Beg Change From A World That Needs Some

One of my friends posted this on Facebook, and I absolutely love it.

"If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery--isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you'll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is."

It's from Charles Bukowski's Factotum. I think it's very appropriate right now as people are going into the new year with new ambitions and plans and a new set of resolutions.

I'm incredibly excited for the new year. It won't be much longer before the boyfriend is back stateside, and shortly after that he'll be with me in Virginia. It's hard to remember what it's like, not being alone. I can't wait for him to be home. There will be a lot of changes in both of our lives--besides having to adapt to being together again, we will both be starting a new life together, in a new home. While I have already started on the next chapter of my life with grad school, he will be making the transition from a life he has known for over a decade (and all of his adult life) to a new life, not only with me, but in a new world, that he has not really been part of. At least not professionally. I just hope I can help him with his transition.

2011 has a lot in store for me. Besides him coming home, I've got my incredible internship this summer, and within the year I will have completed most of my masters requirements and be (hopefully) well on my way to completing my masters research. Maybe I'll even get to make a few decisions about how I'll be spending the rest of my life.

I wish you all a good year, and hope that mine goes mostly according to plan!