2008 has been a year of mixed emotions. It's like riding on a roller coaster ride, sometimes you're up, scared but feeling great; sometimes you're down, wondering how it feels like to be up there. We could never really deny that outside the Arashi fandom, 2008 made us human. We cried, we laughed, we felt like we couldn't pick ourselves up again and then in the end we realize just how much time we've lost grieving over things we could never really turn back.

In spite of everything, 2008 was a good year for it taught us the lessons we need to learn and it taught us to treasure whatever it is that we have at the moment.

For me, 2008 is one of the most memorable years, both inside and outside the fandom. Inside the Arashi fandom, 2008 was magnificent. It has been a good year for our boys, ne? It has been a good year for fans too. I've met a lot of friends, learned new things... for when you're an Arashi fangirl, friendship and love and creativity are the best things of all.

Outside the fandom, 2008 was a little different, a little depressing but it was a year where a lot of turning points happened in my life. The year gave me my very first taste of bitter failure and made me realize that life isn't all rainbows and butterflies... for if we don't really know how it feels like to be sad, we couldn't appreciate happiness, ne?

That's why... as I was listening to GreeeeN's Tobira, I thought that it was the most fitting song for me and for everyone who wants to move on and get a brand new start.

The new year opens a lot of doors for us. Possibilities are endless and yet there's still truth in that old saying that time waits for no one. Grab your chances while you may, dream as much as you can, fulfill them, learn to love, to forgive, to smile, to be happy, learn to move on, learn to appreciate everything you have.

Doors of chances will always be there. It's up to you to choose which is for you. Although there's be times when you would fall, scrape your heart, scrape your knees, times when the world will get you down, wound your soul... in the end you owe it to yourself to get up and start walking. Because no matter what you think, tomorrow is still a day away.

I read somewhere that things in life has a way of sorting themselves out. How true. If you just work hard everyday, give it your all with the fire of hope burning there in your heart, you surely will find a way out of whatever it is that is restraining you.

The world is still an interesting place to be in and the adventure is endless. Once you've found something that only you can do, something that completes you, then the world is yours for the taking.

People will always get you down and try to take the hope within you away. But not all people are your enemies. Family, friends and love... they're the best things of all. It reminds me of a quote I've seen in one of my favorite movies. It says 'of all the dangers, snares and toils of my childhood hymns, loyalty and love are the best things of all and surely the most lasting'

And so a brand new year is ahead of us. There are no promises of gold at the end of the rainbow. We could only workd hard and hope that this year would be better than the ones before. But if we would keep faith in our hearts, work hard to live and to love, this year, no matter how dreadful it might be, will always be memorable.

Happy new year everyone!

And so I leave you with the lyrics of Greeen's Tobira (I forgot who to credit for it. T_T)

 

Hey, lift your chin up and smile a little
I know you’ve been through a lot
And the story’s not going the way you thought it would

But tomorrow comes for everyone!
Time passes by and won’t wait for you
Don’t look away from the future you can see now

You’ll feel better once you realize nothing is pointless
Once you’ve given it your all you’ll feel refreshed
If you turn around, hey, do you see it? Look how far you’ve come
Don’t be afraid, take the next step forward!!!

*As you open what’s in front of you
Can you see what you’ll be like tomorrow??
You’ll surely find a new door ahead of you
That leads to “the new you”

Hey, why the gloomy face? I know it’s hard but let’s laugh together!
Even if you stay silent, each passing day, tomorrow, today, all have meaning
You just worry each and every second, marking off the calendar diligently
But nothing will ever wait for us so let’s take immediate action now!!!

If you just decide that it’s meaningless, you’re closing the door
Pretending you can’t see, pretending you can’t hear
All you have to do is decide what you can accomplish tomorrow
Don’t be afraid, take the next step forward!!!

**The key that opens your door has always been in your pocket
Look, if you open it now, I know that person will be right before your eyes
“The new you” is waiting for you

If you’re standing still and can’t seem to budge
I’ll softly give you a push you forward
If you can just take one step
Then I know you can make it on your own

Your “dream” and “emotions” will make it there someday!!!
Once you’ve given it your all you’ll feel great x 100!!!
But you know all that already, don’t you?
Embrace all your emotions so you can open the door, now step forward!!!

(Repeat*)
(Repeat**)