So I guess we all find ourselves on the eve of yet another new year, this one with the added collective apprehension over whether or not things can actually get worse. That will likely be the story of 2008, the year that the world’s economy shut down making most of us feel a bit nervous and re-consider (likely temporary for most) many of our life choices. Looking back on even the greatest years often fosters melancholy feelings so I imagine that there are a number of people who are welcoming the opportunity to usher in a new year. While it is human nature to move on I think it is additionally important to look back and learn from the year’s events. I wont bore anyone with what I think the year’s lesson has been, but I will suggest that a balance between looking forward and looking back is probably in order.
Most of the people in my life have been touched in some way or the other and unfortunately many more will continue to feel its effects. I hope that all of us have learned that no economic slump can take away our most valued possessions; our family, friends, health, and mind. Nothing in this world is permanent or automatically bestowed and we all must learn to appreciate those things that are worth fighting for – and those are certainly not material goods. Money is a strange thing and with exceptions our individual need for it seems to me to be largely variable. This is to say that in my limited years I have found that my need seems to ultimately match up with my supply. Priorities shift, lessons are learned, and money is managed. It may not be the easiest transition to go from more to less but we all get there and when we do we find that laughter still comes, the sky is still blue, and our family still nourishes us.
On a personal note (since that is what blogs are for) I would be also remiss to ignore the wonderful parts of 2008. I was fortunate enough to marry the most beautiful and wonderful person I have ever known in front of our loving and supportive families. Since we found one another, my life has grown richer every day and I am continually amazed by the limitless bounds of our happiness together.
In addition to my beautiful bride, I have been blessed with a wonderful set of new parents who I look forward to years and years of memories with. They are beautiful people and I could not ask for a more supportive and welcoming family to become a part of. Plus they come with a beast named Phoenix, only adding to the total package.
My 2008 brought a number of memories with my wonderful family as well, starting with Thailand and Japan and ending with a unique and memorable Christmas in SF. They continue to be the foundation of all my success and I love them all dearly. We bade adieu to Emily as she found her place in a bigger city, but she remains in our hearts and certainly in our call logs.
I have continued to fall in love with my new city of Encinitas and have taken advantage of the lovely outdoors it offers. I surfed nearly every day this year and hope that the coming year is no different.
Work was challenging and carried with it ups and downs. I enjoyed a year of excellent companionship from my office mates Sladed, Alison, and the Dad. Alison has been so wonderful to my family and I shudder to think where we would be in San Diego without her. It has been a pleasure to share such tight confines with Sladed and have enjoyed his wry and intelligent sense of humor and his voice of reason in an otherwise unreasonable place. Furthermore, his dedication to fitness and diet is more of an inspiration than he knows; he is what Amber and I think about when pushing ourselves to finish a workout.
I look forward to the coming year and I hope to bring a positive attitude and perspective; I think that can make all the difference in the world. I have faith that good things are coming around the corner and that above all I will continue to enjoy life and the wonderful things brought to me. Thank you to all my family, friends, random readers who are likely not there, and of course to my lovely wife – I look forward to another year of shared times.
