Year in Review:

Taking stock of the last 12 months or so gives you a great look at how far you might have come (forwards or backwards) in life.  I look at every step I’ve taken as forward motion, all positive because I’ve learned something from every experience.  Here’s my timeline.

November ‘08

-         I finally had the nerve to announce to the person I’d been with for the last decade that I couldn’t be in the relationship one moment longer…it had to end

-         Reconnected with a couple of old friends that helped me tremendously over the next several months, acting as my “constant” that I could depend on when I needed to talk

December ’08 – January ‘09

-         Changed my last name back to my maiden name (regaining a sense of identity)

-         Eeked through the Christmas and New Year’s, pretending to be a family with no problems until I found a place to move to

-         Won the annual EJEIWAPPTBIDPPP (Emily J. Eckert, I wanted a ping pong table but I don’t play ping pong) tournament for the first time in 10 years, winning myself a spot on the infamous trophy

February ‘09

-         Started living as a single person, at least in actions (went to my first ever show by myself to see Red Room, learned to enjoy going to the movies alone, spent a lot more time with friends)

-         Spent the first ever Valentine’s day without a guy!  Kristen & I went for Chinese and then to see The Vagina Monologues at Shipp

-         Found Lennox (my cat) in the parking lot of Applebee’s after dinner with Josh

March ‘09

-         Realized I was going to go crazy if I didn’t move out of the house fast (cohabitating was absolutely unbearable for a variety of reasons)

-         Was extremely close (within a week) from moving in with a friend who graciously offered me his place so I didn’t kill anyone

-         Decided that this might not be best for the kids and that house hunting had to be put on hold while I looked for an apartment instead

-         Went to see Hoobastank

-         Went to see New Kids on the Block (that's right)

April ‘09

-         Moved into my 2^nd ever apartment on my own

-         Spent as much quality time as I could by myself and with friends

-         Went to see Cold

May – June ‘09

-         Spent a lot of time exploring Gettysburg by myself, taking pictures, and spending time at the pool

-         Had some bad days among the good as I was adjusting to being ‘alone’ or ‘single’, however you want to express not having someone by your side every day

-         Went to see The Used by myself (crazy show that Hierosonic opened for and I left with bruises)

-         Wrote a lot of diary like blogs to help get some things off my mind…it didn’t work

July ‘09

-         Road trips to Indiana, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, D.C.

-         Football camp started

-         Went tubing for the first time (biggest adventure…EVER!, & beyond hilarious)

-         Got to witness my god-daughter being born

August – October ‘09

-         Football camp

-         Started a new relationship

-         Ended the new relationship

-         Went to see Hierosonic

-         Put on my first Benefit Show for Financial Literacy

-         Reconnected with more old friends, whose company and general friendship means a great deal to me

November ‘09

-         Moved to a much more suitable place that actually feels like home

-         Used the year’s experiences and time with my thoughts to regain a sense of who I am and what I want in life

-         Realized truth in friendships that I spent way too much time on considering they were false

-         Spent my first ever Thanksgiving with Kristen and her family (which was awesome) and got over being upset about not being the one to cook dinner

-         Figured out that having fun and taking things in stride, even though I’m a planner type that looks to the future, is sometimes a very good thing and can be truly beneficial

December ‘09

-         Realized part of one of my goals, being only ½ a pound away from losing 60 lbs since last November (not too shabby, I think)

-         Currently dealing with good & bad days during the “holiday season” as it’s my first being ‘alone’ and it not going so well (can’t wait till it’s over)

-         Went to see Skitzo Calypso

-         Another great road trip

-         Received a request to apply for a job in New Jersey (more to come on this later)

And that’s about it for the moment.  I think it shows progress, really.  I’m still going to have good days and bad days and things will continue to happen along the way.  But I don’t feel that where I’m at now is at all negative and I only see myself in a more positive light in the future.  And as the new year approaches, I, like every other American, am going to make some resolves to ensure that my future remains true to my plan (or as close to it as it can possibly get).