To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.

I love Ulysses, the poem by Lord Alfred Tennyson. That poem embodies the spirit of fight in life. The passion that is needed to see through the end of a bad day or a horrible year. Yes, life has been difficult, but there are things to be done, people to meet, places to see and lives to live through.

One of my friends left Atlanta last week and another desperately wants to go to Atlanta. Me, I am in Charleston, embarking on a journey I had never intended to take. Today was OK right upto the part when I came home. I am still not used to having people leave my life, and its sad, disgraceful and selfish of me, but it still breaks my heart when one of my friends is preparing to embark on a journey that leaves me behind, all alone. I am scared of being alone here. This place was starting to feel comfortable, its amazing how much one can regress in one evening!!

I sincerely wish my friend, the deserter ;) shall we call him, all the success and happiness in the world. Everyone has to find their life and happiness, I hope you find yours. Forgive me for my whiny behaviour, its difficult for me - for a lot of reasons. But, I really appreciate the value of your company and hope that things work out!

And to yet another friend, who patiently heard me out while neglecting to tell me of her own woes, thank you. I am truly grateful and hope that I can be as good a friend to you as you have been to me today.

The great thing about "progressing" ( if I were in Germany, I am told ;)) in life is that you get to meet a lot of great people. The flip side is that you say goodbye to a lot of close friends - for a myriad of reasons. One of the biggest reasons for my hating Charleston is my realization that my childhood is finished. This is now *my* time. I have to make all my dreams come true. Everyone is truly alone in that. You have to follow your destiny. No one else can walk your steps for you.

I hope I don't let my dreams die. I hope I achieve all that I planned on achieving many years ago. Hopefully I will still continue with the lucky streak of making one really awesome friend a year. Hopefully I will travel the world with a backpack and no money in the bank. As the good poet said, hopefully I'll re-gain my courage to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.