Let’s face it, if everyone’s life was always full of sunshine, there would be no darkness to gain strength from. There would be no tough times to help us grow as people – and there would be no light to walk towards after traveling through a very dark tunnel.

It is no secret that the ladder half of 2002 was a very dark time for me. Between changes in my home life, to having more demands placed on me then Superman, a tough financial situation – and a growing depression resulting from all of the above – the sunlight that warmed my life and heated my personality was covered in darkness. As a result, I became introverted, uninvolved – and downright nasty. Most of the things that normally occupied my life were on a self-inflicted hiatus, many of my friends did not hear from me – and most of my time was spent simply existing and contemplating my dark scenario rather than trying to fix it. But as I approached the last day of the year, I realized that the time had come to return to the light, to once again return my life to the normalcy that it once was – and that time is now.

Each year, I write a column describing my New Year’s Resolution. Sometimes, that resolution is for the world in general, or my friends and family. But this year – I have to make this resolution for myself. I must get rid of the stress, the problems – and the drama. I must resume the activities and the outlets in my life that made my life what it is – and most importantly – I must clear my head and my shoulders of the weights that I now carry – which are harder to hold then anyone can imagine.

Everyone has tough times, and everyone has to use their own strength and their own intuition to overcome those tough times. I know that I have the ability to bring my life back to where it once was. Yes it will take hard work, long hours, and lots of sacrifice. But it must be done – for my future, for my friends, for my family and loved ones – and most importantly – for myself.

Ironically, almost everyone I know seems to be going through a similar situation, and have told me that they wish that their lives would also return to normal. I hope that anyone that is going through a tough time, whether I know them or not, will find their inner strength and desire to overcome their troubles. That they, like me, realize that they alone have the power to once again reclaim the life they once had – and rid their world of the stress, the worry – and the drama.

It’s good to be back – Happy New Year indeed.