Lessons from the Year 2018
The year 2018
has been unique to say the least. Watching a recent year in review piece on the
news was quite troubling. So many horrific things happened in the past year in
the United States-gun massacres, massive wildfires, devastating hurricanes, terrorist attacks, to
mention but a few.
I began my first
blog, the words of Hope, donning the pen name Esperanza Habla, which means “Hope
Speaks” in Spanish. When I refer to myself as my pen name, I always say, “I’m
Hope Speaks, and I have a lot to say.”
The gift of
writing, and of having an audience, is not something I take for granted. It is
not something I take lightly either. I have not written as many pieces this
year, in comparison to years gone by. I have not written the normal, the
mundane, the banal. I wrote instead about things that I have been compelled to
say-the substantial, the crucial, the moral imperative.
The majority of
things I have written and shared this year have taken me months to complete. To
have an outlet to speak my thoughts and raise my voice is a wonderful thing for
me. More so, have a platform to speak my values, to share my views, to
hopefully enlighten, educate, and to bring about change, that is invaluable to
me.
2018 was not an
easy year for many people, for a myriad of reasons. It is with a feeling of
hope that we look to the New Year, to put this year behind us and begin anew in
the future. Here then is a look at the year that has been, and the lessons I
learned in 2018.
·
A
super blue blood moon is super rare and super cool
·
Nothing
will change in this country, in this world, if we do not create a dialogue,
communicating and listening to one another.
·
To
quote a line from “Hamilton”, this is not a moment, it’s the movement. The world
will never be the same. It is important for everyone to share their story with
the world, if they so choose-the cold, unvarnished truth, the entirety of their
story. Many stories shared include a powerful, empowering sentence of just two words:
Me Too.
·
In
the recent U.S. midterm elections, a record number of women were elected to
public office. The world has changed, and it can only get better from here. There
are phenomenal women all around you. You just have to look.
·
I
have a genuine need, desire, yearning to learn new things.
·
While
I have started, I have a long way to in the project of documenting my dreams.
·
I
never knew I needed one. Still, anyone that has a website must now have a
privacy policy.
·
My
spirit animal is a unicorn. The fictional animal is the embodiment of my life. It explains and symbolizes my sexual orientation, which many do not believe exists. Unicorns exist, and we are more numerous than you can imagine. The unicorn is a symbol of validation, a spirit animal, and a badge of honor.
·
So
much harm has been done to the United States since the current “President” took
office January 201, 2016. It can be repaired, it can be made right. One trend
in the midterm elections last month was that people voted their values-they
voted for people whose values aligned with their own, regardless of political
party. We put so much power into the hands of our politicians, many of which
wield their power as a three year old who was just given access to release
nuclear weapons on the entire planet. Before a single day in office is served,
politicians take an oath of office. An integral part art of that oath of office
should be a pledge to do no harm.
·
I
will not publish anything until it is triple perfect. This is why I spend
months on a project to perfect it before I publish it.
·
I
accomplished a great milestone this year: publishing my sixth book.
·
I
discovered my sexual orientation, demisexual, two years ago. To be in the Queer
category of the LGBTQ acronym, and still be heterosexual, is an interesting
place to be. I can see
perspectives in the straight community, as well as perspectives in the LGBTQ
communities. Let me give you an introduction to these rich communities.
·
The
attack and murder on Matthew Shepard was an awakening to a reality in the world
that I did not know, up until that point in my life-that what you are can get
you killed. It opened my eyes to the realities of hate and homophobia. It woke
me up, and woke up the world.
·
Twenty-five
years doing anything is a milestone achievement.
·
Christmas
is truly my favorite time of year. The movies, the music, the tree, the
Christmas lights, the hot chocolate, it all makes me feel blissful.
·
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, to share
good tidings of great joy, and to share news from the year that has been.
·
I have seen some wonderful movies and TV shows this year,
read some wonderful books, and heard some wonderful music. Here are but a few
of my favorites.
2018
has been a year to remember, that is certain. However, there are many things
that have happened throughout the year that we would love to forget.
Let us
then look to 2019 with wonder and joy, with the persistence and determination to make the world a
better place, and with the promise of hope. We are all in this together. Let’s
make it a great year.
Peace
and blessings,
-E
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