Blogoversary!

One year ago today, I was living in Florida and sitting in my house feeling down about being unemployed. I decided I needed to stay productive and have an outlet. What resulted was far beyond what I ever imagined. I’ve connected with some amazing people through this blog and it’s been such a great experience to become part of the greater blogging community. There are a ton of people out there who make blogging look so easy and I greatly admire them!

Who knew when I started this blog how much would change in just a few short months. In late October 2008, I got married and my husband and I went on a honeymoon cruise through the Caribbean. I spent my honeymoon trying to forget the fact that I had been laid off just a few weeks prior, and that when I returned home I would have quite a challenge ahead of me–finding a job in a recession market in South Florida, one of the worst-hit areas in the country. I remember spending November and December thinking really hard about what I wanted to do – did I want to own a business? Freelance? Go back into the corporate world? It felt like I had endless possibilities, but one fact kept creeping to the surface as time continued to pass—with my husband’s job also in jeopardy, we needed to broaden our job searching beyond Florida.

And so here I am now, a year later living a very different life in the Midwest. I like to say our move was out of necessity. A survival tactic. A Band-Aid. It’s not the ideal situation but at least we’re not living in a van down by the river. It’s ironic that tomorrow is Thanksgiving and today happens to be my Blogoversary because I’m thinking about all the good things that have resulted from blogging and the things for which I am thankful. First, I can’t emphasize enough how much I’ve enjoyed “meeting” people who are reading my little blog. In particular, Andi and Tracey have become two of my closest blogging buddies. Their energy and friendship have been a source of inspiration. Thanks to both of you – one of these days I hope we will get to meet in person!!

Thank you also to everyone who reads and comments on my blog. I love hearing from you and I look forward to continuing our interactions!

Here’s to another great blogging year ahead!

Thanks everyone,

Missy