2010 and 10 below

2010 finds me looking forward to many things...and very verrrryyy cold.

The month leading up to 2010 found me in a pretty crappy place. I was struggling to find passion with my job. Struggling to share a house with 4 other people (even though I love them...being a roommate is just sort of a challenge). I was struggling to be poor and living in a depressed neighborhood. I was struggling to maintain a relationship from 1000 miles away. I missed the old life I had, and found myself longing for everything I was not going to have this year. December 2009 was a strugglefest to say the least.

Although spending time at home in Chicago and then travelling to West Virginia for the holidays did not make it easier to come back and face the rest of this year, I feel like I am ready to take as much from this year as I can and then move on in my life. I cannot change what my life is going to be for the next eight months...but I can look forward and try to enjoy every experience I have this year. good and bad.

2009 was an epic year for me. I graduated from a college that had become home (whether or not I realized it at time). I fell more in love with someone than I ever thought possible. I realized that some of the people I thought were my best friends weren't and learned who I could truly depend on when everything felt like it was caving in. I moved to a new city to live with total strangers and work in a job I had no business doing in the first place. My grandma passed away and I experienced loss for the first time. I've learned that striving to make money isn't all bad (if done in a moral way) and neither is religion or having faith in something. I realized that I want to be close to my family and I don't want to be a social worker. Although, this year has been intense, I wouldn't change it for a second. I have learned more about myself than I ever thought possible, and am trying to be thankful for the good and bad times I have been given this past year.

I can only hope to experience as much love and learning in 2010 as I have this past year.

So in the spirit of the new year...here are my resolutions:

1. Join a gym. I know this seems stereotypical...but I think it will reduce my stress levels exponentially and help me feel like I am in better shape

2. Get LEED accredited and move back home to Chicago to start working with my dad

3. eventually live in the same zip code as the man I am crazy about (or at least see him more than every 2 months!)

4. start planning my next mountain climb

5. find ways to have fun and be joyful...everyday!

Here's to 2010!