Ushering in 2010: Wherein I reflect and resolve

You may recall that my birthday is December 31st, and so it is with every birthday I reflect upon the great meaning of my life and resolve to make changes where changes need making.

A lot has happened to me this past decade!

On my 18th birthday, I partied like it was 1999 -- because it was.

Everyone remember Y2k? Well that year, I graduated high school and headed off to college.

In August of 2001, my Paternal Grandfather died. This was my first real experience with death, but it wouldn't be my last.

Just few weeks later, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center, 1 plane crashed into the Pentagon and another crashed in rural Pennsylvania. That's when I learned what "tragedy" and "fear" truly meant.

In 2004 I graduated College. A month later, my Maternal Grandmother died. Also during this year I moved to Chicago and I saw the end of my relationship with The Nomad. At a time when I should have felt most hopeful about my future I was so full of despair.

Early 2005, My Maternal Grandfather died and I was still dealing with my feelings for The Nomad. I also had moved back to Grand Rapids and taken a job in an in-house advertising and marketing group.

The next chunk of time between 05 and 09 were spent growing up still. I bought a condo started freelancing for myself. And it was during this time I really started to define myself.

At the end of 2008 I stumbled upon my book idea.


Now it's the end of 2009.

My book is not finished but it's going really well. It's the most exciting thing I've ever done for myself. I hope that one day everyone will have the chance to read it.

Also during this year I rekindled my love for Karate. In 2010 I hope to have made it to brown belt.


So now it's 2010. How do I feel? Hopeful.

I think 2010 will be the year of opportunity for me. I think I will have broken through the challenges I face in my career. I think I will have let go of the things holding me back, even if that means taking huge risks.

I hope that will have achieved more variety and more opportunities to be challenged.

I know that I will be well on the path to seeing my printed name inside a Barns and Noble.*


So raise your glasses to 2010, my friends. Here's to a year full of opportunity and promise. To taking risks. To being true to yourself. To writing what needs to be written and saying what needs to be said. To a year of handwork that will finally pay off. To making a name for yourself. To possibilities. To never being bored!


* I used to Freelance write for Anime Insider Magazine and would buy copies at Barns and Noble just to see my work in print.