A New Year

It is a sun shiny day. The sky is a clear blue but it is a little “cold” by Orlando standards, a balmy 5°C. Despite the coolness of the air, it is good to see the sun. And, really, when I know that it’s -14°C (-24°C with the wind chill factored in) back in Sherbrooke, I’m not going to complain.

I’ve been travelling across Canada and the United States since December 10. It has been a long time away from home. Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, Calgary and Orlando (in that order) have been the major stops along the way. It has been a time of reflection, of stepping out of my comfort zone and, in a way, coming back into who I am.

Life is a funny thing. We never know where we’re going to, necessarily, end up. Sometimes we think we do, but that’s not always the case. I moved to Sherbrooke for love, and when the love faltered, when love was at its weakest ebb, I had a decision to make: Do I stay or do I leave?

After much consideration, I’ve decided to stay.

I could easily pack up my belongings, move to a new city and start all over again. But that requires time and energy that I’d rather put in to my writing, painting and music. In the two years that I’ve lived in Sherbrooke, great things have happened. I’ve exhibited my paintings. I’ve managed to spend more time at the piano and composing. Best of all, and after a lot of hard work, my first novel was released in November 2010 by Lazy Day Publishing. When I allow myself to look honestly at my situation, and to be honest with myself, I have blossomed where I was planted. Now it’s time to stay the course, to buckle down and get to work. In a word: To keep on keeping on.

I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions, but there is a certain hopefulness that I feel this time of year. It is a time of hopefulness, a reminder of where I’ve been, where I am, and where I am hoping to go. Anything is possible, and that is why I cling steadfast to my dreams, no matter how silly they may seem.

And lately I’ve been thinking about what Gandhi said: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” So I will keep on this path, keep doing what I do. I believe in dreams. I believe in me.