2009 was a year full of blessings, downfalls, and self-discovery. If there was ever a definition for the phrase “a roller coaster ride of emotions,” it would be the past year in my life. I went through some of the toughest times I have ever faced emotionally. I had to make decisions that changed the rest of my life. I had to see through seemingly impenetrable walls and force my way into reality, with or without those who love me by my side. Life lessons were learned. Things were lost, but other things were gained. Passion was discovered, while other aspiring hopes were finally deemed false. Trust me when I say that lying to yourself isn’t worth it in the end. The only truth to life is that there are no boundaries.


“All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.” - T.E. Lawrence

“You cannot dream yourself into a character: you must hammer and forge yourself into one.” - Henry D. Thoreau

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt


Over time, I learned that the limits I had set up for myself were pointless. Limits aren’t meant to be set for your mental longevity. Limits are meant to be broken down and battered with a boat’s oar. (You’ll be able to understand this reference later.) No matter what you force yourself to believe, there will always be more. Life offers too many chances for progress and new grace that you simply cannot bar yourself down with the belief that you have reached your limit. Boundaries are impossible. In order to achieve any sort of dream that you may have, you have to dive headfirst into the seemingly impossible pool that lies beyond any boundaries blocking your way. This is what life is all about, whether or not people choose to believe it.

So, I’ll leave it at that. I’m going to slowly glaze over my 2009 with each upcoming blog. Hopefully by the time I’m in Hershey for the last Honor Society show of the decade, I’ll have finished my reminiscent thoughts.

Love. Always and forever. It’s all we have.
-Katie