A fond farewell to 2009

For some reason it overhwelms me to write about holidays. Maybe it's because holidays themselves are overwhelming... and funny enough, I actually welcome, enjoy and whole-heartedly accept the chaos they bring. I've always been the type to embrace a challenge, and I derive great pleasure out of conquering them. Maybe I get overwhelmed because by the time the day actually comes my head is already on the next one - that sense of "ok, what next?". Or maybe it's because the holidays can be so emotional that it's difficult to sum up all of those feelings into words. Or maybe, this year, it's because it has been an especially overwhelming year in general. While it started off like many others with optimism and high hopes, I was laid off in January from a job I loved dearly, and I've yet to find a way to fill the emptiness of that loss.

I work in marketing, and it's been a very tough time in our industry as our budgets are generally the first ones cut when the going gets tough. And again, I love a challege so I've always tried to be the "tough get going" type, but even the toughest have their limits. I've heeded all of the advice and I've done everything I can possibly think of with as much optimism and enthusiasm I can muster (my resume is spotless, I built myself a website, all my online profiles are up to date, and I network like it's going out of style - which, I almost hope it would I'm so tired of that word). I even started my own company attempting to freelance my skills, but for an outgoing people person who thrives in a creative environment, it's hard to stay motivated when your office is your dining room and your coworkers are dogs.

And while these tough times are part of life, I'm ready for that part of my life to be behind me (did I mention I was laid off less than a year before that too? Indeed, I had the great fortune of working for a homebuilder during the housing market crash). Granted, 2009 was not without some good - mostly in the form of unconditionally supportive family and friends, but aside from them, I'm looking forward to putting it all behind me and not looking back. I continue to believe that experiences like this truly do make you stronger, but so does knowing how to move on. So with that, I raise a glass to the new year, and wish for everyone a better year than the one before. Cheers!