2012 is over, the world didn’t end, and here we are. I find that in my own life, and most likely in just about everyone else’s as well, there is a lack of reflection. Life certainly is not meant to be lived in the past, but from time to time I think there is occasion to review what has happened, what sorts of decisions have been made, and how it affects where the present stands. New Years Day is one such occasion, and if you will permit me, in lieu of what I had planned to post this week (a quick short story called Haunted. I’ll post it soon) I’ll share a few of my New Year’s reflections with you.
2012 was an eventful year, to say the least. I completed a degree at the University of Southern California, I travelled across Europe and saw incredible things, I ran with the bulls in Pamplona, I wrote a novel, I wrote all sorts of other material, I started serving at my church, and I ran a marathon under trying circumstances. I went broke twice, a hope I held onto for the last 14 years fell through utterly, and on too many occasions to count I found myself wondering what I should do. I lost two grandpas and an aunt. I met some incredible people. I realized a lot about myself, how the world works, and God. I’ve seen some friends engaged and others split up. I’ve picked up a few new skills and realized how many more there are to master.
I could go on, but suffice it to say- I lived this year. I made good choices and I made mistakes; I was ecstatic and I was crushed. What occurs to me in looking back at it all, good and bad, is that it was all worth it. I’ve gotten to do and see a lot of incredible things this year, but even if I set aside all of the great experiences I know that the hard things were worth it too. The times I’ve been confused, let down, or in error will all add to my experiences and God-willing will they will make me a better human being. I certainly wish I could have skipped the bad, but that’s not how life works. At least there are reasons for it all.
Reflecting back causes me to realize several things, but perhaps the most important is this: everything can change in a moment, and beginnings and endings are continuously happening all around. 2012 was a year of foolish end of the world predictions, yet the world went on. It’s so easy to look around inside a situation and think that nothing will ever change, that we’re trapped, that it’s the end of the world. This rock will certainly come to its doom one day, but until it does it’s worth it to keep hoping and keep trying.
Here’s to 2013- may we live it the best way we know how.
A New Perspective 