So, that’s it. We’re done with 2010, or just about. 2011 is starting and it’s the beginning of a new decade.
Wait, is it? Weren’t the first ten years of the new millennium 2000-09? I am so confused by time.
Regardless, I just want to take the time to look back on the past year. It’s been filled with some amazing times and experiences.
I went through three jobs this year. And they were all great, and the one I’m in is my best yet. An amazing work environment, incredible co-workers, more praise and constructive criticism than problems, and plenty of room to move up in the company, I am completely happy.
I hit the conference circuit quite a bit (as compared to any other year of my life) in 2010 as well, although probably not ones you’re heard of. The Awakening Conference earlier this year was an eye-opener for me, and God revealed things to me. As a direct result of that, I became a leader in my church’s youth group - the group I grew up in. I traveled to New Jersey (where I stayed in a fantastic suite, honestly a highlight of the trip) for the Thirst Conference. The drive down with other young adults from my church was a blast, plus hearing Jon Acuff and Anne Jackson speak, and seeing Gungor in concert blew my mind. Then the New England Youth Leaders Summit a few weeks later - wow.
Coming from all of that, Halloween saw the first time I ever praught. Okay, preached, but it should be praught. (Teach = taught. Preach = praught.) And that was one of the best nights of my life, even when the fire alarm went off in the middle of my sermon.
I voted for the first time, and had an elderly gentleman glare at me throughout the entire process, as if he was offended that I was old enough to vote.
I saw my girlfriend for the first, second, and third times this year. She was able to visit, and it was fantastic. I love her, I really do. (Carolina, I’m sorry if this isn’t a long enough paragraph.)
I was this close to meeting Ed Palumbo. I had a road trip to Maryland. I touched the Scranton, PA sign from the title credits of The Office. I almost drove my car off of a cliff. I told a bunch of kids in a Burger King that I was about to ”turn my swag on.” I hugged a cartoon character at Six Flags for longer than he desired. Facebook gave be $100 in advertising credit, and in total my fan page gained over 200 fans.
2010 was an amazing year, and 2011 will most definitely be even better.
I’m kicking off 2011 as a full-fledged youth leader at my church. I couldn’t be more excited about it. That in of itself is going to make the year as a whole fantastic.
I have a list of resolutions, but this isn’t a post about the new year. It’s a post about looking back on the one we’re ending now. The things that brought laughter and tears.
To everyone I’ve interacted with over the past year, whether it was in person, on the phone, email, Twitter, Facebook, blog comments, walks down the street, or if you’re that guy I yelled to from the window that time because you had nice shoes and I felt compelled to compliment them, Thank you for helping make the past year a fantastic one.
And do me a favor, use three words to describe me over the past year.
