31st

Today is the last day of the year. I'm usually not a fan of "best of the year" or "worst of the year". I don't make New Year's resolutions. The end of the year (or the beginning for that matter) is completely arbitrary, and there are days that are more meaningful to me (my birthday being the main one, if I'm going to start counting from somewhere, that's it). But 2013 was a good year, so I'm going to make a small exception.

I learnt a lot in 2013. Worked hard, and learnt a lot more than I thought I would. I helped write a paper, I sat down and actually did some real science, and it was a worthwhile experience. I met intelligent people, hard working people, people who were much better at what we did than I am, and they took me in and taught me and helped me along. I'm grateful to them for it.

I worked hard. Sometimes very hard. And I didn't love every minute of it, but I learnt that I could do it. I could work hard and I was able to get what I wanted done.

I made new friends, and met lots of new people who may end up being friends in the near future. I had fun. I had so much fun. I also overdid it a few times, but I have no regrets (I've apologized enough to the people involved, I'm fairly sure).

2013 was also a hard year. A person close to me was ill, and I couldn't be with them, and that doesn't stop sucking however many times it happens. Working was good, but it was hard on me. I was not able to enjoy it as much as I should have, perhaps. A few times I took too long to do things, and that hurt me. But it all worked out in the end: illness was cured (hopefully it won't return), I got results for my work, and I did do things in the end, which worked out really well for me.

No, really, 2013 was a fantastic year (or maybe I'm just happy with how it turned out now).

And as I said above, I don't make New Year's resolutions, but perhaps I'll make some wishes.

I hope I don't hurt anyone in 2014, that I'm able to make the people around me happy (or just plain indifferent).

I hope I have the guts to do what's best for me.

I hope no one close to me gets ill (I would wish for universal health, but that is highly unlikely).

I hope I keep writing, more often than I am now, and reading, and listening to music, and enjoying those things others offer me.

And I'm done.

To all of those who read, hope you've had a good 2013, and if you haven't, hope 2014 is a lot better. Enjoy the day, it's the last one of this year. And enjoy beginning a brand new year tomorrow.

H