A New Year

It seems inconceivable that another year will become past history. Incomprehensible really, that numerous endings and beginnings, some we bore witness to, others we were none the wiser, designed another 365 days of the earth’s rotation—that within that magnificent spin, lives were lived to their full bent (because who’s to say what is and isn’t someone’s ultimate)—some breaking ground, others taking their leave, and in between—the myriad of emotions and the metaphorical seasons. Upon this planet, footprints built memories, visions gave new perspectives, distances forged friendships, advancements gave hope, the plague of hate continued to meet its match, dreams came to fruition, and love—in spite of and with assistance of disaster, and in the picking up and rebuilding, from communication and motivation, as a determination and sacrifice, in breaking barriers and knocking upon doors so they may open anew, for the masses and the self—love was the footing needed to bridge many a divide. A year of individual define and universal design hasn’t even come close to an end, it’s a constant and a continuation. And what will you make of the year? What have you gleaned of your experiences and lessons? What will memories write of you in the minds of others? 365 days of impossibilities, challenges, successes, revelations, and surprises. There are those who face it all head on, those who carry on, others who see only the silver lining, and the ones who embrace the gray, and there are some who identify in an insignificance, who feel magnetic with the problematic—and for them, for all in fact, in the coming year, we must make vocal in words and actions that none should be lost to the lonely—and in doing so, we offer simple gestures in kind, and remind ourselves in turn, of the greatness in kinship. What a year asks of us, is not in how fast and how full we can fill a calendar’s empty space (and ambition is by no means an enemy), but how do we choose to view and approach such opportunity. Open space has value in time. What is it they say? Quality not quantity. Forge a year of quality, of adventures and explorations, of finding new facets to yourself, to owning mistakes, and embracing imperfections, to allowing for growth, and harmonizing with the earth, and to love, and letting your soul out to play, and to mischief making, to childlike wonderment, and horizons in rise and set, and each and every possibility in between. It seems only fitting that I should return once again to, and conclude with, love—all encompassing, inexplicably defined, multifaceted, ever expanding, completely simplistic, enigmatic, love—may the next 52 weeks see you embraced in the greatest, the truest, the most honest love story—with yourself, with a significant other, with family, with friends — that the universe has cosmically written, and that you find a way each day to pay it forward.

—from the depths of my 🖤

E.A. O'Connell. January 2019