Are you better off now than 8 years ago?

I was reading a blog post about happiness (link), and it got me thinking. Am I better off now than I was 8 years ago?

To answer this question, I need to rewind to this day eight years ago. Since July 1, 2000, I have:

- survived brain surgery
- began my undergrad education at the University of Minnesota
- transferred to the University of Michigan
- Graduated from school
- Started my career as an IT consultant
- Earned a promotion
- Met and began dating my girlfriend Mona (going on 4 and a half years now!)
- Moved to Chicago
- Traveled to Scotland, London, and Costa Rica
- became an elite traveler in the eyes of Northwest Airlines, American Airlines, Starwood Hotels, and Marriott Hotels

Ok, so there were some pitfalls in the past 8 years...I didn't get into graduate school, I'm still working as an IT consultant, but all in all, I'm pretty happy with the progress that I've made in 8 years.

This leads me to believe that regardless of who's in charge in Chicago (like Mayor Daley is ever going to leave), Springfield, or Washington, I'm pretty capable of bettering myself.

Perhaps through the gloom and doom of inflation, terrorism, oil prices, credit crunch, Iraq, and Bill O'Reily, its helpful and important to know that there are more important things in life...and that you are solely responsible for achieving them.

How have you grown in the past 8 years?