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Dear You,

When we met, I was standing in New Orleans' Jackson Square with two of my best friends and thousands of strangers. We yelled at the top of our lungs and we hugged and we smiled until you were a few hours old. Each day since then has been full of happy.

2012, you are still so young; you are wide open and full of potential. I have a lot of goals to accomplish this year, many projects to complete. No plans are set in stone and there are several possible paths I could take that would shape my future in countless different ways. If that's not exciting, I don't know what is.

2011 paved the way for you and I'll never forget it. It sounds strange to say 2011 might be the best year of my life, considering I lost my two remaining grandparents just hours apart, I lost my job, I gave up my home. This time last year, I was just getting settled. I planned to stay in one place, at one job, for 2-5 years. Then everything was uprooted - and I couldn't be happier about it.

In 2011, I learned about myself in the way only being truly alone in the desert can teach. I cut the ties of relationships that strangled me, strengthened those of value, and met countless new people who have affected my life in small (and not-so-small) ways. I went outside my comfort zone and pushed myself into situations I never otherwise would have experienced. I traveled to places I wasn't sure I'd ever see, and that has helped me learn how I want to travel in the future.

2011 was filled with new adventures, people, books and music, and I look forward to so much more of that in 2012. I have high hopes for you.

Love, Me