The next chapter ………………………

I will always remember 2010 as my crazy mixed-up year.  I never expected something that started so innocently – selling a couple hundred bags of Peas to find my dream job – would grow into what it did.  One crazy idea turned into another:  making jewelry with Peas, into another: making jewelry from recycled materials, into another: the Peas to Paychecks program, and into another: making brownies with Peas.

I am beyond thankful for the opportunities I had to share my crazy ideas.   I will never forget my first appearance on local television, the thrill of seeing myself on national TV, the opportunity to attend Green Fashion Week in NYC, the feature in the AJC, the launch of my jewelry collection, and my CNN experience (although I still haven’t seen it).  I am also thankful for the opportunity to tell my story through so many blogs, radio, and speaking engagements.  I will absolutely NEVER forget the day Katie Couric spoke about Peas for Prosperity (thanks Google Alerts).  I will also never forget all the people who helped me along the way.

As I have said many times before, “I have never been poorer but I’ve never been happier”.   This past year was filled with incredible high’s and low’s.  It was the happiest, most thrilling, and exciting year of my life.  But, it was the most difficult, challenging, and poorest year too.  I worked myself to death, the best way I knew how.   I helped a lot of people, raised money for charity, and connected with many amazing groups. The thing I forgot to do, however, was take care of myself.

It’s time for the next chapter.  Time to build upon the knowledge and experience I gained this past year, to focus a bit more on myself, and create my next experience.  A new chapter, in a new, fascinating country: China.  Follow my journey as I write the next chapter in my crazy mixed-up life, the China chapter.