Years and Dreams...

A year ago last January, I was standing in Times Square along with millions of others, waiting for the new year to replace the old. The air was filled with excitement and happiness because a new beginning was upon us. A blank slate, a new opportunity to be the people we wanted to be, the people we believed we could be. It was just me and my mom. My mom, my reason for being and my best friend, who despite her fears of crowds and planes, had followed her eager daughter to the busiest city in the world once again to stand freezing between 51st and 52nd street on 7th avenue with 13 millions others because I had convinced her our lives would never be the same, and because she loved me and knew my heart was set on it. That's the kind of person I want to be. One that, takes risks and chances because they believe in the hope of their loved ones.
I was amazed with the diversity surrounding me. As I stood on the crowded street, I was struck by the scenes around me. On the ground below me, several people sat in silence, huddled for warmth. To my right, was an excited group dancing and singing, there voices filled with hope, they had no worries or insecurities then, just hope. In front of me, were the stoic and hard members of the bunch. They seemed to have no feelings at all and looked as though they would rather be in bed than out in the cold. The Australians and the woman from Connecticut in the red hat are the ones that I remember the fondest though. A couple from Australia on a world tour, a petit vivacious lady with a heavy northern accent , and her tall, quiet friend also from Australia. In the seven hours we stood on that hard ground, we bonded. We exchanged stories and revelations about life and we immersed ourselves in the contagious excitement that the night had brought.
That's what life should be like everyday. We should surround ourselves with that hope and with people that encourage us to live as the best version of ourselves. The version that's not afraid to take chances because of the possibility to achieve greatness and to live. We shouldn't wait til one night a year to change. When we know we're not living as the best versions of ourselves, that's when when we should change. Right then. Right now. Even the hard and seemingly bitter family in front of me hugged and smiled with every countdown to the beginning of a new year to countries all around the world. They wanted to find some of that hope, some of that persistent hope that tomorrow would bring new possibilities and new opportunities to beileve and maybe, a reason to have faith in themselves again....

"All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to..."

-Brandi Carlile, "The Story"