These Annual Review posts are following the lead of Chris Guillebeau. I always plan to review this information but never follow through; however, this year I am making sure I take the time to go through the exercise.   Also, within my corporate cubicle life, my job usually requires us to do an annual review and most people don’t care about it.  It’s a time they despise and try to avoid.   I was actually away from work while the review period was on and did not need to fill my information in.   I am more inclined to do the annual review that Chris goes through anyways.

Over the next few posts, I am going to cover a blog roundup, business plans for 2010, gratitude for inspirations, a photography round up, and things to come here.  I believe this will cover the majority of what needs to be reviewed.   I value a period of reflection and know that this process will propel me into the right space for 2010.  Happy Holidays!

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What are you proud of this year? There is no shame is reflecting on your proudest moments of the year.  Out of this exercise, I may find an emergent theme, or an emergent issue that I need to address for future success.  Here are a few of the things I am happy with from 2009:

• I kept moving forward with my websites/blogs after some major problems.
• Built a framework for Renaissance Living via multiple blog projects
• Got engaged to my awesome Girlfriend – Couldn’t get buy without her support
• Paid Photography Work
• Paid WordPress Install and Design Tweaking
• Finally made the trip out West to Alberta and British Columbia – Loved it

While looking at that list, or looking back, I might not notice anything ground breaking – I didn’t get the opportunity to quit my day job or escape from cubicle nation.  In my eyes, 2009 was about building brand equity and establishing my framework for the future.

Having multiple passions is not easy. Not only is it tough, it can be paralyzing.  Having a lot of things you really love to do can stop you from actually doing anything.  Being difficult does not mean that it isn’t possible to pursue multiple passions at the same time.  The challenge of pursuing my passions is motivating and allows me to set up the framework for my own brand.

Branding passion as “Renaissance Living” for the 21st Century. With multiple passions emerging this year, I started multiple blogs to pursue them.  Each site is then set to start building equity over time. Nuwomb Creative is the main hub of activity to display my many interests and become a living example that we can take control of our life – cut the cubicle umbilical cord – and make a living being our self.  I learned that you can go against the grain, and focus on more than 1 niche.  It may take more time to do everything this way, but my soul would be just as lost.

You can’t stop the creative urge.  This urge to be creative can be suppressed but it cannot be killed off.  My own creativity was buried deep for about 5 years and my body could not take it anymore.   The body communicates with us, but sometimes it takes something drastic to shock us into action.  My body was starting to have a lot of issues and with consistent medication this year, I feel as if I am gaining power over my depression.  To continue to monitor small things that could influence me, I have invested in my iPhone and multiple Moleskine notebooks.  This is to capture what fills my energy levels and allows me to ensure most if not all ideas are easily noted and not forgotten.  The importance of my ideas being captured easily is to not allow my creativity to be taken over by depression and anxiety any further.

The King of Pop and leaving a legacy.  I was at my cubicle job when I saw on twitter that Michael Jackson was rumored to have died.  It wasn’t certain at that point yet; however, I felt that it was news worthy of taking time out from work.  I started to mention it to co-workers but no one seemed very interested.   For some reason, I had to pick up the phone to call my girlfriend at work and talk to her.  Looking back, I know why: Legacy.  If you’re like me, when hearing of someones passing, you start to remember life is fragile.  It brings up a deep emotional question: Am I doing what I was meant to do in this lifetime?  Michael Jackson did the type of work that is worthy of Legacy.  While his life was hard, and life ended short, he did what he was meant to do here.  While I am still not 100% happy with what I do, I made steps towards it and a more meaningful life in 2009.

Life theme in 2009

In 2009, I didn’t have a set theme. Looking back in reflection, I would associate the theme of Awakening for 2009. I began to come out of my corporate coma, and avoided binge drinking.  My awakening was about learning that the life I was living, since being in university, was nothing like I wanted for myself.  My mind was numbed by weekends of alcohol and the desire to escape from life – I wanted the darkness.

The awakening of 2009 is very important to me. I cannot reach liberation without awakening first.  I feel that a Renaissance Lifestyle Design incorporates the idea of liberation for 2010.   Finding the right wording to define a theme in 2010 is very hard but for now, the previous sentence seems to work for me.  I welcome you to join me for 2010!

As much as I’d love to encourage comments, I’d honestly rather you spend your time writing your own review.  There is so much value in doing such an exercise. However, if you don’t have time or want to just leave a quick note on year, go for it!