As I sit at my desk, preparing to write as succinct a summary as possible of this last year's torrid events, I allow myself a somewhat hesitant sigh of relief. After all, how can this coming year be any worse than the one we have all just exited? In truth, it could turn out a whole lot worse, but as I tend not to be pessimistic, I keep telling myself that the worst is behind me.
The year 2013 has proven to be a considerably difficult one and I do not believe that I am the only one who has suffered at the hammer hands of such a miserable allotment of time. I am sure many of you have experienced much of the same hardships.
Before I begin my synopsis however, allow me to offer up a disclaimer. There are some who might view my impending writings as some bitter diatribe or some overtly emotional tirade regarding the finer points of my assumed hardships but that could not be further from the case. The end of 2013 has left me brooding, my mind embroiled with countless thoughts and proverbial "what-ifs". Often the only manner which seems to ease my mind and give me some semblance of cohesive peace is to write out my thoughts in a somewhat objective manner, treating otherwise subjective material with logic, distancing myself from potentially volatile emotions. Whether this is healthy or not is besides the point, it works for me.
This last year has proven to be somewhat of a whirlwind, or perhaps more appropriately, a tornado. An aggregation of events, disasters, and personal conflicts have plagued my family since almost as soon as 2013 made its dire debut. One might say it has been difficult to catch a breath, as if we were drowning in some sort of life sucking muck. Whatever devilry might be at the root of our woes, whether it be coincidence, spiritual, or self created, whatever it is did not count on the resilience and fortitude that lies at the very core of who I am and the very people I have surrounded myself with. Regardless of the constant pummeling, the incessant pounding, blow after blow, I, my friends and family did not falter, we did not fall. It does much to show that when you build your house on a rock solid foundation, it takes a lot more than numerous heavy storms to shake us apart.
That all being said, nothing really prepared me for what the insidious 2013 had mustered to barrage me with at the very end. This last week has been full of life shaking surprises and it has demonstrated, somewhat sorely, yet quite poignantly, that life is much too short to take anything for granted. My father, who I always viewed as a rock, a pillar, one who was always there, always supportive, always loving, an unwavering bastion of inherent goodness, an unfaltering guardian of all he held dear, is at this moment lying on a hospital bed with a not so encouraging prognosis. To have someone I deemed as so mighty to be brought low by something so dark and devious makes me so mind-numbingly angry at the pathetic helplessness I am being forced to endure. To make matters even more infuriating, the twisted shenanigans of an already evil year brought me my final gift on the very final day in the form of a best friend getting seriously injured in a car accident. Apparently 2013 did not know when enough was enough...
Those of you who know me, know that family and friends are of the utmost importance to me and that there is not anything on this earth that ranks higher. To have a family member and a friend both to have come so close to being taken away from me was a huge blow, one that I am still reeling from. Regardless, life, as short as it is, continues to move on and we are tasked with making the best of what we are handed.
Though this year has most certainly been difficult, there is still a glimmer, a light that shone bright til the very end. I am amazed and eternally grateful for the support we have received from the friends and family who rallied with us and helped us trudge through the sludge that continued to bog us down. Time and time again, our needs were met by the selfless actions of many of you and I am so very proud to be able to call you friend. I can only hope that if roles are ever reversed, God forbid, I can be in that place to support you in much the same way you were there for us.
Despite the painful job losses, the numerous car accidents, the various broken relationships, the familial health issues, the financial woes, and whatever other trivial events that made 2013 so sour, I look forward to a better and brighter 2014. A year that I can be proud to share with friends and family, a time that can be spent recuperating, succeeding, excelling, and progressing. However, though my hope is that this year brings with it prosperity and peace, if it does not, then I hope to continue to have the strength to take the proverbial bull by its horns and do what I must. Never give up, always strive for a better tomorrow.
Happy New Year, everyone!
-D
