embrace me.
love me, keep me, use me.
groove me, know me, touch me.

just show me.

can a woman want…
can a woman get a little bit of your lovin’?
can a woman want…
can a woman get a little bit of your precious feelin’?
-liv warfield, embrace me

So this is my theme for 2011.  Although Liv’s song is written to a man she’s admiring, I find a special kind of solace in the lyrics these days.  It’s time for me to embrace me, in all my awesome glory.  I’ve been reflecting on the things I’ve accomplished over the past two years:

• escaping an abusive relationship (2008-09)
• getting fired from my job (2009)
• starting grad school (2009)
• finally writing a strategic plan for an organization to house homeless youth (2010)
• feeling burned out & planning a trip around the world to help homeless youth
• learning through academics and activism that my original vision has no evidence-based support & deciding to turn my trip into a Ph.D. instead
• attending Alternatives 2010 & deciding that the goals of VisionSpeaks, Inc. need to be upheld, no matter what I do
• experiencing the most successful romantic relationship of my life & having to end it for reasons outside of our control
• deciding that I can no longer work for anyone ever again.

WHEW!

It has been a full year, indeed!  Even through it all, I have a hard time accepting that leading the development of DC’s first strategic plan to end & prevent youth homelessness is truly a big deal, that I *am* an expert in this, and several other things, and that my expertise & skill are worth money.  I just started reading The 4-Hour Work Week & it just seems like the Universe is conspiring for me to be great.  So yes, my motto for 2011:

Embrace me for who I am, where I am, when I am.
Embrace my life for what it is, where it is, when it is.