Rolland With The Punches: Farewell, 2014!

A two part blog.
Part 1: very short so here it is.

It's that time of year again. New Years is right around the corner. Gym memberships are up and produce stands can't keep enough veggies and fruits in stock. Everyone makes themselves, or others, promises of doing better or starting over. Well, I don't make New Year's resolutions. Never have and I most likely never will. I don't need to wait for 365 days to end to realize I need to get something on track; be it my weight, my health, my job or whatever it is people make resolutions about.
I need to write. I am a writer. Or so I say. Writers write. Period. I use writer's block as an excuse often, but no more. Even if I can't think of something "artistic" to say, I still have a million thoughts running through my head at any given time. Stephen King says you have to dedicate your time to writing. At least one hour every day. Just sit and write. So, that is what I will do from now on. It won't be the same time every day because my schedule doesn't allow that much routine, but it will be an hour, and it will be every day. Maybe it will be a blog, maybe a journal entry or hopefully, the beginnings of something worth publishing.
I know I am to write a book before this life of mine ends and now is the time. I don't know what I will write because every time I start something I run out of flow. But, I know I have something to say. I just need to figure out how and what. And I'm going to start today on December 17. I could wait until January 1st, but how many great ideas will slip by me in two weeks time?
I went to an impromptu theatre thing last night. I'm not really an art person. I respect the creative and I am all for the arts. I just usually don't get it. However, the first performance was a girl talking about writer's block and sitting at a computer screen and type, type, typing then backspacing it all. The piece was about staying creative in whatever way you can. I understood something artsy for the first time so I guess the least I can do is apply it.
So, whatever it is you need to do, start today. Start now. Quit using life as an excuse. We'd never accomplish anything if we ran on life's time. Life has a way of getting in the way sometimes so we need to take our own initiatives.

Part 2: A recap of 2014
I want to recap the last year. Just to show how much can truly happen and how much 365 days can be.
When I told my family and friends I was moving to China to teach they asked a million questions, but the biggest one was, "For how long?" At the time, one year did not seem so long. I'd just lived the best year of my life and it flew so quickly. I told everyone, "It's only a year. If I love it great. If I don't, then it's only a year."
I'm now approaching my sixth month in China. It feels like year three some days. I was talking with a friend from home the other day and he asked what I like most about China and what I miss most about home. Answering both questions was quite difficult. Of course I miss American food, but I love Chinese food, too. I miss the calmness of small town life, but I love that I see or experience something completely new each day in Beijing. Of course I miss my family and friends at home, but I have a family here as well that I can't imagine leaving. Not to mention the 100-plus students I have grown quite attached to.
I'm at the age of truly growing up. It's physical, emotional, and intellectual. I'm just developing in all sorts of ways. It's a strange state to be in and it's really difficult most days, but then there are the days that it all makes sense.
No one ever said growing up would be easy and I'd give my life to have Kindergarten nap time back on most days, but this is how it works. It would be easier if we could all be Benjamin Button and start life old and get younger. Instead we have no choice but to grow up and get it together. It's different for everyone and most days I feel really behind, but then I remember how many memories I have and that beats a master's degree or a family any day.
Last week when I thought I was dying from my kidney infection I was miserably homesick. Aside from my immediate family, I've heard from few people back home on a regular basis. I'm 14 hours ahead and they are 14 hours behind. It is not easy to schedule FaceTimes and Skypes. Distance and time is never an excuse for me, though. I try my damnedest to speak with my family at least once a week. Even messaging is hard when one is rising and the other is going to sleep. Waiting for a text message is often at least a six-hour wait. However, this is something I chose. It doesn't mean it is easy and pain free, it's just the way it is. I feel guilty for being unable to communicate and interact with the people I love regularly and for running to a life that is an ocean and several countries away. Luckily, I know several other people here who have done the same thing and my boss tells me not to feel guilty because now my family has braggin' rights and an excuse to visit China if they want. Also, that it takes a certain kind of person to do what I'm doing. Somedays it's a toss up between whether or not that certain kind of person is brave or insane.
All that being said, start things immediately; stop procrastinating. Secondly, make memories; big and small. I have done incredible things and seen unbelievable places, but sometimes it's the small things we remember most. Lastly, and most importantly to me, in the words of Sinatra, "You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seems and life gets more exciting with each passing day... For as rich as you are, it's much better by far to be young at heart." : )

Happy early New Year, y'all!
Here is my year in photos (mostly)!