2009: The Beautiful Struggle

Well, 2009 has brought upon some unexpected change in my life.

Did I ever think I'd be traveling 9,000 miles to a foreign country by myself? Driving 9,000 miles down, up, and across America? Never.

2009 to me, serves as a reminder that you never really know just what will happen in life. In a blink of an eye your entire world can collapse down upon you. And you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way. Life is one big beautiful struggle. After all, the grass is always greener on whatever side I am standing on.

2008

In a few short months it will be a year since Noah and I traveled to Japan. Looking back from the person I was then and the person I am now, so much has changed in the interim.

The first eleventh months of 2008 were extremely positive, however, come December I started to unravel at the seams. I began to see a steady decline in projects at work and by the end of the year I had absolutely no work coming in. Everyday I came into work thinking it'd be my last day. It's a very eerie feeling when you know your days are numbered and your future is entirely out of your hands.

With the cold, dark, winter days and a decrease in productivity, I constantly monitored the grim economic news eight hours a day. It got to the point where I was so paranoid that the U.S dollar was going to collapse I was ready to buy shit load's of gold. GOLD GOLD GOLD! WE NEED TO BUY GOLD BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

And after some amazing skiing in Vail and a very anti-climatic New Years spent with friends and a significant other, 2009 arrives.

2009

Jan. 5th: Lost someone I was dating.
Jan. 6th - 7th: Depressed in the office.
Jan. 8th: Lost the job.
Jan. 9th: Purchase a ticket to Thailand

The first week of 2009 was awful, as I was a complete mess, an emotional wreck. As they say, traveling always cures what ails you. It is now April and I have come a long way since the first week of January. I've seen and experienced more in the last few months than some people will ever see in their lifetime and for that I am grateful and incredibly lucky to be where I am today. No regrets.

THAILAND