When I was interviewing to work at Fast Horse, I remember meeting with Jorg. He told me that even when things are crazy at the office, and everyone is running around stressed, he’ll listen for laughter. That’s the magic of this place — the people here aren’t just your friends; they turn into your family. Nobody is going to leave you hanging on a project if it’s too much to handle, people only rarely forget your birthday and you can most definitely count on everyone for a little comic relief throughout the day.

As 2016 comes to a close and we begin reflecting on the year, the ups and the downs, what we’re thankful for and what we’d like to change — I find myself feeling particularly thankful this year for opportunities. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work at Fast Horse for the past 1.5 years, grow in my career, make a lot of great memories and meet some pretty amazing people.

As we begin 2017, my husband and I have one of our biggest opportunities yet, trading our snow boots for flip-flops and heading to live abroad in Sydney, Australia. We take this opportunity with excitement, and a little bit of fear — and know that when we go back to reflect on 2017, we’ll be thankful for the adventure.

Thanks to everyone at Fast Horse and beyond who have made my time here unforgettable — and hopefully someday, you’ll welcome me back! Until then, g’day — right?