WWW--Looking back on 2010

Since I was incredibly distracted at the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, I have not had a chance to reflect on what 2010 meant to me and what I learned and how it ranks in the midst of the other 31 years of life I have had the privilege to live.

Today, on this day that I, (along with the rest of Chicago) will name SNOWMEGEDDON, I have the windows open to watch the buckets of snow pouring down on this great city. I have some tunes on the radio and a kitty by my side (when he is not running to the windows and pretending to attack the snowflakes he sees). Add to that a delicious glass of Pinot Noir that will not be my last tonight, and you have the perfect setting for me to reflect on last year and what it was to me.

First I have to name the year for what it was: WWW--the year of wedding, work and writing.
Now I can reflect on each element of the year.

WEDDING

2010 was really the year of wedding planning. Yes, we got engaged in July 2009, but we definitely did not start the real planning until 2010. Knowing our date would be in 2011, we took our time on the major decisions and researched the hell out of destinations to have our shin-dig. I feel like 2010 flew by in a blur of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and bridal gowns. It was a lot of fun to fantasize and play with different ideas and then to come to natural decisions without feeling rushed. In the end I think we came up with a good plan for the type of people we are--planners who don't really want to sweat the small stuff. Having our wedding in Riviera Maya, Mexico, where a lot of the decisions are simple and the beautiful scenery speaks for itself, was definitely the way to go for our special day. I know that 2011 is bringing with it tons more planning, but 2010 will be remembered as the year we figured out the major elements we wanted for our wedding.

Not only was 2010 the year of WEDDING because of our wedding, but it also seemed to be the year that everyone I knew decided to get engaged. I know it sounds crazy, but I counted up all the people I know who got engaged in 2010 and I got to TWELVE. Twelve, dude. That is a large amount of people in one year. I did not even realize I knew that many couples. Apparently 2010 was the year of people choosing to shit instead of getting off the pot, so to speak. Well done, guys. I suppose this is what happens when you are around 30 years old and you live in the Midwest. They must put something in the meatloaf around here. Getting engaged is the new black.

WORK

I can't say too much about the details of my work life, obviously. After all this is the Internet. But my work life certainly changed in drastic ways in 2010. I had been at a job I never really wanted in the first place for almost 4 years, and I was not really sure why I stayed except that it had become comfortable. Oh and of course the people I worked with were just lovely so that did not help me avoid complacency. Also, I was in the fortunate position of being able to manipulate my schedule and do massage part time as well as keep my corporate gig with benefits. But I had hit a place where I was good if not great at what I did and there was nowhere for me to go or any place I wanted to grow into. Right when the economy tanked was when I had the brilliant idea to start actively looking for another job. The news reports weren't lying when they said searching was tough, and it took about 6 months for me to get an offer that was actually worth considering. I am lucky I had my regular gig to keep me afloat. Otherwise it would have been really easy to get disheartened.

Anyway, I finally got a great job and I vowed to work really hard and I did and I was starting to get the hang of it and everyone was starting to really like me, when something wacky happened and I ended up transitioning jobs again within a few months. So this year I will have 3 W2s and one 1099 between the four jobs I held in 2010, and I can't wait to do my taxes this year, let me tell ya! Weeee!

The second transition ended up being much more challenging than I anticipated, and let's just say that my sanity and anxiety levels were put to the test in a bigger way than I have experienced in a very long time. Thank goodness for Christmas break, or I might have lost it, truly. I came back refreshed and ready to continue to face the obstacles that came with the new job.

I am happy to say that I seem to have come out on the other side relatively unscathed and am finally getting the hang of things at the new gig. Time will tell, but so far I think I may have found my way through the forest and into the clearing. The experience left me feeling like I can handle anything that comes my way, and capable of much more that I ever thought, professionally. So that is an awesome feeling to take with me into 2011. Here's hoping it stays with me and can translate to other facets of my life.

As a result of this professionally tumultuous year of transition after transition, I have gained in one year the kind of insight into myself that it can take some people decades to discover. My wants and needs professionally are clear to me, and my quest to find the right job for me is much more clear. I know what to ask when the time comes to interview with another company someday. I know what culture I am looking for and what is most important to me as an employee. Before, every interview I went on, I wanted that job out of desperation. Now, I know how valuable I am and how multifaceted my skill set is, and I will seek out a company that is right for me. I realize the kind of worker I am and how work fits into my life. I value that lesson learned, even though it took a lot of pain and buckets of tears to learn it. 2010 was instrumental in professional self-discovery. Whew. Glad that is over. For now....

WRITING

This touches upon a reunion of sorts I had in 2010. Writing and I, old friends that we are, were reintroduced when I was feeling like something was missing for me creatively. I stretched out and worked those old writing muscles a bit in 2010, and it felt really good to revisit it. It fulfilled that empty space in me and was a lot of fun.
Both here in this lovely blog space for my thoughts, as well as on Examiner.com, I was able to practice and play with my writing again. I also randomly applied for a job being a writer for a great company and had to submit samples, which was a brave thing for me to accomplish. Even though the job rejected me, I feel happy that I went for it, just to see.

I also started sharing my blog posts with a bigger audience and was pleased to find out people actually enjoyed reading my stuff, as mundane and simple as some of my posts can be. That alone makes me really happy, because it is always a little freaky to share stuff you created. You never know if it is pointless and no one cares. But hearing from random people that my little poopoocorner site amuses them or distracts them for a little while is really cool and flattering. So that has been a nice discovery for 2010. That my writing can effect people. Because really, why else do we share what we create? Effecting people is what it is all about. At least for me. It is why I write, it is why I love acting and film and television production. It is even one of the reasons why I went into massage therapy as well--effecting people in any way I can. I hope in 2011 I can continue to find new ways to effect people through all these ways and more.

So the blizzard is still raging outside and has been while I wrote this. Despite the chaos outside, I feel a lovely sense of contentment with where I am right this moment.

Bring it on, 2011.