"I took off for a weekend last month Just to try and recall the whole year"

This Jimmy Buffett quote is a great Way the start this post.

As we are closing out 2011, there is a lot to reflect on. This has been a year of stress, achievement, setbacks, growth, and faith. This has by far been the most challenging year of my life. I am glad that this year is ending, however I am also glad that I had this experience.

2011 started out with slow volume in the mortgage business and focused training for my first triathlon. In February, I got the exciting news that I was a top producer in 2010 and Linds and I would be going to Palm Springs, CA! Within the next 30 days, I completed my race, Linds completed her first half marathon, and Wells Fargo shut our office down laying off over 250 people. Talk about a roller coaster! In less that a month, I was training with Northwestern Mutual as a Financial Representative. Even though my time at Northwestern was short, I am glad that I went there. There is a saying that no experience is wasted if you learn something. This position showed me what I did not want for my career. With no regrets, I resigned from this position in September and began to focus on what I Did want to do.

I will pause in the career timeline to go back to August. One morning in late August I was riding by bike at 5:30am in training for an upcoming race when a 82 year old man crossed the center line and hit me head on. Thankfully, nothing was broken on me. The bike on the other hand, according to the bike guy at Try Sports, "Wow, looking at that bike, you should not be walking!" Unfortunately, because there were no witnesses and the cop did not take a detailed report, the driver's insurance company denied the claim. After about a month I got back on the bike and finished the bike leg of the Beach 2 Battleship half iron triathlon. My time was not great, but I was just glad to be back riding again.

October brought me back to the Credit Union as a Sr. Financial Services Officer. I was very excited as it felt like I was coming home.

The Grateful Dead said it best, "What a long strange trip its been".

If I had to sum up my year in one word, I think it would have to be self-discovery. I learned a lot about who I was, who I wasn't, and what I am capable of. So bring on 2012! My goal is to keep challenging myself in all aspects of my life. I am looking forward to my 2nd year of triathlons, growing with my new job, and spending time with Linds and R without the 2011 stress!