Goodbye 2011.

It seems that for almost everyone, that this year hasn't been the best. It's the worst write-up I've seen in my life, actually. About 2% of my timeline on Twitter enjoyed 2011, and the reasons for those were because they met celebrities or were chuffed that 'Steps got back together'.

This has been a defining year for me as a person (as cheesy as that sounds!); I've gained and lost a bunch of friends, fallen in love, fallen back out of love, said goodbye to my Papa and learned not to take things for granted. This year has shown me a lot of love and a lot of hate, and I would definitely have done things a little differently for selfish reasons, but I wouldn't have not spoke to that guy or not fallen out with that friend, because, at the end of the day, I wouldn't have really known what it is to fall in love with someone or lose a close friend and feel all that anger and hurt. Those are things that make life worth living and at least I'll know what to expect the next time around.

Today I've been bombarded with folk saying 'how can you justify making a fresh start just because the date has changed', 'everything will be just the same next year'. Not for me, it won't. Because I'm getting off my arse and changing it all. I won't have another year like this one, because I can't repeat this year over again. Different doesn't mean it'll be any better; it'll just be more. I'm grateful for another year and albeit without someone I love, I'll survive. I still have memories that'll get me through. People who look at 2012 as a new start are the hopefuls, the ones who want change and the ones who will make it happen. The people who moan about such hope are the ones who'll end up repeating their mistakes and never being happy with what life gives them.

Expect something different to happen, hope for it. Why not? What have you got to lose? Nothing. Do something crazy and be happy about it; follow or change your ambitions, look for a better job, make new friends, go to gigs, listen to new music, discover a bit more about yourself... All these things are actually possible. You can do these things, and I know, because I have.

I've realised this could possibly be the cheesiest blog I've ever written, but I needed to write it. I'll look back on it a year from now and think about how different life was now. It may be simpler now, it may be boring, but I've never had a year like this one and I'm never going to again. That's what I look forward to. Not achieving pointless resolutions, not wallowing on lost friendships or unrequited love. Just freshness, new goals and more to achieve.

You've only got one life, I suggest you live it.