A bamboo and a spark of hope.

Change.

The only thing that is constant in this world. And perhaps, the one thing that was constant in my 2009. This is a tribute to the people and events that brought about changes in my life during the previous year.

People.

People that you know come and go. But for whatever reason why, you know that they came to change a part of you. They came maybe to let you experience happiness, or to teach you the true meaning of selflessness. Maybe to let you see that hidden courage inside of you that you didn't know was there. Yes, people that you know come and go, but they come for a reason and go by leaving you a lesson.

During the previous year I've said goodbye to some people who have been my source of happiness and hope for a while. And by parting ways I knew that my life would never be the same again. At first I thought they are bound to leave a hole. But it turned out that the goodbyes were to give way to new acquaintances. New people easily filled those holes as if there weren't really holes to fill in the first place. This doesn't mean that the old ones are easily forgotten. It was more like transforming goodbyes into something new, flourished by beautiful memories and helpful lessons of the past.

Yes, my life has never been the same again since then. Once in my life I have built dreams with people I hoped would be with me forever, only to wake up in the world of reality that nothing's permanent in this world. Something is bound to change. The only thing that should remain constant is how we welcome change. Be like a bamboo. A bamboo survives by bending with the wind. You can survive by adapting to every change that comes your way, even to life's most unexpected twist!

Events.

I had my own share of ups and downs in 2009. I won't deny it. The previous year was a difficult one not only for me but also for those whom I hold most dear. I am sure most people have had the same experiences we've gone through: suffered the pain of losing a loved one, have witnessed your once perfect home crumble, have had broken ties with friends, have seen your dreams at the brink of jeopardy, and have almost mastered the painful art of letting go of a lost love, or a lost dream.

The fact that life isn't as perfect as each of us wants it to be has been reiterated to me over and over and over during the past year. Same as the fact that a person may not always get what she wants no matter how bad she wants it. This year, however, I am starting with a clean slate, armed with the most effective means of retribution I could think of- hope. I am hopeful that with this fresh start, things are going to be different, and 2010 will be a great year for me. If everything is just a matter of perspective, then I choose to have a great one.

Let us all be hopeful this 2010! If you have had countless of unsuccessful resolutions for the past several years, may this be the one you can perfectly stick to, despite whatever it is you've gone through . :)