I’m looking forward to 2010 being a great year. I see it as a fresh start to what was a really, really trying time in 2009. How does this fit into a parenting column? The happier I am as a person, the easier it is to give of myself to my child. There were far too many days last year that I felt tired, frustrated, or sick, because of stress-induced circumstances.

I heard back from a number of people, as December grew to a close, that 2009 was the worst year of their lives - ever, or at least, in recent history. That was definitely the case for me. KHNL laid me off and my dog died. Both, after 13 years. It was a toughie.

My one and only resolution for 2010 is to figure out what the next work-related step is. Is it going to be a new career, and re-training for a new field? What field? Is it going to be just looking for jobs with attractive benefits and hours? And, when? How much time do I need to restore my own balance? How much time do I want to devote to only my daughter, Olivia?

I'm sure I'll find the answers, and I think it's healthy to give myself a year to do it. I want a quality answer, because it's going to determine the next path in the road. I don't want to feel rushed into making such an important decision.

I read a wonderful article about reinventing onesself. Novelist and radio host Kurt Andersen recalled his firing from New York magazine 13 years ago as something freeing. "Getting fired was traumatic. Finding my way since has been thrilling and immensely gratifying," he wrote in Time magazine.

He also quotes a Japanese Zen master, Shunryu Suzuki, who said that "in the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few."

I'm an expert in my craft as a reporter and anchor. If pressed, I can write a story in ten minutes. I can execute a flawless live shot with 30 second's notice. I'm proud of that... and I'm tired of that. I wouldn't have been had I not been laid off, but think I subconsciously disconnected, such that I've turned the corner to embrace a new life outside of news.

People keep asking what's next. I know they mean a career. They are not satisfied to hear, "Be a mom."

I have always freelanced a LOT in all kinds of capacities - pretty much anything within the scope of my skill set, which is writing, reading, reading out loud, being on camera, and public relations stuff.

As for a salaried job? I don’t know what I want to do. I always felt lucky that I chose a career that I loved, and that my skills and natural aptitudes were well suited for. Now I feel a little unlucky, because I never envisioned myself embarking upon another career. I wanted to be a lifelong journalist. I really have to sit and think about what other field might spark a similar passion.

Most journalists go into one of three industries: public relations, law, or politics. Law sounds like the most feasible, most realistic option. I have a Master’s degree in political science, but I don’t want to be a politician. As I said, I’ve got a year to think about it.