Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, visitors and readers of my blog!

Turns out, Apple will be eliminating my ability to publish this website come June of 2012. This news got me thinking about the things I’ve recorded in the past year on this website; all the things I’ve learned and all of the things I’ve experienced. I’ve traveled, I’ve worked, I’ve started things, I’ve let things die, I’ve fallen in love with ideas and causes, I’ve participated in new ones. It’s been a year of ups and downs, but at the end of the day, full of learned lessons and serious self-examination.

I’m grateful for all of the organizations I’ve interacted with this year. The Hollywood Farmers Market, Channel101, OneWorld Now!, Synergies in Sync, St. Francis Center, Union Rescue Mission, Downtown Women’s Center, ProWorld Belize, Ya’axché Conservation Trust, and Amble Resorts. You have all inspired me to aspire to greater ideals and have taught me some very valuable life lessons.  Here are some of them:

1. 1.Be vulnerable.
   

Sometimes in my life, I’ve felt like it was a fault of mine to invest so much of myself in my friendships and acquaintances. I think the best way to connect to other people is to allow yourself to trust them and listen to them in return. That might mean the possibility for heartbreak and disappointment, but (there’s no way to really put this lightly) you’ll just have to get over it eventually. Human beings are resilient and the rewards for intimate relationships are greater than the sacrifice.

2. 2.Persevere.
   

Don’t ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever Ever EVER give up on your dreams. I know you’re afraid. It’s scary. It would be so much easier to just get a job... maybe making coffee beverages at Starbucks. There’s nothing wrong with making coffee beverages at Starbucks. Some of my favorite people make coffee at Starbucks. But if you don’t love coffee, and you know you’re meant for other things, possibly greater things, don’t settle for Starbucks.

3. 3.Say Yes.
   

The only time I’ve ever felt like I missed out on something great was when I said “No.” I’m not the kind of person that really likes saying “No” to many things. Most of my exciting life stories came out of saying “Yes” to crazy things. This quality has only benefited me this year. I’ve had so many adventures, experienced so many things, met so may amazing people. I’ll keep saying “Yes,” not because I think it will make me a ton of money, but it certainly can’t help, especially if I keep a positive attitude about my choices and opportunities. If anything, my life will be richer and the stories I’ll be able to tell my children will be ones I’ll be proud of telling.

If there’s anything I have to say to 2011, it would be this:

I gotta say, you’ve been a tough year, but the pros outweighed the cons. I’ve seen more of the world, and I’m surprisingly excited to see more of it (anxious, even). But honestly, I’ll be happily kissing you goodbye. It’s been real, 2011. Hello, 2012!