2011 was the toughest year I’ve ever had, but I honestly don’t feel terrible, or discouraged, or worn down. At all. In fact, I feel like 2011 was the BEST year to learn and accomplish so much because I was constantly challenged. Some of the challenges I gave to myself, and others were outside of my control and planning. Out of every tough situation, though, there came something wonderful.

The year is covered over two blog posts, read part 2 here.

January 2011

I began seeing a nutritionist to lose weight. It was, initially, very humbling and embarrassing to face the reality of my weight. I was determined, however, and slowly but surely began losing pounds as I followed the eating plan and began a regular walking routine. Walking became something I looked forward to doing after work – it was invigorating and refreshing.

It was all very hard at first – changing the way I looked at food, learning about all the calories in what I was eating and how to make sure I was getting the right balance of protein, veggies, dairy, and carbs. I will say, though, that after a few weeks it became much easier. I was able to go out to eat and make good, healthy food decisions.

AND I drank wine every day. I love wine and knew that I would be miserable if I had to give up that vice. So I cut back, measured every portion, and counted all the calories for each drink. It was all about moderation.

April 2011

I returned to London for the first time in four years for an alumni reunion. It had been rather short notice  – I only had two months to plan the trip and save money – but I was very glad to go back. Initially, I felt that I had done the wrong thing. After all, I was spending money and going on “vacation” to a place I’d lived and worked in for over two years. I had already been to all the places.

Once I was reunited with so many old friends, professors, staff, and mentors, it was clear that I had used the time and money wisely. It also reminded me of why I had lived there in the first place – the people. People make the experience, not the place or the activities or the weather (although these things can enhance the experience).

May 2011

I made some new friends at work. Everyone was great, and a group of about 10 of us became very close. This was important, because part of that group lost their jobs after the company lost its biggest client, and I was one of them. This presented many challenges, one of them being that I had just come back from an international trip a few weeks earlier and money was a huge concern for me. You can read more about my experience losing my job in the blog post.

June 2011

By this point, I’d lost 30 pounds and felt like a completely different person. I was halfway to my weight-loss goal and  had to replace almost all of the clothes in my closet. Even though I was without a job, I was happier than I’d been in awhile and I admitted to myself that I hadn’t been satisfied at that job. I knew that I was going to find something better, and I had had lots of interviews.

I decided to take a road trip and visit some friends and family with my time off. I visited friends in Raleigh, Charlotte, Emerald Isle, and Washington DC, and spent time with my family at home and at the Outer Banks. It was the BEST decision I made – even though it cost me money, I feel I spent my time off wisely. It was three weeks of quality time with people I love. That is always worth it.

I filed for unemployment when I returned back to Atlanta from my trip. It was another very humbling, difficult experience and it brought me back to the reality that I was out of work.

July 2011

The job search had taken its toll: I’d be ecstatic about an opportunity one minute, and disappointed the next when it doesn’t move forward. Then it all came to a head with a job offer that was far less than what I was hoping for, and I was humbled yet again. I was forced to ask myself if I was really worth the salary I thought I was, since this offer – my only one thus far – was much less. I also had to look at the kind of work I wanted to do vs. what I was willing to do for a paycheck. In the end, I accepted the gig because it was a three-month contract to permanent position, and I kept the job search going.

I got a puppy and my life changed for the better. Stella is a shipoo and brought instant sunshine into my life at a pretty tough time. She continues to be an absolute delight and source of constant entertainment. Having a happy puppy to come to home to instead of an empty apartment has been a big improvement in my quality of life.

The Halfway Point

The first half of the year had a lot of ups and downs, and at this point I was definitely in limbo with my job search. I had, however, had a lot of great experiences that I was truly grateful for. Read the rest of my 2011 story in Part 2.