Ryan j Budke

If there was one thing I learned from being home over the holidays, it was that a lot more friends and family read my blog than I ever thought. So I apologize to all of you that do, and promise that there’s going to be more updates. I started privately blogging somewhere else a few months ago, just for myself, when I all but disappeared from here, and may put some of those up from time to time. Please don’t be strangers yourself, you know how to get a hold of me, and I’m always up for a good chat.

Now, on to the real reason for this post: I can not wait for 2008! I was one of those kids who actually looked forward to the beginning of the school year. Not because of school itself, but because you got to come back and show everyone how much you had changed over the summer (even though I rarely did). As we grow up, and move on from school, we don’t really have that “break” anymore, the long stretch of time we had to improve privately. Now those stretches are public, seem to go so much slower, and we have to define the beginning moments for ourselves. Most use the passing of the year to make that “fresh start” and aim for something more in their lives. I start looking forward to that moment almost as soon as I get back from vacation with my family every year.

It’s not that I’m uncomfortable with who I am now, it’s just that, I’m addicted to reinvention and learning. I love changing things about myself. Whether it’s blond hair or a new tattoo, or going so far as moving across the country or learning a new language. When I was younger, I learned a couple of pretty hard lessons that (I think) shaped me into who I am today. You never know when things could come to an end. Whether it’s a job, your hairline, your own life, or that of someone’s close to you. So you have to enjoy it the best you can. Now, I’m well aware that this isn’t any chunk of knowledge that other more important people haven’t told you a thousand times over in your life, but everyday is only what you make of it. I try to live everyday like it’s the best day of my life, and most of the time, they are.

2007 hasn’t been (it’s not over yet) a bad year, but it was by far the most challenging year of my life. I passed on some amazing opportunities that I was honored to even have offered to me. I worked my ass off for sometimes, nothing at all, and other times (more than most realize) more than I could have ever hoped for. I moved across the continent. I lost faith in some friends, got it back in others, and gained friends I can’t imagine not having in my life. I was physically very sick for a while, and didn’t even realize it. I screwed up a few relationships. Through it all though, I remained positive. Not naive, not oblivious to what was going on around me, not “the world is full of sunshine and rainbows”, just positive. Were there days that sucked the high hard one, well f*ck yea, but you keep going. Remember the good stuff, learn from the bad stuff, and keep going.

I’m looking forward to 2008 because I’ll get to see the fruits of a lot of labors. Crops don’t grow overnight, good things come to those that wait and all that jazz. I’m very proud of my job and think our team is doing amazing work that I can’t wait to share with everyone else. I’m looking forward to a new me (more on that one tomorrow). I can’t wait for all of the little surprises that life has in store. It’s going to be a good year.

You can’t have tomorrow before today though. So right now, I’m going to go celebrate today, and where else better to do that than Las Vegas? Wish me luck, and when I win big, I’ll take you all out and celebrate the day.

Have a safe and wonderful New Year’s. I love you all (yea, I’m a big softie… no fat jokes), and I’ll see you in 2008.