Unlimited Website Traffic: Yoani Sanchez: In 2013: Reasons to Stay

Yoani Sanchez: In 2013: Reasons to Stay HPFB.init();

HuffPost's QuickRead...ShareBox.ad = function (tag_id){if ($(tag_id) == undefined) return; if ($(tag_id).innerHTML != '') return;ad_spec = {"zone_info": "huffpost.world","ord": 1357054089,"tile": 3,"width": 300,"height": 250,"el_id": tag_id + "_js","class_name": "ad_block ad_wide top","type": "iframe"}HuffPoUtil.WEDGJE.write(ad_spec, tag_id);};Loading... HuffPost's QuickRead...

Iran iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More Log in Create Account Notifications Profile Settings Logout #topnav_margin_btm { margin:0 !important } January 1, 2013

Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from HuffPost's signature lineup of contributorsHot on the BlogKevin Bacon Michael Moore Mohamed A. El-Erian Deepak Chopra HuffPost Social Reading

Some error occurred Login with Facebook to see what your friends are reading Enable Social Reading i

Settings Read Share Settings Learn More

Yoani SanchezAward-winning Cuban blogger

GET UPDATES FROM Yoani Sanchez Like 384 In 2013: Reasons to Stay Posted: 01/01/2013 1:51 am React

Important
Fascinating
Typical
Scary
Outrageous
Amazing
Infuriating
Beautiful
Follow

Cuba , Immigration And Travel Reform In Cuba , Human Rights In Cuba , World News
#news_entries #ad_sharebox_260x60 img {padding:0px;margin:0px} share this story Submit this storydigg reddit stumble

Someone has to be at the foot of the aircraft steps, to say goodbye, holding the handkerchief and wiping their eyes. Someone has to receives the letters, the brightly colored postcards, the long distance phone calls. Someone has to stay and look after the house that once was full of children and relatives, watering the plants they left and feeding the old dog that was so faithful to them. Someone has to keep the family memories, grandmother's mahogany dresser, the wide mirror with the quicksilver coming loose in the corners. Someone has to preserve the jokes that no longer spark laughter, the negatives of the photographs never printed. Someone has to stay to stay.

This 2013, when so many await the implementation of Immigration and Travel Reform, could become a year where we say "goodby" many time. While I respect the decision of each person to settle here or there, it doesn't fail to sadden me to see the constant bleeding of creativity and talent suffered by my country. It's frightening to know the number of Cubans who no longer want to leave here, or raise their children on this Island, or realize their professional careers in the country. A tendency that in recent months has had me saying goodbye to colleagues and friends who leave for exile, neighbors who sell their homes to pay for a flight to some other place; acquaintances who I haven't seen for some weeks whom I later learn are now living in Singapore or Argentina. People who are tired of waiting, of postponing their dreams.

But someone has to stay to close the door, turn the lights off and on again. Many have to stay because this country has to be reborn with fresh ideas, with young people and future proposals. At least the illusion has to stay, the regenerative capacity must remain here; the enthusiasm clings to this earth. In 2013, among the many who remain, one must definitely be hopeful.

This Blogger's Books from

Havana Real: One Woman Fights to Tell the Truth about Cuba Today
by Yoani Sanchez

Follow Yoani Sanchez on Twitter:www.twitter.com/yoanifromcuba

FOLLOW WORLD Like 69k Get Alerts Cuba More in World...

Hugo Chavez Cancer Surgery: Venezuelan President Suffers...

Russian Plane Crash Video Captures Moment Of...

New Year's 2013: World Giving Enthusiastic Welcome...

Al Qaeda In Yemen Offers Bounty For...

Comments0Pending Comments0 View FAQ

Previewing Your Comment. This comment has not yet been posted You have exceeded your word limit by words. Please click the "Edit" button and shorten your comment.

Post Comment Edit Cancel

You can post to us this information Contact us

Click here to leave a comment.HuffPost High School welcomes a lively, thoughtful debate in the comment section. Keep in mind that the articles here are penned by young authors, so please keep criticism respectful, and help us to keep this a safe and supportive place for writers of all ages to contribute.Post Comment Preview Comment To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to. Post Comment Preview Comment To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.

Share your Comment:

Post to Facebook. Post to Blogger. Post to Twitter. Post to WordPress. Post to TypePad. Post to Tumblr. Post to Yahoo! Blogger login: Blogger password: Select blog: refresh list Remember me: Wordpress host: Wordpress login: Wordpress password: Remember me: TypePad host: TypePad login: TypePad password: Select blog: refresh list Remember me: Tumblr login: Tumblr password: Remember me: Community Notice: We've made some changes to our badge program, including the addition
of our newest badge: Community Curator.

View All Recency | Popularity new comment(s) on this entry — Click to refresh

Loading comments… FOLLOW US

Connect with your friends Check out stories you might like,
and see what your friends are sharing!

Most Popular on HuffPost 0lfBUwDvqtRlJZDSawief2XbeJTWGAufcWpSTczUWg7XW7bfwiG%2B5tWS1rOI0UwfKiLXSz%2Frm5KgUWC50IiB%2BN7Z2mzUDj3srQDDwntqXOEfeuUIy3YrGVvsarmWzfXxC%2F%2B9C%2Bxje%2BHPwTmBPD2T8onHWN9uBg7KNoh2TJcehrHkhqvhlziJ9AFXhquX9LVx1 of 2

WATCH: Times Square Ball Drop Live
Like 1k

Kim Kardashian's Family & Friends React To The Big News
Like 304

Homeless Heir To $300 Million Fortune Found Dead Under Railroad Overpass
Recommend 572

LOOK: World's Oldest Identical Twins Celebrate 103rd Birthday
Like 5k

Beauty Queen 'Shocked' By Ruling In Miss USA Case
Like 48

Huntsman: GOP 'Devoid Of A Soul'
Like 15k

Obama Fiscal Cliff Remarks Spark Republican Threats To Blow Up Deal
Like 4k

Black Monday: NFL Firing Frenzy Begins
Like 365

Fiscal Cliff Dive: Congress To Miss Deadline
Like 5k Don't Miss HuffPost Bloggers1 of 5

Kevin BaconSix Degrees of New Year’s Resolutions

Michael MooreMy New Year’s Resolutions

Mohamed A. El-ErianHoney, We’ve Shrunk the Grand Bargain

Deepak ChopraObama Is the First Facebook President -- What Now?

Mohamed A. El-ErianThis Political Polarization Is Really Bad for America

Michael RothSeeing What Isn’t There: Oliver Sacks’s Hallucinations

Dr. Peggy DrexlerDoes Gender Identification Have a Place In Our Political System?

Jeffrey SachsGoing Over the Cliff Is the Only Way to Save the Government

Alan ColmesRight-Wing Freaking Out About Dianne Feinstein’s Gun Control Suggestions

Ralph NaderMake Civic Engagement a Priority in the New Year Reading While Eating for Dec. 31: Say Goodbye to 2012

Father of Conn. School Gunman Claims Son’s Body

The 5 Best Viral Videos of December

Time - World TOP VIDEO PICKS1 of 9 Rio De Janeiro's New Year Fireworks on Copacabana Beach

North Korea's Kim Jong-Un Makes a Rare New Year's Speech

Rescue Helicopter Crashes at Rio Beach

MOST DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW2RgnQXLokElFimSGDV8i8a43pip0bdKPiJKomeBLqmM3QvAVQ0trgKQA9zRBn5c91 of 2

World Enthusiastically Welcomes 2013

Israel Eases Gaza Restrictions
HOT ON FACEBOOK2RgnQXLokElFimSGDV8i8TKPvBq8xPkmgYINREC4w8w%3DiJKomeBLqmM3QvAVQ0trgPTAYkCdRanfpr%2BnvSQA9QM%3DjpeKJKgSs0bJPlRX0pV4Fss35VaaM%2Fhsd5ArrOAf1yA%3D9gVSfyh%2B3JAsU4f2cSC92Q%3D%3D1 of 3