That's not the way I want my story to end...

It's truly unbelievable that it is a new year already. I can't help but wonder where the time has gone. The last year has almost been a blur, There have been amazing highs and some pretty bad lows, but as it comes to a close, I am almost exactly where I want to be- well I said almost!

I have met some pretty amazing people this year, and some of course who reside on the very end of the opposite side of that spectrum. Those who you can say are in the despicable range really, but I am not going to dwell on the negative. I can say that those few did teach me some valuable lessons in life. Particularly not believing in everything that you hear, and that some people really have no conscious at all- and they thrive on lies and hurting others. But you know what? Karma is a bitch, and will come back harder than you can ever imagine. As hard as it is to move on and forgive these people, I am glad to say I have been able too (yeah it took a while of course), but I have definitely not forgotten the lesson. I am glad that my faith is strong enough to have made it through all of those tough times as well.

So this isn't going to be some long, oh this is what I am changing in 2011 diatribe. I know my goals, what I am going to achieve, etc... and I don't need to broadcast it to the world. Besides, people close to me already know what they are anyway. :)

I am all about making this year count for something. I am in a new city where new, amazing adventures need to be had with a lot of new people that I have been fortunate to meet, and I want to take advantage of all that I can. Travel a bit, see some new places, go with the flow and just live. There is this quote from this book Les got me a few years ago that says: "Dreams are... illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you" ( Marsha Norman) I want my soul to write amazing things and want those dreams to become reality.

Another one that I really liked was " Anyone in a state of SEEKING can never be happy. Only those who are constantly FINDING are fulfilled. And finding is not something that happens to us- it's something we do!" ( Allen Cohen) I seek inspiration from these wise words of wisdom. They are just mere words stung together, and at first glance they may not strike a chord with in. But if you really think about their meaning, you'll see just how profound they are.

I am craving the need to be a better me. To be stronger, more driven, have more faith, to be fearless, to be the best Danielle I can be. My niece Danielle asked me the other night what I was thankful for and what I wanted in the new year, and I told her that what I was looking forward to in the new year were the endless possibilities and abundant blessings I will receive. I want to focus on nurturing the friendships/ relationships in my life, live life to the fullest, and follow what God wants for me, not necessarily what I want for myself in life. I just want to live, while being grateful for everything and becoming the person I want to be. ( She totally got this btw... which is only one of the reasons my niece totally rocks! LOL)

Its easy to say all this, but of course implementing it is a different story. But I do believe that with a lot of hard work and perseverance it can be done. Of course having an amazing support system ( AKA my family and friends) doesn't hurt either ;) Because with them, I can do anything I set my mind too. Like Dylan Thomas said " Do not go gentle into that good night" ( Yeah I know some of you only know this line since it was mentioned in the movie Dangerous Minds... it's actually a really good poem!) I am going to fight, kick, scream, and claw my way up to where I want to me ( while taking those who want to be there along with me of course).

I didn't want this to become too cheesy, or some long foo foo boring yeah me synopsis, because ya'll know that's not me. But this is more of an accurate portrayal of what I am striving for. Something real, straightforward, honest- just me. The person who won't settle for second best, who knows her self worth, who knows that I don't need others to validate my belief in myself. Nor will I compromise myself to please someone else. I am not going to allow people who don't enhance my life in some way to be in my life any longer (thus the facebook and phone clean up!). I have no room for that anymore. I want to shine as bright as the northern star ( okay I am being a tad cheesy now, but I know it!), and become as great as am in my dreams! I am reaching for the stars, striving for greatness- because not succeeding' is not the way I want my story to end....

" The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware" Henry Miller