Two Thousand and Eleven

So here it is. My yearly post about the year gone by. Except this time, it seems way too fast that this has happened. I remember sitting down this time last year, writing a year-review. It feels so odd that 12 months have passed so dramatically fast. Last I remember, I was unemployed, slipping across the black ice that had formed due to too much snow outside my house on the way to the gym and terribly desperate to make something of my life.

If I had to describe this year in two words I'd say it was turbulent and draining. I know these are very negative words, but it's very true. Personally, it's been just that. I've felt more tired and more confused than ever before. I've had to make decisions that I didn't want to, say things I never thought I would say, and see various relationships I have dissolve right in front of my eyes without the energy to save them. On the other hand, I found solace in developing relationships with friends and family I never thought I would.

2011 will always be the year that I started my first full-time job. It will also be the year that I almost lost hope of finding a job, and then getting about 5 offers on the same day. And that is something I will always be very happy about.

This year definitely marks itself as the "bad news year".. There was a time when I would always read the newspapers (not the metro, but the Guardian or something with "actual" news, as opposed to repetitive stories), watch the news and follow a variety of news-esque websites religiously. But this year, every time I managed to read any articles, it just revolved around what a mess this world is in - from financial crises to apparent dictators being overthrown and killed, to the killing of the world's "biggest terrorist" (which let's all face, was all completely shady), to natural disasters and famine, to riots across the world and David Cameron still being allowed to lead Britain to an inevitable (and very fast) end.

I spent so much of this year in fear and worry for the world and what it is fast becoming. And that is, a mess. It's becoming a total and utter mess. And the worst thing is that 2012 will only bring worse things. But more on that later.

I think this year I definitely "grew up".. I know I always harp on about how I was mature from a young age, which is still very true, but I think I started understanding so many other things this year. For one, I understood the disgusting world of finance, then the reality of working which hasn't been so bad, but the stress it brings is unreal. Along with that, I understood what I wanted out of my life, at least the direction in which I should be working towards - career wise, and everything else too. Yes, that means marriage.

And finally, this year brought with it a lot of hurtful but raw truth. There were so many explosive moments of truth, that were not only painful but completely necessary. Relationships were strained but they found their places in the end - not the same place, but a new place.

All in all, I think 2011 flew by too fast. I will remember it as the year without a holiday or rather a year with many failed holiday plans. But most of all, I will remember it as the year that had no pauses.

I wish you all a very good year ahead. May it be filled with all types of experiences, growth and love.

Here's a song to end my 2011 with.