For me, 2014 was a year of struggle. Personally, emotionally and financially it started out with high hopes, as every year does, but 2014 ended sort-of, kind-of low for me. But that low is temporary. Due to a number of reasons, things went south early in the year, recovered nicely and ended very much in a state of overall “limbo”, leading towards uncharted waters. I see this unknown expanse as an opportunity for new discovery on all levels.
2014 was a year where I lost myself completely and found myself again, unexpectedly. I had a spring of uncertainty, a summer and early fall of love, leading into a winter of soulful contemplation, but those who are important are still with me. I depend very much on my family and friends, one in particular, to be a part of my life no matter in what capacity or frequency of interaction. All my “peoples” are important to my well-being. If you are one of them, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for gracefully listening, being mostly patient, relatively understanding, and generally being there when I needed you, whether in person or via electronic interaction in the ether. The full list of people is far too vast to list, therefore I will not attempt it.
My Faith, which I do not openly talk about often (not out of “shame”, but because it’s so radically ‘different’ in almost every way), was shaken and stirred a bit, but has been restored in full. A lot of my friends and family are fully devout, some passive observers, some with little faith or downright atheist/agnostic, but they are still my friends and I value their views and insights into life, the world, and everything greatly. Due to the path my life has taken me on, I feel I have probably one of the most diverse, eclectic and generally amazing group of friends imaginable. I am very lucky.
Life is hard, it gets you down, but can also take you to unimaginable heights. I’ve been to both extremes this year. I’m an eternal optimist. I know things will get better. I know they will settle and normalize. I know those who are important will stay in my life and those who are not will fall away. Not because they are better or worse, but because that’s how things in the universe revolve. We all drift in and out of each others existence, sometimes with great effect, sometimes with little, yet we always bump into each others realities for a reason and every single interaction is important to who we are and will ultimately be. Where we will all end up, no one knows, except the Architect of the Universe. I know who that is to me. Who(What)ever it is for you, I’m sure you will agree.
So I guess if there is anything I have really learned this year, it’s the absolute importance of friends, family and Faith. Without them, we are utterly alone in this place. On this “pale blue dot”.
Take a little while, listen and ponder carefully. These messages will resonate to most. Take some time to really realize reality.
NSFW – But we shall rise from the ashes of our pasts.
Stardust from Adrien Servadio on Vimeo.
Long, but much deeper than you may realize. 🙂
Best wishes to ALL of you this coming year. Happy 2015.