2007

This year really has been quite the trial so far. This has got to be one of the most eventful years I've seen in a long time... and unfortunately, most of it has been bad news. Adversity affects each person differently. Even with one person, it affects them differently based on how much they've grown, and that in itself serves as an impetus for growth.

In these short 8 months that have passed, I've had much to complain about. A lot has happened, where anyone could easily ask... why me? But I know I'm not the only one that's suffering this year. Others are bearing the same weight, the same pain... yet we are still here, trudging along. The strength of the spirit is an amazing thing, able to cope with even the most arduous stressors. I can only hope that it's strength will continue to surpass any other misfortunes that will be thrown our way, because its likely the worse has yet to come, as it always is yet to come.

It hasn't all been bad though. Good things have happened, but none of it has been all that phenomenal, which makes them seem less noticeable and memorable. One thing that I've realized today, is that I think I've learned much more this year than in previous years. Something that the ancient Chinese always harped on and hoped that their sons and daughters would grow up to be were respectable humans. This kind of growth is hard to gauge, especially in recent times as any type of standard for being human has somewhat been erased by materialism and other types of consumerisms... There was a saying that I ran across while growing up that I've used over and over again to sort of justify all the hardships that I've endured. While my upbringing may not be much when compared to those in other parts of the world, it still seems to be quite substantial to my peers. And while I am most definitely far from perfect in terms of being able to cope and march forward without complaint, I have survived these 22 years by convincing myself that 'hardship builds personality'. It has worked so far because as difficult as this year has been I feel I've learned much more and matured much more than I usually have in past years.

Unfortunately, that still doesn't leave me a clear path in life, but few things would ever make life so easy. Here's to hoping the choices I make will bear more fruit in enriching my life and those around me.