My 2010

This time of the year the internet is full of posts about "The best of" lists etc etc. I thought I'd share a bit about what 2010 meant to me.

This year has been one of the best years of my life. It has been rough, it has been unpredictable and it has been unbelievably fun. 2010 has been my year of friends and fun, of taking risks and following dreams. This year I learnt that it is OK if things change without my consent and that not all change is bad. I learnt that you do not have to meet a person in real life for them to change yours, and that you can have the best friends that you have never met. I have seen the kindness of strangers in support of people they barely know, and I have seen best friends become enemies.

In 2010 I learnt that although a lot of choices in my life might not have been the best, those choices made me the person that I am today. I have learnt that mistakes can never ruin your life unless you let them. I have learnt that a broken heart does heal. I have learnt what the word "love" truly means.

Love is one of those strange concepts that a lot of people throw around without thinking what it means. Think about what you are saying the next time you exclaim: "I love those shoes!". I have learnt that love is not a two way street, it is not a give and take concept. To truly love, is to give without hesitation or restraint. I learnt that love has nothing to do with romance. When I exclaimed loudly and passionately that I do not believe in love I was mistaken. I believe in love, I live the philosophy of love every day.

This year I have met people who have changed my life forever. Some of them I only spoke to once or twice, some of them have become part of my closest friends. This year I have laughed and cried. I saw two of my best friends get married, two people who go together like curry and rice. I got to share in their joy because seeing them so happy made me happy. I had the opportunity to tell them how much they mean to me.

This year I got to follow my dream. I am writing a novel, and although the process is a lot harder than I thought it would be (and I was not under the impression that it would be a walk in the park), I have found a way to express myself. I also got to meet my writing circle, people who through their support and encouragement carried me through the more difficult times behind the keyboard.

2010 was my year of Twitter (of course I was going to mention this). Through Twitter I discovered a whole new world filled with people who were a) not idiots and b) sincere (for the most part). I realised that people who should be strangers to me, became a part of my life. When I miss their morning greetings, or our daily random conversations about the most arbitrary stuff I feel as if a part of my routine has been skipped, as if I'm wearing only one sock.

These people became close friends, and one day I want to travel to the US, Europe and the UK to meet some of them. Hell, my first trip for 2011 is to the other side of my country to meet some of them.

This year I also learnt to say thank you, and I want to say thank you again. To each and every person who inspired me, helped me and supported me. Thank you to those who put up with my moods and tantrums, when the nicotine, caffeine and anti depressants just did not help any more. Thank you for believing in me, encouraging me and sometimes threatening me. Thank you, for being my friends.

2011 is going to be my year again, better yet: 2011 is going to be my dream year!

And yes, I am going to leave you with my "Best of" list, because I can.

Best book of 2010: The Passage by Justin Cronin
Best debut of 2010: Spellwright by Blake Charlton
Best Audio Book of 2010: I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
Most anticipated book of 2010: Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

Best Film of 2010: Inception
Most anticipated Film of 2010: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Best Musical Score in a film: Inception
Best Graphics and effects: Alice in Wonderland
Favourite Animation of 2010: How to Train Your Dragon

Favourite Game of 2010: Dead Rising 2
Most anticipated game of 2010: Final Fantasy XIII

Favourite News event of 2010: "Don't touch me on my studio"
Spine tingling moment of 2010: SA's first goal in the 2010 Fifa World Cup when a whole country cheered at the same time

I hope you all have a happy New Year, may 2011 bring you only pleasure and opportunity!