This year, particularly these last few months, has been nothing short of exciting for me.

There were a lot of downs. Granted, I am used to experiencing the bad times with the good, but I had far more downs this year than I’ve experienced within the past 5 years.  These downers really put me to the test, and oftentimes I wondered if I was at my breaking point.  I’m not going to lie, it was very challenging and oftentimes really sucked.

However, through it all, I always had two constants: a great support system from my friends and family, and art.  I could always count on my friends and family to listen to whatever I was going through, and I could always turn to art to more tangibly express whatever I was feeling.  It’s thanks to these two constants that I was able to turn this year around.  I am definitely very grateful to have these things in my life.  I thank my lucky stars every day, and I never take them for granted.

I’m not through with the year yet. Although my past few months have really been on the upswing, these past two weeks have really taken me on an emotional rollercoaster. It’s difficult to say when it will be over. (To make this a bit less cryptic, I am just hoping my aunt can fight through her current situation in the hospital.  It’s always tough seeing someone you care about, lying there in the hospital bed, while you yourself can’t actually do much to help.)

Still, I am doing my best to remain positive and hope for the best. That’s what life is about, isn’t it?

(This post drawn/composed while listening to “Smile“, Charlie Chaplin version, as sung by the cast from the Glee TV show.)