One year with a 'Real' Job

Wow, as of yesterday I have been affiliated with the Broadway show Mamma Mia for exactly one year. One year ago, I got a phone call asking me if I could be in Lexington, Kentucky by 9pm. Since then, a ton has happened to me. It is interesting that so much can happen and it seem like it all happened yesterday.

In the past year, I;
Was let go from my first job out of college due to budget cuts
Started my own Free-lance Lighting Design Career
Learned how to run a Spot-Light for a Major Broadway Production
Took a test that could have defined the rest (or at least the next five years) of my career
Passed that test in the top 40 out of about 700 people
Bought a Harley
Have spent more time in Hotels than I have at home
Re-aligned what I thought was important to me as a person
Have been able to actually make enough money to not feel like I am still a broke, College kid
Have spent more time in Airports and on Airplanes than in Cars
Had a very important, personal relationship end a lot sooner than I ever hoped or even thought it would
Have visited a good portion of the country, including towns that I have never heard of
Have made a ton of new friends from all over the country
Learned I can live out of one suitcase
Have actually start to feel like I know what the Heck I am doing
Gave my first lecture as a guest at a university
Been to more opening night parties than I ever thought I would go to
Been to more bars in more cities with great people than I ever thought I would
Celebrated New Year's Eve in Canada
Celebrated my Birthday in Wisconsin
Celebrated Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street in New Orleans
Saw the Saints win the Super Bowl while in New Orleans
Hired my first accountant to take of my Taxes
Opened a retirement fund
Made a huge dent in my School-Loan Debt
Have employer-provided health care
Became a 'grown-up' with a 'real job'

these are just a few of the highlights. I bet I can look back on the past year and find a ton more. The most important thing to happen to me is the fact that I have had the time to look back and reflect on who I am as a person. I saw some things that I liked, and some things that I didn't like about myself. I have been able to really work on the things that bothered me. I have started to adventure out of my comfort zone more. I have really tried harder to stay in better touch with those that are important to me. Communication while away was not my strong suit a year ago, I like to believe that I am getting better at it and it is helping me enjoy things more.

Anyways, the first year is complete. Let's see where the next one goes...

Thanks for reading