The Chinese zodiac operates on a 12-year cycle and according to the lunar calendar. Every 12th year from the one you were born is momentous; it’s your “本命年” (literally translated: the “year of your own life”) and it can be fraught with danger, but also opportunity.

And 2012, the year of the dragon, was my ”本命年”.

As Chinese astrology predicted it would be, 2012 was huge. It was full of self-doubt (and lots of it), but also bold moves. It humbled me, inspired me, made me smile and want to cry. And I loved the good and the bad equally because both arose from my choices. 2012 confirmed my deeply independent streak, but also taught me how to truly appreciate the people in my life. 2012 also introduced me to incredible new friends and kindred spirits.

It finally brought me back to Afghanistan, something 3 years in the making, and reminded me of where my story – or at least this thread of it – began.

I’ll look back on 2012 and remember it as the year that I grew up and (cliche as it is) became the person that I was always meant to be. It was that “start of the rest of my life” that I had always waited for.

In 2012, I’ve finally stopped waiting.

And to make 2013 even better than momentous 2012, two New Year’s resolutions. Because every year is a year of your own life.

2013 Resolution # 1: Learn not to run from the things that I find hard . This is advice that I’ve always ignored -until now. 

2013 resolution #2: Have faith, believe in yourself and your decisions, and never, ever regret anything. I’ve gotten much better at this in 2012, but I’ve still got a ways to go…