[I'm participating in Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 Blog Challenge, in case you're all like, what's with the theme?]

Learning experience. What was a lesson you learned this year that changed you?

From a year defined by its learning experiences, it’s tough to pick one. So here are the top three lessons I learned in 2009.

• There are a whole bunch of people out there to whom I make sense, and vice versa. Please believe me when I say I had not thought this possible. You people make my world a better place.
• It’s possible to have a no-harm, no-foul parting of ways. I love this one. Just because things don’t work out does not mean we have to be embarrassed about it. I didn’t know this. It’s great!
• Asking for what I want and need is not only permissible, it’s adviseable. Not to mention much easier than hoping people will read my mind. And nicer than being crushed when it, uh, doesn’t happen.

Here’s to simple, basic concepts. Like fellowship, mutual respect and honesty.