I've lived 22 years. That is 8,030 days, 1,144 weeks, and 264 months. I've lost a lot in those years and I've gained even more. I've traveled to and fro, from west to east, up and down, from place to place, just about everywhere. I've seen a lot of great things in my life, and I have witnessed many tragedies. I've met many great people and listened to many of their great stories. I've shaken the hands of the rich and shared meals with the poor. I have held out my hand for assistance and I've stretched forth my hand to assist. I've experienced sorrow in the most beautiful of places and I've experienced joy in the darkest corners of the world. I've had everything I've ever loved taken away from me in mere seconds, and everything I've ever wanted given to me in an instant. I have been starved and I have been fed. I've had many things in abundance and I've also had to ration out. I've sought out wisdom and discovered many beautiful treasures in people, places, and things.

I have wept many times in my 22 years, and I have laughed even more. I've know liberty very well and I've known captivity even better. I know a little bit about everything but not a lot about one thing. But one thing I do know is that love is one of the greatest gifts that God has ever bestowed on mankind. Life isn't about rich, poor, fame, luxury, extravagance, freedom, oppression, black, or white. None of these components make up a great life, but a great life comes to the man or woman who successfully finds love and loves unconditionally. I have not lived a full life, but I have lived life to the fullest thus far.

Life is a journey that I do not believe is meant to be ventured alone. I am not the smartest man, nor am I the wisest, but the best advice I can give to anyone in this life, is to find that person to walk through life with. Find a person to laugh with and cry with. Find someone that will make this journey an adventure. So that when death comes, we will not have wasted time on the things in life that hold no value. So that death can be greeted with joy rather than sorrow. Happiness is out there, but it is not in the material things of this world.

This year is ending, and it cannot be denied that it has been a rough year for the most. I encourage all my readers to approach this new year with a new mindset. To do something they have never done before. To find their own happiness. To love harder this year than ever before. To go out and search diligently for love. To love when there is little benefit to loving. To love even when there is no benefit to loving at all.