Reading a blog post from my friend Whitney Mathews in Kansas City inspired me to write this, so here goes.  It’s that time of year when everyone blogs about the year.  I’ll sum up with my personal experiences in 2009 with some bullet points:

• Experienced the inauguration while living right here in Washington, DC.  (January)
• Started my obsession with Pumpernickel bread. (March)
• Visited my first embassy–the Embassy of Ireland. (April)
• Paid for my family to visit Washington DC for a week-long vacation. (May)
• Sold our house in St. Louis. (May)
• Bought a Saturn Vue, and said goodbye to my Ford Explorer. (August)
• Visited Bardstown, KY (Bourbon capital) during our road trip to St. Louis, and seeing an old friend in Cincinnati on the way back. (August)
• Ran my first half-marathon. (September)
• Got engaged to Lindsey Mastis after 6 years of dating. (October)
• Spending a night out in Philly, while visiting my former boss. (October)
• Found a new social media addiction with FourSquare. (November)
• Bought an iPhone and changed my outlook of the grid overnight. (November)
• Closest encounter with a celebrity: an arms reach from Holly Madison. (December)
• Had the best vacation this year visiting Las Vegas for a half-marathon. (December)

By far the biggest struggle in 2009 was trying to lose weight.  Month after month, I never moved the needle. I tried handwritten journals, online tools, changing gyms–even running a couple half-marathons–but nothing really sparked it.  My blog is peppered with failures.  I even blogged last January on how it was all gonna change.  It’s hard to believe that I actually gave up fast food almost 6 years ago, yet I still struggle with it.

The biggest lesson learned from 2009 is to plan ahead, stick to your agenda, and hold yourself accountable for your actions.  Also need to reward yourself for a job well done.

For 2010:

• Stay connected to family and friends through whatever means (Facebook, TXT, phone calls)
• Stick to the financial budget set at the beginning of the year
• Get married and enjoy the moment!
• Spend less time with things that just aren’t important
• Blog a lot more. From writing to developing to marketing–it’s a learning experience every time I do it.

As far as the weight loss goes, again it’s tough to write about. I’m going to get into the habit of hitting the gym regularly and watch what I eat.  Once I lose 10 pounds, I may write more about it.