Happy New Year to everyone!
I originally intended to share a list of New Year’s resolutions, but as I started writing I realized how limiting that approach can be. Looking back on 2013, I never would have predicted the path it took: finding a new job, writing and self-publishing a cookbook, traveling to four different countries, helping launch an underground dinner society, and co-founding the Windy City Blogger Collective. I’m grateful for all of those experiences, and I suspect that had I written them down as goals on January 1, 2013, they might have felt either overly ambitious or intimidating.
Life rarely follows a strict plan. Rather than setting a rigid list of resolutions, I prefer to remain open to opportunities and to invest energy in projects that spark my interest. In 2013 I stopped merely dreaming and began executing — taking on work and creative pursuits that I hadn’t imagined at the start of the year.
For 2014 I’m skipping a fixed resolutions list and continuing with the same approach: follow what excites me and commit to the things that enrich my life. The Second City Food Wine + Social Club and the friendships that grew from it have been unexpected and rewarding. I’m eager to see how SCFWSC grows in the coming year. I’ll also be dedicating more time to writing for The Kittchen and contributing to CheekyChicago and Career Girl Network.
One of the biggest developments this year is the Windy City Blogger Collective. Our website is scheduled to launch this month, and I’m thrilled to collaborate with a wonderful group of women to plan events and create an online forum where Chicago bloggers can connect. The blogosphere can sometimes feel competitive and unkind, but it doesn’t have to be that way. My hope is that the Windy City Blogger Collective becomes a supportive community that encourages creativity, collaboration, and friendship. If you’d like more information or want to be added to our event email list, please reach out.
2014 is shaping up to be a busy and exciting year. Between The Second City Food Wine + Social Club, the Windy City Blogger Collective, my writing projects, and my full-time role at Groupon — a job I genuinely enjoy — there’s a lot to look forward to. I’m also hopeful that this could be the year we welcome a dog into our family.
Wishing you a fantastic start to 2014 and a year full of unexpected opportunities and meaningful accomplishments.