or, I should say, would have rather seen win last year’s election. It’s not often I get political on my blog. But, I guess since these are all fictional characters, it doesn’t really count as a political post.

5 Movie Theater Pet Peeves
This would be something of a sequel to the one about people talking at the movies.

Hopes, Dreams, and Plans
I just happened to look back at a post from a year prior to this one and decided to figure out which of my hopes, dreams, and/or plans came through a year later.

4 Things You Shouldn’t Do at the Drive-Thru
I think this one is just good advice. For all people.

A Social Media Rant
More good advice. But not for when you’re at the drive-thru. For when you’re on the Facebook or the Twitter.

So… Those are the posts. Do with them what you will. Personally, I hope you enjoy them. I had a blast writing them. And re-reading them over the last few days. I’m incredibly insightful. And hilarious. But you already knew that! See you tomorrow, kids!