Tonight, I chose to forgo New Year’s Eve festivities in favor of a quiet night of work and reflection.  Having finished my work for the night, I put on Loreena McKennitt’s “An Ancient Muse” (a Yule gift I have not yet enjoyed), opened a bottle of BBC Coffeehouse Porter, and charged and lit a candle- “May my mind, heart, and soul reach a state of perfect serenity.  May all my thoughts and actions reflect my pursuit of a peaceful and tranquil existence.” Jasper is sitting beside me on the couch, and I am relaxed, content.  I want to take this time to reflect over what has been a year of journeying, a year of discovery, of hope, of loss, of love, of hurt.  I hope to reflect on certain aspects of my life this year, as well as set some resolutions and intentions for the year to come.  

Overall, I hope to live this year as I have tried to live my whole life: with an open heart, and with hope for the future.  I have suffered some of the worst times of my life this past year, have understood new depths to my potential for anger and fear- but I have also reached places I never knew existed in me in terms of love.  I resolve to keep on this path, to reflect on it, and to continue to challenge myself to live a full, open, honest life.