With 45 minutes left in 2009 and I think its only fair that I spend this time reflecting on the year and wow on the decade.
Hmmm first the decade. It's crazy to think its been 10 years since everyone was terrified over the millenium. I mentioned to Phil on the way home from dinner tonight that the last time it was New Years for a new decade neither of us had met each other, and who would of guessed what the future held. In 10 years, I graduated highschool, spread my wings and traveled to North Carolina where I went to college on a scholarship, played team tennis, met Phil, met some amazing friends, got a cat, graduated college, moved to Atlanta, bought a townhome, got my first real job, settled in and made friends, got engaged, got married, got a dog, got sick of the cold weather, missed my family, spread those wings again and flew back home, got my second and third real job, moved into my grandparents house, found myself again ... and here we are. It doesn't seem like its been 10 years that all of that happened, but wow it has. 10 years ago my mom didn't have cancer, I had never had a boyfriend, and I had no idea what I wanted to be when I "grew up".
Now 2009 ... it was another year we lived in Florida. I went to Holland twice, once with my dad and the other with everyone. I learned dutch which I have to start practicing again because I actually got good at it! Phil got laid off, which turned out I think to be a blessing in disguise. It made him rethink his passion and career and he opted to go back to school to get his MBA in healthcare administration. I can tell that he's really passionate about it when he talks about class and his eyes light up. I always knew he could accomplish great things and I think healthcare is a field he'll strive in. I grew in my career as well, but the added duties and stress has taken its toll. It's hard when you work so hard for something only to have the people you're helping grow their business not value or appreciate you. But alas so is life. However, a recent turn of events has forced me to take a look at myself and what I'm passionate about and what makes me happy. Life is too short to be anything but happy you know! I did get to travel to the Ukraine, Mexico, Chicago, and Los Angeles with my job which was pretty neat.
For 2010 ...
At the end of 2010 I hope to look back and have accomplished a few things ... I guess you'd call them New Year's Resolutions but more like goals ...
1. My number one goal every year is to always be happy and healthy. I know I'm a happier person living back in Florida where its sunny and warm and my family is close, but its def. something you have to work on daily and that is to be happy with you life. Healthy ... well I gotta keep excersising and staying fit and then reduce that stress level. Phil and I both got so stressed this fall ... him starting school and me with my job, it def. took its toll on both of us and we had to stop and realize whats important in life, our family, our animals, and each other. No job should be so stressful that you work all day and the come home and complain about it all night. Then again marriage is def. not a walk in the park and it's good to have those moments where you realize life is not a matter of breaths you take but of moments that take your breath away.
2. Start up my passion .. so my passion has always been photography and so my hope for 2010 is that I can start up my own business. I'm actually starting it up with a friend of mine and hopefully we have our website up in January and I can start blogging our test shoots over there. I'm really excited for it, and for remodeling a room in our house for a new office/study hall. It's something that really makes me happy and if one day I can make a career doing it then really nothing would make me happier.
3. Travel Some more ... phil and I really enjoyed the traveling we got to do this year. It was nice that he was able to come on a few trips that I took for work and we got to experience them together. We hope to go to South Africa with everyone in 2010 and I hope that really happens! :)
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For the decade ...
I could not have guessed what 10 years would have brought 10 years ago, but I hope for a few things, that myself and my family stay happy and healthy, that they find a cure for cancer, and hopefully one day to start my own family (the 2 legged not 4 legged kind) and make more memories.
So as I sit here on my new desk from Ikea, in what I hope to be my new office, listening to the tons of fireworks going off in North Palm Beach I can smile and say goodbye to 2009 because it really was a good year and it was a fun year, and it was a happy year, and I can say bye to the decade and know that I lived each day and I accomplished a lot of things in my life that I never really even dreamt I could do. I'm happy, I have an awesome family, and I'm really fortunate to be exactly where I am right now.
Happy New Year Everyone ...
