Day 365 of Firsts:Look Back on an Incredible Year

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.  ~Victor Frankl

It's hard to believe this day has finally come. I made it.  I can truly say I've lived an entire year of Firsts every day.  And so many of you have helped me. I want to say thank you to every single one of you who has followed this blog, helped me and supported me or just offered some words of encouragement along the way.

What began as a whimsical, crazy challenge to get out of a rut has rewarded me with amazing new experiences, challenges, friends, jobs, skills and a refreshed and reinvented life. It's true. My life has dramatically changed this year and this blog set me on the path to make that happen. 

I didn't know exactly where I was going when I started this adventure jumping into the Atlantic Ocean last New Years Day. I just knew something had to change.

What I've learned is that I had to change. I had to get out of my comfort zone every day and explore, learn, push myself, teach, say yes to things that made me a little scared but excited. 

Some Firsts were just small and silly. Still, each experience allowed me to eventually tackle big things with confidence and knowledge that failure was okay but not trying something I wanted  to do was unacceptable.

So what's changed?

I have a new job at the moment. I'm hosting the 10! Show on NBC 10.  It's a huge change from investigative reporting but I'm so happy every day when I wake up to go to work. I never would have guessed this would have happened a year ago but reinventing your life can take you to unexpected and wonderful places.

I taught my first college journalism course at Drexel University and I know that I want teaching to be in my future.  That means this next year I've got to knuckle down and continue working on my Masters degree. 

I've leaped into new technology. I've embraced social media, learned to edit my own video, adore my IPad and find any news I need online. Well, it's a start.

I spoke at the Pennsylvania Governor's Conference about how to reinvent your life.  I hope that I'll be able to continue to help motivate others to get "unstuck" in their lives. 

Which leads me to my plan for 2011. This last year has been about my journey. I hope this next year is about yours.

Tomorrow I'll launch a new version of this blog.  I hope you'll share your firsts, your tips, your videos and pictures as you reinvent your life.

I'll be sharing stories of people I've been talking to, some famous, most just every day folks who've found a way to take a leap and change their lives in some meaningful way. 

I'm hoping you'll find inspiration here and that you'll help inspire others. 

In the meantime, here's a look back on some of the highlights of One Year of Firsts from 2010.  

Happy New Year !