EOF

I guess since it is the end of the year, it is only customary to look back on the days gone by, take stock and evaluate one's life up to this point. It has definitely been a hectic year for me and the path was filled with roses and rose thorns.

The last couple of weeks I've been thinking, and reliving, a lot of the events of the past year. And with each memory that surfaces, I ask myself: What did I learn? Did I grow? Did I handle each event according to my moral principals? What could I have done differently? But I think the most important question off all of these, to me, is: Did I grow? Happily, the answer to this question is yes.

I think I will liken this past year to being in a tumble dryer, strapped to a rolercoaster. Out of the good things that have happened this year I would count: getting my masters degree (finally), falling in love, going overseas, earning my independence ( i.e. getting a job), discovering three new activities (rock climbing, ballroom dancing & Ultimate Frisbee), doubling the amount of friends I have, earning the respect of my parents and not going insane :-) But of the above, one stands out above the rest, namely my friends. I do not have a lot of friends, it just isn't in my nature. But those that I count as friends I consider to be closer than blood. But there is one level above even that. It is the kind of person that I trust enough to put my life in their hands, and vice versa. Up until this year there has only ever been one person that I have shared that kind of bond with. So I truly count myself as blessed when I can say that that number of persons has now risen to two.

Fortunately, life is not just made up of good and orderly events. It is through the chaos and hardships in our lives that our mettle is tested and that we are presented with the opportunities to grow. Truyly, there were times this year when I had felt the jaws of true despair closing on me. I learned of setbacks, boredom, frustration, heartache, death, loss, failure, exhaustion (physical, mental, emotional), disappointment (in myself and others) and anger.

Happily I got through it all, the good and the bad. And in such a way that I can look myself in the eyes in the mirror each night. I learned three very important things this year. I would rather die than give up, what it takes to be a man and lastly what makes me happy.

And that is about it, I guess. Time for a new year.

-- Ruadh gu brath!