12/31/10 The End

I've found that you can do just about anything for a year. Things that are intolerable in the long run can be dealt with for a year. If there is no end in sight, it makes that thing harder to do in the meantime since you never know how long it will last. For many things it is nice to have that deadline, that end date to look forward to. Research papers, final projects, moving, leaving a job you can't stand, a business trip that takes you away from family. Small or large, it doesn't matter. Of course, there are some things we want to go on forever and we don't want an end date. A good marriage, having good friends and family, you know the like. But for the things that are hard in life it is nice to have a button at the end to look forward to. Sometimes things ending is a good thing. It helps us to learn from the experience and take it for what it is and move on. There are always valuable lessons to be learned from even the worst of experiences and we can hopefully always find at least one positive thing from a bad situation.

What I like about the last day of the year isn't that something is over, but rather, that we can transition into something new starting. Appreciate the year for what it was and look forward to building on the good things that have been started in the year. Recognize the things that didn't go so well and think about how to improve upon them. Not making crazy new year's resolutions that are too big that you can't keep that will make you feel like a failure when you can't keep them all. Look at the relationships you have in your life that are important to you. Making sure to continue to cherish the people you do. Looking at how to improve relationships that need more attention. Things come and go. Stuff wears out. The people we have in our lives will always be there. Hopefully people can focus on surrounding themselves with good people and maintaining a positive support system with people they love and who are important to them. Tell them you love them. Show them you love them. Respect people for who they are. Also be willing to let go of things or relationships that, for whatever reason, are poison to who you are and drag you down and make you miserable. Love the people who may hurt you but be willing to let them go so that you can ultimately love yourself for the amazing person that you are.

I am thankful for the past year. I have learned a lot. I have been disappointed and I have been amazed. I have had ups and I have had downs. I have lost and I have gained. Through it all I have been surrounded by people who love and care about me. Thank you all.

kk