2011 comes to an end...

...and while I am happy to celebrate it with my family, I do feel sad too that I can't celebrate it with Rocky yet.  Given how there is no such thing as gay marriage yet in this country, my relationship with Rocky will not be recognized as a valid union with a partner.  Ergo, I can't exactly tell my parents, "I'll be there tomorrow, because tonight I am celebrating New Year with MY family."

But I guess I shouldn't feel that bad about it.

There are many other people out there who are going through rougher times this year.  From friends who are far away from their families and are forced to celebrate the end of the year on their own, to people who are now going through a trying time of grief and recovery and feel that with everything wrong going on, why celebrate this last day of 2011?

We have all been blessed.

Whether it be small things such as finding a job we love doing, or being able to meet new friends who are not just superficial entities seeking to move themselves further up the social ladder, we have been blessed.  Whether it be having more than just a typical meal to eat tonight for the New Year feasting, or having someone to share the love and joy of your life with, we have been blessed.  Whether it is because we now live in a bigger, better place, or own more expensive, stylish things, or whether it is because we simply know that we survive another day carrying a disease we have no choice but to live with, or just have a reason to smile no matter how crappy the day can get.

We have all been blessed.

2011 is almost over.
Let us start 2012 by celebrating every single day that we have been given.
And living our lives to the fullest.

Happy New Year!