2010: Lessons, memories and other important things

I know a lot of people say this at the end of every year but I mean it, 2010 has been different, even life-changing. Coming to the end of it feels like closing the final chapter to a gripping novel full of excitement, laughter, love, loss, tragedy, regrets and everything that makes a best-seller. The only difference is, it has not just been a story, it has been real life, and at the centre of it all there has been one main character, me. This might scare you a little, but this year I’m not wasting my time sitting down to write a long list of resolutions that will probably not be achieved. Instead, I’m taking the time to look back on the memories of 2010 and most importantly, the lessons I will take with me into the new year.

I have learned that it’s okay if you don’t have it all figured out.You may not know where you want to be five years from now but that shouldn’t scare you. See it as an adventure and take the journey of discovery. Just don’t sit in your couch and hope it will appear to you in a vision. Stop kidding yourself, do something with your life, you might just stumble upon your dream.

This year I got a job as a blogger for The Best of Zambia.Apart from the fact that I love writing and I love Zambia, I didn’t have the first idea about blogging. I had no plans to be a blogger and I must have given my supervisors something to laugh about after my job interview. But somehow I got the job and I love every bit of it. And since I have not been thrown out with the trash yet, I reckon I’m not doing too badly.

Nothing is impossible, it just seems so for a while — one day, it will be possible.Attending the world cup in South Africa was an amazing experience for me because I think if I were to be magically transported back to the past, say twenty years ago, and I told someone that one day Africa would host the world cup — they would collapse in a fit of laughter. It seemed impossible then but look at us now.

Never take life for granted.It doesn’t matter if you believe in a life after this one or if you believe that there is nothing afterword, the simple fact is, regardless of what we believe, we are all going to die one day, and that one day could be any day. This year has had its painful losses for me. Death is a terrible and painful thing, but it humbles us and reminds us that we are human. Make the most of everyday.

People say life is short, but I think the truth is, life gives us enough time.We have enough time to make choices and if we make the wrong ones we will have to live with them. I made some really bad choices in 2010 and I have had to wake up each day and face the consequences. You can’t change your past wrongs, but you can change yourself, your attitudes and your beliefs. You can be a better person.

Some of the best gifts in life don’t come wrapped and usually don’t have a price tag.Spending the Christmas holiday with my family has reminded me of the really important things, like unconditional love. Your family may not be perfect, you may drive each other crazy and say hurtful things to each other, but to know that at the end of the day you can always come home, that is a gift you can’t put a price on.

Me (middle) with my sister Kasie and brother Alfie[/caption]

Me and my boyfriend Sizwe[/caption]

I’ve learned that friends are like cheese.Some get better with time but some are only good for the moment. When you know the difference you will realise when to let go of whom. You may have lost some friends over the last year, don’t worry too much, life will go on. Learn the lessons meant to be learned. Be a better friend to those still around, and those that will come in the new year.

Most importantly, I have learned that Mr Perfect does exist!Sometimes it’s just hard to see him because of all his imperfections. That simply means that there is someone special out there for you. But you must remember that he is human and that horses can be really hard to come by, so forgive him if he doesn’t show up riding on a fine stallion to wisk you away. Put your unrealistic expectations aside for a minute and you might be surprised, because the truth is, love has no guidebook, it breaks all the rules. I have been blessed enough to have met someone extremely special this year. He is certainly not perfect but then again, neither am I, so that’s perfectly fine. Give love a chance because all the hype you’ve heard about it is actually true.

As for the new year, I hope to make even better memories! Happy new year!