2011 - The Year of Friends...

It seems that the thing to do around this time of year is write a blog post about the previous year.  Best meal, best trip, best piece of music...so on and so forth.  While I do have those things, I spent a lot of time thinking about what 2011 really meant to me.

I don't think I'm alone in feeling that 2011 was sort of an "interesting" year.  It was full of many ups and downs.  High ups, low downs.  Don't get me wrong, there was plenty of amazing, lovely things to outweigh the bad, but I feel like remembering all of those instances isn't what's important.

I spent this year single and on my own. I feel like I grew a lot as a person.  I took risks and tried to realize who I was becoming as a young woman.  More than anything, I've come to realize that your life can be great if you surround yourself with great people.

Out of anything and everything that has happened this year, I feel like that is the most meaningful thing I've taken from 2011.

People.

So many wonderful, special people.

Old friends and new friends.  Friends who will go to concerts with you even when people stretch an unreasonable amount.  Friends who you can always count on to tell you what shirt to wear on a date or make you laugh when you're sad.

Friends that you've known since you were small and can still have fun, even after 20 years.

Friends who live half a world away and seem to know you better than your own brain.  (And who also have fantastic taste in music)

Friends who you met through Twitter that are even more amazing in person.  Friends who took a risk with you and camped for days on the street with the same goal in mind. :)

Friends from other countries that you can still call friends even after years and years.

 

Friends who keep you sane and strong when it seems like reality is too much to deal with.

Friends who are actually family but so much more than that.

 

So my friends, I'd like to dedicate my 2011 to you.  I've met so many new people and done so many new things, but they would be nothing without people to share them with.  I never thought I would be so blessed to have so many wonderful people that I can call my friends.

I hope with all of my heart that your 2012 is a fantastic, prosperous and healthy year and that we can make even more memories together.

Love love love,

Marina

P.S. Okay.  If we really are going to get all "Best of..." for New Years blogs...  I'd have to say this was pretty awesome.  ;)