lifeinflux

On December 31, 2008, I was sitting at Office of Personnel Management, sending out 45,312 emails to GoLearn users who were on the system but not paying for their usage.    I was also dealing with two new hires that I regretted hiring about a week after they were brought on board.  But they were my hires and I was stuck with them and all the good, bad and ugly of my soul-sucking job.  I hadn’t yet lost all hope and accepted that the only good was the fat paycheck so with great naivete and hope, I updated my facebook status to read “2009 will be the best year yet”.  The funny thing is that it was!

In some ways, this was a year like any other, full of its share of ups and downs just like anyone’s life. But there were also moments of great accomplishment and joy. And since June, I’ve actual remembered the last six months which is amazing given my life has been a series of blurs since oh, about October 2005. Rather than wax poetically over the last year, I thought I’d give it to you straight and simple. In other words, I’ll make a list because – if you know me, you’ll know – I LOVE LISTS. Sorry, my OCD reared its head there. Um, next?

1.  The final surgery was performed on my liver which means that, for the first time since 1999, I’m WELL.  This means I can walk for miles or swim laps or jog the hills of Berkeley.  It means I can function without needing to take a nap immediately after.  It means my skin is no longer a lovely yellow tinge and my hair no longer falls out in clumps.   Thank GOD I have tons of hair or I’d be as bald as Jason right now!  I forgot how awesome this feeling healthy business can be!  But it does feel awesome and as of January 7th, I’ll finally be off the ridiculous medication that has ruled my life for what feels like forever.

2.   20 pounds lost.   I’m a girl.   Weight loss is SIGNIFICANT.

3. I revamped the Drama Club program I run and it was a HUGE success.  We did not make money to cover our expenses but we learned a lot and have upcoming spring workshops to cover the additional outflow of cash.    And the kids LOVED the experience.  What more can you ask for?

4.  I started a 101 things in 1001 days list and am making progress with it.

5.  I have not consumed soda for 79 days.    Given my obsession love of Diet Dr. Pepper, this is huge.  HUGE people.

6.  I started writing again, something I have not really indulged in since 2003.

7. I walked away from my soul-sucking job and a career I no longer believe in and started my own company.

8. I received multiple contracts and am in the process of partnering with another small company.

9.  My company MADE MONEY in 2009 which is significant.  Most companies don’t see a return on their investment for the first year, much less within the first three months.

10.  Because I left my 80-90 work week, soul sucking job, I have a lot more time for MY life and for spending quality time with Drue.

This last accomplishment is fantastic because Drue is fantastic and I’ve spent the last four years shoving her activities and quality time with her into the gaps between work and work, and MORE work and that is NOT how I want to live my life.   That is NOT the example I want to be for her when she has (if she has) her own kids someday.  I don’t want her to feel like work is a higher priority for me.  I know what that feels like and it sucks.  And in my case, it’s simply not true.

And while there have been moments of juggling money, paying Paul using money for Peter (Mary died you know), and biting my nails wondering if savings would hold out in time for my company to make money, it somehow did all work out.   An additional bonus is that I’ve learned a lot this year, about myself, about the people in my life (some good, some bad) and have made some good decisions about what I want to do and what I don’t want to do.  I’ve worked very hard to make sure that the choices made ended in positive results.   It’s not like all these good things just magically happened.   It took a LOT of hard work on my part, a LOT of support from some pretty awesome and significant people in my life and a nice dash of luck.   So whoever is in charge of the luck department, THANK YOU!   And to all my awesome, wonderful supporters who held my hand while I freaked out, reminded me I could DO THIS and who in general were THERE for me in a wonderful, positive way – THANK YOU!

Tomorrow 2010 begins.  I’m not big on making resolutions and this year, I have my 101 things in 1001 days to guide me.  I’m starting off the new year in Tahoe, California with my daughter and my BFF.   I’m spending the third day of the new year on a boat watching whales.   There are some huge upcoming changes in the next few months for Fauvist Media that I am excited about.    I launch two new work-related websites for Fauvist Media as well as a web site and online training content for my partner and their clients!    I’m going to start documenting my days and posting Day in the Life photos on Lifeinflux as well as launching other features in the coming months.   I’m going to spend a week with family at the beach before heading off to Europe by myself (and meeting up with friends old and new there).   And that’s just the first four months of 2010.    For those of you who read, THANK YOU!  I hope you will stick around and continue to read and be a part of this journey with me and share your life experiences with me.   Because it does take a village and I’m fortunate to have a small one by my side.

Happy New Year from Lifeinflux