don't make resolutions, continue revolutions

every year people around the world make so-called "resolutions" for the next year of their life. they start their year off totally wrong by reflecting back upon all the stuff they did or didn't do in the previous year and then "resolve" to make sure things change in the future.

i'm sick of beginning my year by trying to figure out what's wrong in my life... dammit... i'm starting my own new years tradition.

invariably, each of us has had something that has gone miserably wrong in the past year... but each of us has probably also seen major changes in our lives because of that event. mindsets change and we find the good out of an evil situation... this drastic change in thinking is a revolution in your life. a revolution is defined as "a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving."

this year, instead of focusing on the resolutions to "fix" your life, pinpoint the revolutions that occured in your life in the last year, celebrate them, and vow to continue that revolution into next year.

now, for my first 2004 revolution:
in 2004 i ended a physically and emotionally abusive relationship. unfortunately it ended with me needing to get a restraining order and needing to go to court to argue my case. this situation is quite possibly one of the most trying and emotionally fucked-up times of my life.

in 2004 i had a revolution in my life. i realized that i didn't have to take shit from anyone. i realized that friends are one of god's greatest gifts to a person, and i realized that true friends will do anything for you. i realized how wonderful strangers can be in a person's life. i realized that i am a stronger man than i ever thought i could be.

in 2005 i vow to continue this revolution in my life so that i may become even stronger as a gay man... even better of a friend... and even more of a humanitarian to strangers.

i pass this new tradition on to you, my friends. please start your own years off with these blessings, please find your own revolutions, please continue to change your lives.

i love you all = ) happy new year.