Here I sit at my computer in the early morning hours of January 1, 2009. The holidays are over. The frenzy and excitement of December behind us all. The "glass half empty" folk say, "here comes January, dark, frigid, and bleak," while the half-fulls say, "'tis the start of a new year, new opportunities, new people to meet & experiences all around!" Clearly I identify more with the latter, but as reflect about the past year, I find myself thinking, "how could 2009 be better than 2008, the greatest year of my life?"

Ironically, this year of happiness for me was one of the worst for the country at large; our investment banks crumbled, companies were bailed out and/or sold off, and stocks lost value; the housing market seemed to get shittier, gettin credit became virtually impossible, and from a personal standpoint, literally everyone I called on at work for 3-4 months said, "Yea, well we'd love to partner with you guys but our budget just got cut in half." Money wasn't flowin and the land of milk and honey, for the first time in my lifetime, was not what it once was.

Yet for me, 2008 was incredible. My mother just tonight asked me, "what did you learn from the past year?" I though for a second and replied, "that there is happiness to be found in most areas of life; the trick is finding it sometimes. Life is too short to be anything but happy, so go out, enjoy yourself, and focus on the good and disregard the bad." It all sounds cliched, or that it's been said before (which I'm sure it has) but I now know it myself to be truth. If you aren't in a "good place" (be it a living situation, relationship, job, etc.) it's my belief that you must remove yourself from it - cut out of your life whatever is bringing you down, holding you back, or preventing you from being happy. Luckily, I was extremely blessed with a host of good experiences, good people, and great memories from the year past, but even the bad times didn't seem so bad.

I began the year traveling almost weekly for work. This accelerated the cold winter and kept me busy; since I loved and continue to love my job, each journey was more an experience rather than a "business trip." I began to read the Journal on a more frequent basis and for the first time, felt like I "knew more about the world" around me (I stopped reading the good ol' WSJ as much as I did back then, as fate would have it, but who's to say I won't pick it up again soon?) I learned much about relationships and friendships, as well - for one, on a first date, talk less and listen more. One girl I went out with in March told me I talked to much about myself. Must been on another one of my crazy 'jam kicks.' I also took some risks in that area - i.e. making moves and getting rejected - but I am happy to have gained the experience. I went to London on a whim and it felt like I doubled my friend-base :) Hungarian Bence is actually one we met while there and is coming to visit at the end of January '09. I led a JDRF fundraiser, moved into Manhattan, had the most amazing and eventful summer, earned a small raise, got a new co-worker, started this blog (!!) and saw America elect Barack Obama. What a memorable night that was; I'll never forget the surge of pride, excitement, and happiness I had that entire week.

I also said to my mother re: 2008 that it was the people around me constantly that helped to make the year so great. My family, roomate, friends, co-worker & bossses are all amazingly wonderful; for that alone I should never be allowed to complain again because my situation is just so miraculous. From parents who are still as supportive and loving as ever to bosses that have been mentors and friends, I feel like the luckiest person alive sometimes. Additionally, my friends are all around me and only nurture and enrich me. Whether it's meeting a group at a happy hour, going to a museum, late night Chinese, homecoming, concerts, dinners, or just apartment hang outs, my friends are all around and bring me so much joy. When I'm home in Ohio, the same thing goes - I feel so lucky to be close with a majority of people back in the homeland so as not to feel like my "only world" is New York. It's not - and thank God - because I love the "dual world" situation that is my life.

There are just too many things to name; I'm getting tired though so I'm gonna stop but continue soon.