A Fond Farewell To 2013

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson -

What can I say about this year that’s come to an end? That it had its fair share of tragedies and ugliness? That we still have a long way to go before peace and goodwill are not just words that we simply pay lip service to? That my faith in humanity is shattered repeatedly?

I could say all that, but I won’t. The world can feel quite burdensome to a soul that aches for the end of all troubles, so instead of focusing on what’s wrong in this world, I will focus on what’s right.

Gloom and doom sells in the news, and that’s all we ever hear about. But despite the fact that the media tries to convince us otherwise, we are, in truth, making tremendous advances, and the world is getting better.

As I bid farewell to 2013, I feel optimistic. Joyful. At peace. And certainly grateful. It’s been a good year. A year of contemplation and inner growth. A year of love and adventure and tranquility. And like every year that passes, I have been given another opportunity to become more familiar and more comfortable with myself. To better myself. I am thankful for this.

I pledge to be the best person I can be in 2014. To respect the world I live in, to be compassionate and kind to all living beings, and to continue to approach life with enthusiasm and gratitude.

A New Year dawns tomorrow, and we are given an opportunity to make it the best one yet. Let’s not just hope or dream of a better world. Let’s make it one.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Here is a powerful video depicting the beautiful highs and devastating lows of 2013.