Reflection And To Infinity And Beyond

2010 was a big year for me and for those around me. My year began with me sleeping through the new year thanks to jet lag, but I awoke at 3am in frosty London; as a dear friend pointed out to me, how can 2010 be a bad year when it started it off so well?

For the next 5 weeks I sped through Europe, discovered the literary land of England, ate Haggis and backpacked through the Republic and Northern Ireland. Along the way I met amazing people, secured life long friends and learnt that I can survive on my own and that my sense of direction wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was.

I came home to a family that missed me and a wonderful man who understood how important this trip had been to me, even if it did mean I was somewhere in northern England when it was his birthday. When I came home I decided that 2010 was going to be my year: I was going to write my little arse off and leave the job that was strangling me.

After a few months back I left my job  to what I thought would be my dream job and foot in the door, when in fact I had never been further away from my dream. I learnt a lot, if anything, to listen to my instinct and follow it. Although the job posed to be my big break, I could never shake the questioning in my head and the voices that kept asking was this job right for me? It turned out it wasn't, and I left on my own terms and it was if a weight had been lifted when I handed my resignation letter in. I now am somewhere new and a new adventure has begun and this one lacks voices and a weight in my stomach.

2010 also brought with it the loss of a beautiful person in my life. A powerful flame that was extinguished far too early and made me remember once more that life is indeed a gift and one that shouldn't be taken for granted; it's the one gift you can't refund and no rainchecks are offered. It inspired me to live life to the full and spend more time with those I  love, something I hope to do more of  in 2011. As one friend left, another one entered thanks to work as I was  introduced  to a lovely girl with a fellow passion for writing and books and although she now resides in another country, I hope to stay in contact with her.

Friends were married and great parties were had, another sign that we are all moving ahead some on one path, some on a slightly curvier road, but all moving ahead with our lives. 2011 is already set to have more weddings and maybe even some babies and I'm looking forward to finding out what's around the corner.

After 20 long years deprived of a premiership, my beloved Magpies finally held the cup that had eluded them for so long. The Grand Final losses of 2002 and 2003 were still raw with me and I waited with baited breath to see what would happen in 2010, although it took two weeks to happen, Collingwood supporters around the country (yes, we are everywhere) could finally smile and say "we are the premiers."

This blog has had some spasmodic entries this year but it's never far from my thoughts about what I want to achieve from it. I promise that 2011 will bring with it new features, thought provoking issues and some fun mixed in there as well. So please, continue with me on this journey as we tackle issues that effect us and some that should just be known about.

Wishing you all a very happy, exciting and healthy new year,

Girl On A Soapbox