Today is my birthday! I’m not really into my birthday that much, but after seeing what Matt Mullenweg, who I really respect and admire, has done over the years with his birthday, I wanted to post something today.

Last year was the most expensive and unhappiest year yet. I hated my job and had the means to dilute my unhappiness. My credit card spending went up 1,000% in one month. I jumped out of an airplanes with my friends, raced across The Yard of Bricks with my brother, and just barely missed a crazy parley on the Super Bowl. As reckless as it sounds, it was rather tame for me. I had a great time, got to see some new parts of the world, lost some weight, and am all the better for it.

This last year has really put a spotlight on friends. In high school and college, you’re surrounded by peers which makes it easy to find a common ground and become friends. When you go to a big city where almost everyone comes from a different walk of life, finding people to relate with and confide in becomes more challenging. I’m very thankful to have met so many awesome people in Chicago.

And then I took a stand for happiness and passion. I quit my job, moved across the country, and am still processing it all. My car still feels like a rental, and my apartment is a mix of the Other’s village from LOST and a hotel suite with no room service. What I do know is that I worked more in the last 10 days than I ever did in a two week span with Accenture and enjoyed every second of it. I feel like I no longer need to thank god that it’s Friday.

The year ahead holds one thing: new. New city, new job, new apartment(s), new friends, new skills, new projects, new destinations, new beers, new music, new clothes, new challenges, new experiences, and new adventures. The first couple of weeks will be terrifying and lonely but ultimately rewarding. All in all, I’d say I’ve come quite a ways since scheming how to cheat Groupon.