And it really is a Happy New Year, filled with potential and all the makings of greatness that come with a fresh start! I asked Wes what he thought the coming year would bring and he summed it up: joy, pain, studying, God, dating, laughing, writing, singing...sooooo much living to be done, not enough time to do it. I don't ever think I'll be satisfied until I've climbed every mountain and sung all the great songs and read all the awesome books!! Thousands of brilliant sunsets and wonderful people and delicious corndogs! Sometimes I feel like the sheer beauty of the world is overwhelming, like I will burst if I cannot communicate my joy to other people. Call me a hippie, but I still love New Years.
That picture of me is from the Jan. 26, 2008; basically, this time last year. I had just come in from playing and walking in the rain with a good friend of mine. That room is my freshman dorm, the one all the freshies had to live in for community's sake. I pray that this year will bring tons of moments like this for my friends and my family, that they get so lost in the goodness of their lives that they dance about in the rain like little kids. But I also pray that they do not get caught up in the annoyances and superficiality of society and of the world... I hope they are able to get past their vanity, what people think of them, what people expect of them. Who cares what other people think of you?! Be the change you wish to see in the world, be who you want to be and don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't. Don't be afraid to show the world that you are passionate and unique. Love it. And demonstrate to others how much you love them.
It's easier said than done, right? Well, you have the whole year to do it, and so do I. Let's get started.
