Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Moments so dear
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure - Measure A Year?

So this is my last post of 2007. I am going to be out of town spending New Years with M and hopefully a couple other lifestyle friends. I can't believe that 2008 is right around the corner.

Usually the end of the year is a bittersweet time to me. It's sad to say good bye to one year but exciting to see what the next one holds. Most of the time I am more than excited to see a new year come but honestly, 2007 was a great year for me. It had some ups and downs but overall I can officially say it will go in the books as "a good year".

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Journeys To Plan
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure The Life
Of A Woman Or A Man

It's hard to believe that I had so much happen in just 365 days. I rode a plane for the first time when I went to Orlando for vacation and ended up riding one 3 more times, jetting around the country. I actually really like flying now. I see why people love to travel so much. Its way better than driving somewhere. My school year got better and I didn't drop out or transfer like I had originally planned to do. I can't believe that only 4 months stand between me and graduation. Graduation itself isn't really that exciting but the freedom of being able to finally go and do what I want with life is. I went to Black Beat for the first time this year and I feel like I have forever been changed. I feel like I left there with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation. And the people! I met so many wonderful people in 2007 that I feel like I must have more than my fair share. Even when I am in my loneliest moments, there is always a friend to perk me up. I finally quit my job that I had been working for well over 8 years. I was starting to feel stagnant but after I quit, things seemed to move a little faster. Sometimes you really have to take a step back to take 2 forward.

The year has brought some set backs with relationships and finances but nothing that was devastating and I feel like I am going into next year more prepared and wiser. I feel closer to God this year. Something resolved in my soul that God wasn't in churches and Easter dresses and collection plates. He was here, with me. I don't feel the need to explain myself to as many people because I feel more at peace with myself. I have been fighting myself, my submission, my self esteem, my flaws and my gifts for years but I think this year I got tired of the fight and came to appreciate myself more. I was at the store with my momma this week and she was talking to one of her friends when the woman looked at me and said "She is a beautiful girl". I beamed. What makes this so special is the fact that the same thing happened again, a different store and a different woman but the same words. I have never really seen myself to be physically attractive but I have learned to smile more and hold my head up higher. I think I am pretty great. LOL

In Truths That She Learned
Or In Times That He Cried
In Bridges He Burned
Or The Way That She Died

This year brought M back into my life, which has been a tremendous blessing. He allows me to sleep on his sofa to sleep on when I need to hide and his arms when I need to be comforted. He's been my biggest cheerleader when it comes to exploring more in the lifestyle. I will always be grateful to him for supporting me in my trip to California when so many other of my "friends" told me not to go. This year also brought me Orpheus and Indigo. There is something to the old adage, "Don't look, it will find you". I certainly didn't go looking and even when it did find me I didn't want to be bothered. But I am happy I have met them. I am looking forward to seeing them again in the upcoming year. My hope is to be a more permanent fixture in their lives and them in mine. This year brought Sexy into my life. I am so happy to have met her. When I had just about given up on the black women in the lifestyle in the area, she really made me feel comfortable and feel that I was just fine the way I was. It's so rare that you can meet open minded people who share so many similarities with you. I always enjoy my chat with her. Ohh and while I had known her before, Diva has been special to me this year. Talk about a cheerleader! She is a counselor so she is always interested in my schoolwork and she has been a wonderful confidant in lifestyle issues. Just a beautiful and positive sister. She is someone I believe everyone should meet, just once, if only in passing. She truly has a service heart.

I find myself even thanking God for the not so positive people I have met or associated with this year. They have a saying that the first person you kiss at midnight on New Years is the person you will be with the next year. This year that person was D and man, that saying rang true this year. We weren't together like I had hoped for but as the year winds up I am glad we had the good times that we had. I am glad we had the bad times too. They taught me some hard-fast, hard learned lessons. He had to move out of my heart to make room for someone else. Yeah, I get it now. As for A, I learned that the devil comes in many shapes, sizes and colors. As my Grandma used to say, "Scratch a liar, find a thief". And that I most certainly did. Some people are just predators, plain and simple. He talked pretty and I got some good books from him, but in the end, I was disappointed to find that after months of defending him that he really was the creep people said him to be. Sometimes I give people too much credit. It's not always a bad thing but in this instance it was. Sad thing is that I think we have only scratched the surface when it comes to him. I still pray for him anyhow. I still wish him no ill will.

It's Time Now - To Sing Out
Though The Story Never Ends
Let's Celebrate
Remember A Year In The Life Of Friends

But what a great year this has been! And what a great year 2008 will be!

Oh You Got To You Got To Remember The Love
You Know That Love Is A Gift From Up Above
Share Love, Give Love, Spread Love
Measure, Measure Your Life In Love.

~*~