Dear team,

I've been making lists to cross things off. WHAT? Don't look at me and my 5 million lists like that. I like to keep track of stuff. And prioritize it. And then make it into a new list. It is easy and makes me feel like I'm getting stuff done. However, looking back at all the lists, it seems the daily tasks get finished and the big picture, future looking goals get tossed aside.

While I'm definitely getting things done, it seems as though I'm not moving towards the direction I want to be going, even though I clearly know where I want to be going and what is important to me.

Last year, I wrote out my 2009 New Year's resolutions. It seemed incredibly silly at the time, but it blows my mind to read it now, remember what I was going through then and think about how much I've grown. Interestingly, I wrote about what I love, what I love to do and how I want to be doing it, but not in an actionable format, more of a "wouldn't it be great if..." kind of way. Well fuck that, I don't see very much similarity between what I love and me right now, even though I've had a year to work on bringing my life closer to my passions. So even if it's lame, I'm writing it out.

5. I love to help, connect and organize people. As soon as you say hello to me, I'm thinking about who else I would invite over for dinner if I knew you were coming 'round. I can't help it. I like smart people and the interesting discussions that come from being around them. Either when they are with their peers, or with people who have backgrounds that are completely different.

4. I'm a music addict. Sourcing rad music is probably one of my top 3 skills. I haven't figured out if this could ever be a paying gig (I doubt it), but I'm happy to just have it be a big part of my life. Every moment has a soundtrack and I want to ensure that I've got the time to enjoy it and share it with others.

3. I am enamored with mobile/tech/web. This is 50% shiny gadgets, 50% my love of connecting with people. Show me a new phone and I will want to touch it, figure it out and integrate it into my daily routine. Show me a new use for current technology and I'll want to tell all of my friends. Show me something that is completely innovative and you'll have my heart forever.

2. I am an idea pump. If you tell me what you want to do, I will give you three options to do it right away. Give me a few days and I'll have a laundry list of possibilities. I like to think about people and what makes them tick. Then think of ways to tap into that. There's nothing quite as cool as putting a smile on someone's face (well, putting a smile on someone's face, plus getting them to open their wallets might be the coolest thing - hey, a girl's gotta eat).

1. I like to write. I'm not about to write a novel, nor is any of my writing hanging out in the deep end of the pool. I write like I talk and when I talk, sometimes I ramble :) However, more often than not, I find it is the best way for me to communicate. I get nervous and I'm kind of shy when it comes to talking about me. It is so easy to share stuff with people by writing it down.

So there they are. My five things I'm passionate about. If you catch me doing things that aren't on this list, call me out on it. I'll need a little help from my friends on this.

Every time I pile too much on my plate, my friends must endure a week or two of me saying, "Once this is done, I won't commit to anything else, I'm becoming a hermit." They're used to it by now and if it garners a reaction, it'll be a well timed *eye roll* at most. I don't know if it's healthy, but I do know that I can't change it, no matter how many times I buy you a coffee and make you sit through a pretentious lecture about how only stupid people have a shot at being happy and how I also want to be blissfully unaware (apologies...you know I'll do it again...to all of you). Here are the top reasons I can't seem to say no when an idea for something new comes to me:

5. I get inspired. I read stuff. I hear things. Then I realize that the things that inspire me aren't happening where I am. So I want to change it. I blame Google for making it so easy for me to see what cool things are happening in the rest of the world.

4. I meet a lot people. You know how sometimes, you go to a conference and meet someone who reminds you why you do 27 things at a time and love them all? Yeah, me too.

3. I cannot stop doing. "Less talk, more action" has never been a problem for me. Although I talk a lot (hey, I get paid to talk), if something needs to happen, I am 100% cool with rolling up my sleeves and getting down to business...and I see a lot of things that need to happen. Accountability is probably my most employable skill (which is good, because the employable ones are few and far between).

2. I spent a year in constant existential crisis mode. I am still not quite sure I know who I am, or what my purpose in life is. As such, I keep trying. I know there are several things that I like (who's kidding who, there's a top 5 of things that I like) and I keep trying them on. Keeping multiple pots going on the stove is a way for me to keep working on who I am - the only alternative is to sit around, paralyzed by fear.

1. My parents never told me I couldn't. Ah, that GD paradox of choice. My parents told me I could do anything I wanted when I grew up, and I believed them. However, I'm such a Spoiled Little Brat (SLB, as my bro calls me), I can't pick just one thing and want to do it all. Color me Veruca and buy me a pony.