Happy 500th!

Hard to believe this marks my 500th post since I started this blog back in the summer of 2008. Five-freakin'-hundred. I feel like someone should present me with a cake like they do with television shows marking the milestone episodes. So what have I learned in the last 500 posts (circa the last 3.5 years...)?

1. I am blessed. This blog is filled with stories of friendship, adventure, family ties, and life lessons. There's been some trials and tribulations along the way but looking back, I can say confidently say I've had a good life.

2. I've lived in three different cities since starting this blog: Memphis, Athens, and now St. Louis. And I've discovered that as hard as it is to say goodbye to what is comfortable and what you know, the excitement of seeing what's around the corner and the people you'll meet along the way enrich your life in ways you could never imagine.

3. There's a big and key difference between blogging and journaling. And keeping that in mind each and every time I post has allowed me to retain some privacy in my personal life but also prevented me from sharing some of the best stories ever (those from my current job). Perhaps one day those stories will surface!

4. My life is driven by my relationships. As I look back and read old posts, the times when I am happiest and most content are when I'm discovering and celebrating this crazy place with those who mean the most to me.

5. To never give up. On life. On love. On hope. On the belief that one day, love WILL erase hate, and each and every person will believe that they matter.

Here's to the next 500! Cheers.