*I want to finish my first marathon with a smile that is contagious*

*I want to finish my first marathon with a smile that is contagious*

New Years Resolution # 1

is OFFICIALLY DONE!

Thank you for all who believed in me. 

Thank you for all the donations.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

First Day of the New Year

feeling

Thankful

Followed by

…

new

Resolutions

I am thankful. I’m sure I sound like every other person on January 1^st. Either you’ve loved it or you have hated it, none the less a new year is here—even if we’re not all ready for it yet!

Below are the items I’m most thankful for. No specific order, each holds a special spot in making me thankful for a successful year in 2010.

Comfort Zone Camp- Comfort Zone Camp is a non- profit bereavement camp for children 7-17 who have lost a parent or sibling. Camp is 100% free and matches a child with a one on one mentor for an entire weekend. I am honored and humbled to have been matched 7 times in 2010, and to have directly worked with 10 little girls. Because of the strength these children at camp have shown me, I’ll be running my first marathon in a few days. I have raised enough money to send 6 kids to camp ($500- per child to attend camp)!!!  Not only have I learned so much about myself from the children, but from the dedicated volunteers and staff as well.

Reminding myself that there is no time for misery- In May I threw in the towel. I had recognized (10 sizes later, and many cocktails) how miserable I was at my day job. I decided to ditch security, and seek happiness. Because of my courage to leave I believe everything else fell into place.

True friendship knows no distance- I grew up traveling the states. I called home the state before the current one, and never thought I’d settle. I remember crying when I’d say goodbye, and hoping I’d see these people again. Thanks to communication being easier, the pain of the goodbyes seem to never have existed. My girlfriends don’t seem far away at all. This year I experienced weddings, new life, and the honoring of a lost life—all with those that I consider my true friends.

As for the New Year—I’m open for suggestions on how to improve life. Below are some of my lighthearted thoughts.

*I want to finish my first marathon with a smile that is contagious* I want to laugh until the wee hours of the morning, because it doesn’t matter about the time difference*I want to volunteer* I want to hug a child, and whisper  “you’re going to make it” in their little ears* I want to eat dessert for breakfast* I want to inspire those closest to me* I want to whisper I love you, even when I’m mad* I want to be accepted into my a Master’s program* I want to see the world* I want to risk sharing my deepest thoughts with those I love most* I want to make time for friendly e-mails* I want to answer the phone even when I’m busy* I want to stay at the gym after all the New Year’s Resolutions have been dropped* I want to encourage more people to try my vegetarian lifestyle* I want to dare to do the impossible with the blessing of those closest to me.

All of which I’ll try in 2011