I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions a long time ago. Even in the later stages of childhood I came to understand it was just something people did but did not mean. Far to often it’s an excuse to indulge “one last time” before discontinuing some negative or unhealthy activity, only to resume it again before Spring peeks around the corner.

Instead of making resolutions and goals for 2010, I thought it more advantageous to reflect on all my successful goals for 2009.  This idea came, indirectly, from an NLP Christmas Podcast by the amazing Gemma Bailey at People Building.

Here are the most important items for my 2009 year (in no particular order):

• I left my position at IO Studio and started the foundation of my future entrepreneurship.  I have business partners that I respect and appreciate, as well as business ideas that are in process of construction.  There is still a long way to go, but this step has been paramount to my future success and happiness.
• I moved out of my apartment and into a condo with my girlfriend.  For the first time I’m serious about “settling down”.  We even started a joint bank account and labeled it a “New House” fund.
• I made more freelance money this year than all money from freelance in previous years combined.  It still seems so ridiculous to me that I’m lucky enough to get paid doing something  I love, and also be in such high demand to do it.
• I took the time for a real vacation, going to the beach in North Carolina with Mimi.  I hadn’t seen the ocean in 4 years, it’s still as vast as it is beautiful.  (fish are still gross and eerie)
• This year I got my first HD TV and bought an X-Box 360 (my first gaming system since the Original Playstation).  I also got my first iPhone at the beginning of the year, and an upgraded 3GS in December.  Despite all these superfluous purchases, I was able to decrease my monsterous credit card debt by 70%, I’ll be out of debt by June of 2010 (never to return).

Looking back over this highlight reel of accomplishments I actually feel “my age” for the first time in a long time.  This year I grew in so many diverse directions, in so many different ways.  I actually feel like a 29 year old adult, and look forward to reviewing the even bigger accomplishments next year.

Please take the time to do this, everyone deserves to look back and pat themselves on the back for all the wonderful things they personally could get done.