So long, 2011! Welcome, 2012!

2011 has been a super eventful year!

I started out newly jobless and decided to take a chance on a career development training program that changed my outlook and my work life completely. I met some amazing new forever-friends and figured out what I want to do going forward. Those are gifts enough. But, wait, there's more!

With the support and encouragement of many, not least my lovely family, I landed a part-time role in Public Relations, an entirely new field for me, but which really started me off well in April.

In early August, I came across a (paid) internship in Recruiting and it turned out to be a great gig with great people. Not so much an internship after all, but I've learned so much, it definitely counts as an educational experience as well as a job! Extra nice, I get to write about the topics we covered in my training program and get some of that information out to a broader audience and, I hope, help some more people land great jobs!

In late August, a friend put me in touch with her employer because she needed someone to take over for her in the blogging/social media side of his business as she had landed a full-time job. Going to a business meeting feeling like a "vendor" was a new experience, much less nerve-wracking than a "job interview" and finally put me in the black.

For the last three months of 2011, I've worked 45 hour weeks, mostly at home, and have enjoyed myself tremendously being a writer and Social Media Consultant. Thanks to the openness and generosity of my managers and colleagues, I have learned a tremendous amount and will continue to do so in 2012.

It turns out the most important thing I learned working at the church was to be fearless. I spent a lot of time writing and thinking about what fear does to our thought processes and our decision making in those two years and, by the end, when I had to make a snap decision and take a very risky path, I did it without fear and with joy and gratitude.

I am indeed grateful for all I have learned, for the support and friendship of my colleagues, teachers and friends, for the gifts of love from the 'verse and for the opportunities I have received to grow and be happy.

I wish you peace.