Many people take time to think about the year just passed and the new one arriving; some of these memories are not necessarily happy or positive ones, but many also show amazing growth and achievements of ourselves and those we love.

Last year, I was probably sitting in this same chair in an internet café in Tanzania as I am today, taking a brief break from the insufferable temperatures, my active volunteer work with natives and my photo-journalism. Last year, I was in incredible pain much of...