{2007}
2007 will be remembered as the year of my awakening. This year was full of epiphanies and discoveries too numerous to count. There were a lot of firsts in this year, and I met a lot of incredible people, and a lot of extremely negative people. In witnessing the good and bad, I've learned a lot about myself and have greater clarity over my search for balance in my life. At the beginning of this year, my 23rd birthday approached in April. As the date grew nearer, more and more people explained what an interesting age 23 was for them, and indeed this has been a dramatic, powerful, and explorative year. One of growth and discovery, beauty and loss, incredible joy and miserable sadness. I tested myself spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically and proudly rose to the challenge.

My awakening was resolved at a moment that I felt more depressed than I knew was possible, and saw the beauty in it. I realized it is because we experience these emotions that we are human. The joy and pain should both serve as reminders of who we are, our emotional and mental boundaries being pushed by circumstance, and we as people pushing through to another day to once again see the joy we're capable of. It is this powerful cyclical nature that defines us, and separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. We are indeed special creatures, though we undoubtedly become consumed by so many mundane concerns that we lose sight of this.

I've seen the best and worst of mankind this year, though 2009 will prove to expand these extremes as I gravitate towards a more extreme environment. But first, we must have:

{2008}
2008 will be the year of my preparation. A New Year's Resolution couldn't begin to describe the road I am to embark on this year. As I once again set my sights on the future, after a considerable time floating my way through the present, I must improve every aspect of my being. No longer will I procrastinate the languages I want to speak, the instruments I want to play, the dances I want to enliven, the books I want to read, or the spiritual journey I want to continue. I haven't the time to waste anymore, as 2009 is only a year away. You see, 2009 is the year I will be leaving this country to begin my next journey. Working with Amma and her volunteers, building houses with Habitat for Humanity International, or teaching kids in developing nations about photography - I haven't yet decided. My specific path will reveal itself in good time this year, but my overall purpose is clear. It's time to change the world.

Jack Kerouac beautifully said, "Those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." And by God, I'm crazy enough, or naive enough, to think I can. There's widespread human suffering occurring right now, and no longer can I sit like a sloth and do nothing. I don't want my name in the history books, or to leave some legacy, I just want to help as many people as possible understand the true beauty in the world, that love and compassion truly have no limits, and that through this, we really can accomplish anything. As a nation we combat hate with more hate, and we numbingly continue in a downward spiral. We're constantly on defense wondering who's going to shoot the magic bullet, completely unaware that we are the creators of our own apocalypse. We try to personify evil as the devil, oblivious to the lessons our religions have been trying to teach for thousands of years - we are our own devils. We have been blessed with the ability to create Heaven and Hell here on Earth, but we're too busy to notice.

So yes, 2008 will be my year of preparation as I will soon begin a journey that will forever change my life, and with any luck, the lives of many others.

Who's coming along for the ride?