2011 is quickly coming to a close. It’s been quite the year.

This is where I’ve stopped and rewritten the next paragraph four times trying to capture everything that happened in 2011 without making this a depressing year-end post. When you look back, for many of us, the “sad events” immediately come to mind. The people who’ve passed are the thoughts for me that come first. Inevitably I cry. Catastrophes, unplanned events, things that threw a wrench in our lives. We’ve all had loss and pain this year, like every year. It seems so trite to say, but that’s life. After remembering all these events, slowly but surely the happier moments revive themselves. What I’ve learned over the years is that the times in your life where you feel loss and pain make you appreciate all the other days even more. That’s why every day, even a hurtful, tough one, is important. The greatest gift I got throughout the year was being able to spend so much time with my family and close friends. As I look back on 2011, I mostly smile. I’ve learned to cherish each day; even the challenging  ones. It was a truly a year of making lasting memories.

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