2011: let us never speak of it again

despite the polarized highs and lows of my life that are, at times, more histrionic than a Christmas episode of EastEnders, what i’d like to remember of 2011 are the milestones, rather than the setbacks.

i finished the fourth draft of my novel (my literary agent is so pleased, we’re gonna pitch it to publishers in the new year!)

i was named one of the finalists in the 2011 Writers Union of Canada short prose competition.

one of my TwitPics went viral around the world and was named one of the top viral TwitPics of 2011

i was asked by York University to be on a Writing & Publishing panel, speaking as a professional in the field…

i performed at the Paprika festival,

attended a taping of The Daily Show,

scored an interview with infamous director Morgan Spurlock,

Ford Canada lent me a car for Labour Day long weekend…

i was published in countless more publications this year thereby inflating my Writing Portfolio to a bloated size,

i was awarded a Toronto Arts Council grant to work on my professional writing projects,

VIA Rail put me on the cross-Canada train and then asked me to speak on their Social Media panel in Vancouver….

i won a contest to hike the Inca Trail through the jungle to Machu Picchu, where i did downhill mountain biking, zip lining, hot-springing, and hiked above the clouds through the Andes…

…but mostly, where this blog is concerned, i followed my long-time passion for graffiti and street art.

i visited New York City twice in one year for the sole purpose of graffiti hunting

this post holds the record for the most hits ever when i photographed a new DEADBoY wheatpaste series.

this blog broke the news to media outlets several times when new pieces that had gone up around the city

i photographed and published street art from several different countries including Canada, USA, Peru, the UK, and several European countries…

I sold some of my graff photos to The Grid

and i built relationships with graffiti and street artists from around the world whose work i had featured here.

i hope to perpetuate more of these achievements in 2012!

personally, 2011 tested my strength emotionally (i cut out all the neurotic, anxiety-ridden shitstorms that populated my life), physically (two different health ailments and diagnoses), and mentally (quitting my job)…

but i know that, years from now, when i look back upon my life, i won’t remember the transient third wheels, the temporary fears, nor will i wish that i had spent more time at the office.

no one remembers the nights they went to bed early.

no one remembers who you weren’t, just who you were.

and no one will miss you if you give them nothing to miss.

i’ve already posted my predictions for 2012, so i’ll just say that i believe life should only ever be a non-stop adventure, or nothing at all. like a great lady once said, it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring, so i refuse to live anything but a life less ordinary.

get out there, people.

get cape.

wear cape.

fly.