This isn’t just the end of the year; it is the end of a decade. Ten years ago I was a ten and a half year-old kid and had absolutely no idea what I had in store for me. If you were to tell me then that I would grow up to be the captain of my high school wrestling team, go on a service trip to Guatemala, matriculate to Boston College, and then spend five months in Spain and traveling around Europe I would have told you to stop smoking whatever it was you had in your pipe. So much has happened throughout this decade and I am forever grateful because it has helped make me the man I am today. But I think that my time abroad has had the biggest impact on my life. I now see everything with the utmost clarity (hence the name of the blog), have a tremendous amount of confidence, and am not afraid of anything.

If there is one thing I learned the most in my experience here (other than the language) is how to live. I can’t just sit around and wait for things to happen. There is no such thing as destiny; there is no such thing as fate; for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction (Newton’s laws of mechanics). I’m not going to stumble upon my dream job. The girl of my dreams is not magically going to knock on my door. I’m not going to wake up tomorrow with millions of dollars in my pocket. My health and well-being doesn’t come with a guarantee. If there is one thing that I learned from my time here in Madrid, is that I need to stop fearing failure and rejection and just go for it. I can’t keep waiting on the world to change, I need to go out and change it myself. I will be turning 21 in February, and I think its time for me to start my life. That is why I have made a list of priorities (not New Year’s resolutions) that I WILL accomplish and/or hold true to in 2010.

1.) Family. If there is one thing that I learned most about being away from home, especially for Christmas, is that you cannot replace your family. They should always be number one in my life and I love them tremendously. They are the reason for my existence. I am forever grateful for my loving family and in 2010 I will make sure they understand my love and thanks for them.

2.) School. More than halfway in to my Boston College career, things are starting to fall into place. I know what I want to study; I love Spanish and Psychology. My classes are starting to get deeper into my major and into more specific topics. I only have 3 more semesters left here and it is time to buckle down and keep my ear to the grindstone. I have ideas of what I want to do after I graduate, but that part of my life plan is still unclear. I will make more of an effort to seek out career opportunities, especially now that we are in the current economic crisis.

3.) Music. I would love music to be my career, but I know in the current economic situation along with the modern music industry and iTunes, it is very difficult to make it as a musician. Music is the love of my life; it is practically my religion. By May of 2011, I will have finished my own record of my own songs. In this new decade I plan to grow not just as a guitar player, but as a musician. The only way someone can truly know who I am, is to listen to my music.

4.) Social Life. As I stated earlier, I only have 3 semesters left at Boston College. Next semester I will be living off campus with a great opportunity at autonomy. I love my friends and they will always be my partners in crime. As I finish my time here at BC, I will make more of an effort to meet new people and share my life with them. Also what Europe has showed me is that its time for me to mature my style/wardrobe. No more sweatpants and dirty t-shirts to class; it is time for me to look good. If you look good you feel good they say. It is time I take control of my social life and be the life of the party, not the random attendee. It’s time to go out with a bang.

5.) Physical Health. Last year I attempted to run the Boston Marathon. I did not finish and ended at mile 17 with serious leg cramps. This year it WILL be different. Not only will I finish the Boston Marathon, but I will be in better shape than I was during my peak years wrestling in high school. I got my hands on the P90X workout routine and I plan on not just changing my physical health, but my lifestyle. Living off-campus will give me the opportunity to cook for myself and be more health conscious with food. I have all of the materials needed for P90X, I just need to stick to it. In 2010, not only will I finish the Boston Marathon, but I will be in the best shape/health of my life.

This isn’t going to be easy. It will take lots of time and effort to accomplish all of my goals, but it WILL happen. My time abroad has helped me see clearer and I know exactly what I have to do. In 2010, I will be a different man. I’ll still be myself for you who know me, just a more confident, driven, and clearer man.

Bring it on 2010!

“Oh but if I take my heart’s advice / I should assume it’s still unready / I’m in repair, I’m not together but I’m getting there.”