Hands down, my best blog find of the year is the lovely, the awe-inspiring, the tremendously moving – Matador Network.  I don’t even remember how I stumbled up on it but my life is forever changed because of it.

While browsing their site for the first time I noticed that they were about to launch an online writing course, Matador U.  After looking at the course syllabus, I excitedly signed up and delved right into the course materials.  Through the assignments and forums I connected with so many like-minded individuals living these amazing lives all over the world.  Now I have this incredible support network of writers right at my fingertips.

Matador was one of the first places to publish my work  – A Dirtbagger’s Guide to the American West and How Far Would You Go to Curb Climate Change.  I was also very honored when Julie interviewed me about landing a gig with NileGuide on Matador Pulse.

Not only is Matador a great support network for writers and travelers but it is the best and biggest independent travel magazine in the world.  Matador is the best place for trip ideas, creative lifestyle ideas, and witty and amusing news.

If you are looking for trip ideas visit these that I recently added to my wish list:

• Santiago Sidetrip: Cajón del Maipo
• The Best, Strangest, and Most Dangerous Roads in the World
• Roadtrip Australia: Melbourne to Sydney Along the Sapphire Coast

Or ideas and inspiration on living the crazy travel life:

• Dumpster Diving: The Easiest Way to Find Free Food
• A Life Well Lived: Developing a Personal Manifesto
• How To Travel The World For Free (Seriously)

“What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do – especially in other people’s minds. When you’re traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.” – William Least Heat Moon

I decided to take part in the Best of 2009 Blog Challenge to perhaps fuel some reflection about the greatest year ever.  To participate in the blog challenge, you simply create a blog post based on a certain prompt for each day of December.  Sponsor, Gwen Bell says that you don’t need to participate every day but can choose one or any number of days.

Getting started on December 3, I am suppose to list an article published in 2009 that absolutely blew me away.  I choose Is Quitting Your Job During the Recession Crazy by Michelle Goodman.

I don’t know if it necessarily blew me away but it validated my decision to quit my job in the apparently worst time ever.  Having made me feel that much less crazy, this articles deserves the honor as the best article I read in 2009.

I have to admit that I felt sort of guilty for giving up my seemingly stellar job when others around me were struggling to find work and make ends meet.  Many people thought I was quite honestly stupid for throwing away a job so highly coveted with decent pay and ridiculously amazing benefits.

But I was prepared, my decision was well thought through – I had a plan, financial cushion, and some freelance opportunities.  I had reduced my living expenses, paid off some debt, and was so incredibly stoked for my new path.  But numerous freak outs about the current economic climate had me almost un-quit just as we were about to offer the job to someone else.   Then I came across this article and it made me feel like I was prepared and that the decision to leave my job during the recession was an ok idea. Plus the act of quitting my job was actually altruistic – my job was given to someone who may have needed it more.