Simply Complicated Facts of Life

2010: My Top 10 List of Events / Lessons Learned + Top 10 Impactful People

2010 was one of the best years I've had yet. I experienced soaring highs, and torrential lows but with one thing remaining constant – everything in my life changed dramatically. All in all, however – I took a lot of lessons learned from 2009 and moved forward to implement several rules for the year that made it everything I never knew it could be

2010 was one of the best years I’ve had yet. I experienced soaring highs, and torrential lows but with one thing remaining constant – everything in my life changed dramatically. All in all, however – I took a lot of lessons learned from 2009 and moved forward to implement several rules for the year that made it everything I never knew it could be. My rules for 2010 were:

• 2010 – a year of travel! Complete 8 domestic destinations and 2 international destinations (Completed! Wahoo!)
• Live life irrationally – do things that are seemingly uncomfortable without hesitation
• Be relentless about my relationships – spend as much quality time with my family and friends as possible producing meaningful conversations, creating significant connections, and ultimately love more deeply

Based off these rules, I learned some amazing things and made some truly incredible connections.

Top 10 Events & Lessons Learned in 2010:

1. Conquered my irrational fear of cliffs by climbing them – I learned to face fears and feelings that were out of my control by taking them head on not necessarily to control them, but to be comfortable with being uncomfortable

2. Walked through NYC in a wedding dress then burned it to ashes at Golden Gardens in Seattle– I learned to trust myself in my intentions for the world and who I want to be while deflecting judgment from plenty of external forces that don’t matter.

3. Went to Sasquatch Music Festival for 3 days with some people I knew, some people I barely knew, and mostly people I didn’t know at all – and rediscovered music in a huge way while having one of the best times in my life. This trip alone sparked an entire music revolution for the year and for those in my music circle – we dance to the same drum.

4. Reconnected with an old friend, got a cabin up at Stevens Pass – then spent two full weekends with 30+ strangers for both weekends. I learned if you open your heart to the world and to people whether you know them or not, they will open themselves to you in unexpected ways and meaningful relationships can be created.

5. I walked this world alone for the first time – I’ve never been single and out of a relationship for longer than a couple weeks in my entire life, and decided now was the time. I discovered so much about myself to the point where I can say for the first time in my life – I really found myself. Not me and someone else, or me in someone else’s life, but just me.

6. In an absolute uphill battle, I rediscovered love – in God, in myself, in my family, in others. I’ve always loved the latter, but I never knew the type of love that I created this year even existed.

7. Went to Lake Chelan with two complete strangers, completed the longest car ride in history without the radio on and came back as a part of the Three Amigos. I learned friendship is not dependent upon the length of time you know someone, but how willing you are to commit and give to another.

8. Saw all of New England with the entire, and I mean entire O’Dowd Family while celebrating a family legacy. I learned family far and wide will always run deep across generations and generations when you have an amazing foundation.

9. Attending Oliver’s first Christmas concert ever. I learned in unconditional love, you will do anything, ANYTHING, for someone even for just 30 seconds if it’s important. I also learned doing those daily tasks for parents is stressful!

10. Instead of spending my most sacred moment of the year – Christmas with my family – in Colton, I went to Argentina & Uruguay for the warmest Christmas ever with my boyfriend. I learned some risks are worth taking and committing relentlessly to another without knowing  how it may turn out  – is worth it (and it was).

Top 10 Impactful People in no particular order:

I focus on maintaining balance in 6 particular areas of my life as listed below. The following people were beacons of light, people of inspiration, masters or mentors of the category and have helped me to grow and stay balanced in that particular area which  made the biggest impact on my year for me. The words “thank you” do not do justice to the following people for who you are, what you’ve contributed to my life – and I am forever grateful for you in 2010, now, and in the future.  Thank you – I think you are truly, truly amazing. I’m writing something quick about each of you, but I’ll be sending you all a message instead on my full sentiments. I love you all!

Professional – Kevin Wong: I have had the divine pleasure of seeing Kevin grow professionally over the past years and see him really take his life by the reins and succeed, succeed, succeed. I am so proud of Kevin and his accomplishments and his work is just phenomenal – especially his photography. Check him out at: http://www.kvwong.com/

Family – Cori Trahan: Cori is the most amazing mother that has endured and embraced motherhood in unlikely and challenging circumstances. She is the epitome of strength and perseverance just for the sake of unconditional love – and I hope one day to be just as amazing of a mother as she is.

Love – Seth Maxwell:  Seth taught me a lot about love by side commentating my entire love life with wildly inappropriate humor and brutal honesty. Seth is the type of friend that doesn’t tell you what you want to hear, he’s the type of friend that tells you what you need to hear and that’s the only type of friend that should exist. This year – I really needed to hear it. Thank you, Seth. For being a true friend and making me tackle things head on with your sick sense of humor. I am forever grateful.

Health – Tom Truong: My brother is in wellness which is not just your physical state, but also emotional, spiritual, and your overall wellness as a human being. He became my life coach this year and made sure I stayed the course of balance, peace, and wellness. You are brilliant, dear brother – I wouldn’t have gotten through the year without your listening, your coaching, and above all love.

Spiritual – Ron Wheeler: Ron taught me more about God, my relationship with God, and the latter than I’ve learned in my entire life. Without Ron I would be lost spiritually and therefore lost everywhere else in my life. Ron restored my foundation, my well of love, and gave me my life back. Ron – you are the ultimate mentor, teacher, and above all friend.

Personal Development – Ryan Dudley: Ryan leaves me speechless, but only because I’m always deep in thought trying to discover more about myself and my purpose in the world because Ryan encourages you and opens doors to your soul that you didn’t know existed. He is insightful, incredibly human in the most complimentary way, and is so rich with love you can’t help but feel it deep within you when you’re with him.

Friendship – Jason Shrick, Katie Grimes, Alaina Miller, Brian Moore: to all of you, your friendship contributed and uplifted me this year in amazing ways. I am always late, I triple-book myself, and am terrible about phone calls – but you accept me for who I am and stood by me, offered to restore me – little by little, day by day. I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for your friendship and what you’ve done for me. I love you all.

Other impactful people for the year worth mentioning: Crissy Hathaway, Kathleen Moser, Michael Russell, Laura Rosenthal, Hans Rasmussen, Riley Waring, Bryan Pierce, Rick Parchen, Candace Cusano, Sean O’Dowd, Brian Case, Ian Weinberg, Ashley Elders – Shalabh Chaundri – Justin Frank – Cap Puckhaber – Dani Friedrich – Johnny Fever all as one, Ian Wysonick, John Garner, Adam Ellis, and plenty of people I’m forgetting:

you all had a significant impact on me this year, whether carrying over from the previous year, in just a short blurb, or we are just in the beginning. Thank you for contributing to my life and I am grateful for your presence in this world.

Love, love, love….I am looking forward to 2011!

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