Oh '09 How I'll Remember Thee Pt. 2: WOW

(These pictures are of me and my best friend from high school when we first met 2005 and the other from June 2009... A lot has changed)


Today on my flight from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico I read through Time Magazine's annual "Year In Review"... to my surprise that MUCH more happened to this world than I knew! My GOD the earth does not revolve around me, and other events did occur this year besides me waking up to a vacuumed out brain, finding my vodka in my friends locker, and having concerns about my mind boggling amount of gum chewing! Outstanding!

But really, SO much happened this year, that really did, give this decade it's BIG BANG. Hello Obama, natural disasters, "war on terror", MJ, and Somalian Pirates. Not only that, but each individuals year of events, and turning points. Did not all of us come to some realization this year?

As I learned from a drunken 21 year old actor at my best friend's wedding on Sunday, "Humans are much more similar than different. We all know what it feels like to be alone, sad, angry, envious, and disappointed" Although these all seem to be negative emotions, they're all still very powerful ones. Is that not what makes artist paint? Those are the emotions which strike us the hardest and get us to react the most vividly. I think we all just forget that many others can relate.

Over a period of 12 months not only have I gained and lost little, but have the feeling of satisfaction. 2009 is probably my most successful, rewarding, and accomplished year thus far, AND with minimal drama at that! Not only have I moved three times and come to realize that where I'm at now is WHERE I love but also realized WHAT I love.
Obvi "love" is a strong word, but when it comes down to passion in life, it really does become a big deal. A lot of people go through life not really knowing what they should be doing with it, and end up wasting their precious one chance working at a job they hate, maybe solely based on the thought that they don't know what their love or passion is.

Sometimes, which I've found to be the case, is that people have multiple talents or passions they just don't know it, or don't know how to put it towards a career. The only thing that I've know to be my "talent" is art/ photography. People have talked to me about it and have always said "...But you have your photography, so you'll be okay". As if that's my only life line. But really, my love for talking (yeah, I know) and especially giving advise, and debating seems like a possibility as a careers choice. If there's only some way that I can do photography and utilize my talking skills. I've also constantly gone back with the love for war photojournalism. What does it take to become one myself?

What my point is, is that 2009 brought to me all of these realizations in life. What 12 months can do to change a person. I feel accomplished because I have gain knowledge and understanding about myself and love earlier on that will give me a head start for the new year. I'm not going to be stuck in 2008 wondering what my life goal will be, seems now that for 2010 I will be able to act on this passion and head in a positive adventure. The puzzle pieces are being found and I'm starting to get the picture.

If you're the person who has yet to unveil your talents, or find out how to make your life on it, just think. You must be reading this for some reason, even if it is out of boredom. Dude, there's so many jobs out there that anything can match, even make up your own job. You may have a passion for forging signatures, there's a job for that. Or cooking.

In any case, there's a job for everyone. And as sad as it is that we all need to work to live, and will most likely spend most of our lives doing so, remember that it's your only one (unless your beliefs conflict with mine). It's shitty for those who spend their entire lives wishing that they could use their passion day after day, and are never able to achieve it.

So 2009, thanks, it's been great. But I can't wait to get going, and see what's in store for 2010.