I’m never been one to dwell on numbers, let alone age. But, when you’re hit with another year, your beliefs and attitudes are suddenly eclipsed by thoughts of your own mortality, desperately dwelling on everything you thought you’d have accomplished by now.
T-minus 10 seconds and counting. Your heart pounds heavier in your chest like it’s desperate to escape, ready to be set free, eager to see the world. With only a few moments remaining, time slows and you’re left wondering what got you to this point.
It was 8 years in the making.
When we met in high school, the world was different – we were different. Naive, young, and filled with ambition. We were unlike any of the others. We both knew what we wanted, how we wanted it, and how we would get it. In many ways, it seemed like a perfect match. Despite the obvious differences we shared, I always felt we were far more similar than we were dissimilar.
When I hit Toronto soil approximately this time last year, I made a promise to myself that not only would this be the time that I succeeded, but that I would do whatever it takes to reach my goals. Much like Rocky, I would make this city my ultimate triumph. To do this, I decided that it would take a certain amount of sacrifice on my part. For the most part, Toronto isn’t a cheap city to live in. To do so would mean I’d be giving up a lot of regular pleasures I’d grown accustomed to, but it would all be worth it.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t take the time to share some of the amazing things to happen to me in the last year. It’s true – humanity faced some incredible challenges in 2016 and, at times, it seemed like we were up against insurmountable odds. But, we’re nothing if not resilient and I’m a firm believer that if you want positivity to reign supreme throughout the world, then it’s your duty to first look inward and find the best parts of yourself. If we can’t see the light around us, how can we ever expect to see it anywhere else?
