A YEARLY REVIEW

It's been a year, almost exactly.
This time last year, I was starting a new job in a career that I stumbled upon accidentally a year before - a profession that I never saw myself taking part in.
I was smoothing out the frayed and wounded edges of my heart. Blowing away the smoke that emitted from the fissures that had been left upon it by an almost year long trip in a foreign land and which had clouded my eyes, my view, so that I had not been able to see the rest of the world without regarding it with a bout of cynicism that was on its guard like a rabid dog.

So what have I learned in the past year?
*Ship happens.
As a pastor at a worship service I recently attended says - and he's put it down into words perfectly - "There are ships that we bring with us as we sail on in our journey through life, some ships, you cannot take with you and simply have to burn. Hence - ship happens.
*Love - that preconceived mythical creature doth exist.
Self explanatory. Occurs in relationships, whether said relationships be familial, romantic, cordial, professional .. Er, better to leave out that last part, after all, it's what got me here (practically deported) in the first place.
*Faith restores the human spirit.
Prayer helps. Talking. Sharing secrets with that Eminence, that Source of Power and (yes, you may now dare to say it..) Love. No need to read The Bible, The Al-Quran or other books of faith that your religion or church require you to in order to be faithful. Simply go by the truth of your heart and offer it to That which you believe has created you.
*Give it a chance.
Whatever - or whoever - it is that first pops into your mind when you read this line. Give it a chance.
*Never underestimate the power of a place unvisited.
Even a taste of experience in a place that you have never been to not only feeds but nourishes your soul and makes your eyes gleam with enlightenment that, unlike any of the most expensive beauty products or perfume money can buy, will never wash off.

Now I am no longer talking in terms of 'this year', either that which has passed or that which will come, but I am talking about Today.

Today I am sitting in a casino on a Saturday morning in August as my lovely boyfriend plays a few hands of poker with a friend of his; both hoping to win what would help in their pursuit of happiness in the coming days, and gambling that in their hands which they can afford to lose.

But when you're in the process of finding your happiness and your peace in life, then you realize that you will need to give up all the things that hold you back. Your reservations, your anxiety, your doubt... It's a good trade, isn't it? It is useless to hope to ever get rid of fear. Life is a gamble. Why everyone wants to be fearless, I have no idea. It teaches you what is truly important to you . There will always be flashes of fear that will follow us every day of our lives here on earth. But let them be flashes and not our driving force.

I wish everyone the happiness that we all deserve.


Sasha