Microsoft MVP and New Year Reflections

It seems that New Year's Eve is the time when most people reflect on the previous year; the good, the bad, short-comings and high points.  For me, the reflection begins after receiving this e-mail from Microsoft:

"Dear Corrine Chorney,

Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2014 Microsoft® MVP Award! This award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with others. We appreciate your outstanding contributions in Consumer Security technical communities during the past year."

The process of reflection led me to my thoughts at the start of 2013.  I was profoundly affected by an event that occurred in a nearby community, the Christmas Eve shooting of four volunteer firefighters, resulting in the death of Mike (Chip) Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka and Theodore Scardino and Joseph Hofstetter being seriously injured.

How was I to know that a mere nine months later, members of my own community firefighters would respond to my panic 911 call and miraculously bring my husband back to life?   (Group 3 responded last night... - Ridge Culver Professional Firefighters Association, Local 4176)

So, as I celebrate the New Year and having again been awarded Microsoft MVP, I am extremely grateful that I live in a community of dedicated heroes.

Wishing the very best that 2014 has to offer to family and friends -- both real-life friends as well as the many close "virtual" friends from around the globe.  

From The Microsoft MVP Award Program Blog, Congratulations New and Renewed MVPs! - Happy New Year:

"Today, 1,011 exemplary community leaders around the world were notified that they have received the MVP Award! These individuals were chosen because they have demonstrated their deep commitment to helping others make the most of their technology, voluntarily sharing their passion and real-world knowledge of Microsoft products with the community.

While there are more than 100 million social and technical community members, only a small portion are selected to be recognized as MVPs. Each year, around 4,000 MVPs are honored. They are nominated by Microsoft, other community individuals, or in some cases themselves. Candidates are rigorously evaluated for their technical expertise, community leadership, and voluntary community contributions for the previous year. They come from more than 90 countries, speak over 40 different languages, and are awarded in more than 90 Microsoft technologies. Together, they answer more than 10 million questions a year!"

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...