Time flies. I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since my last post! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. I must admit mine was wonderful..
I actually started writing a post on my way home to Seattle for Christmas but never hit publish! Since we aren’t too far into the new year I still wanted to share.. I’m just amazed at what a difference a year can make!
Written December 22nd, 2011:
What a year. I’m heading to Seattle for the first time since I moved to Austin 1.25 years ago. I’ve gone longer without seeing my parents and visiting my home town, but what blows me away is simply HOW MUCH has changed since I was last here.
I am simply overwhelmed with gratitude and amazement for what this year has brought. Was it all rainbows and butterflies.. of course not. But as usual, things happen for a reason, and I am thankful for everything that has happened over the last 365 days.
Professionally
A year ago I was unemployed. I made job searching 60 hour a week “job” in and of itself and I had recently found out that I didn’t get a position that I thought was a done deal. I just spent the weekend in Baltimore with great friends, and returned back to Austin, to spend Christmas alone and crying. Yeah I know.. no good.
The first week of 2011 I was offered a position and started two days later. I am so ridiculously thankful to have a full-time job doing something I truly enjoy. I love the industry I work in and truly enjoy my positon in that field. I genuinely get wrapped up in the details of getting an icon perfectly aligned on one of our sites (hell, I didn’t know a damn thing about html or css a year ago), and spending hours running metrics reports and analyses (yeah.. I’m a dork :p).
Yoga
I’m mentioned here and there that yoga has changed my life in a way I never could have imagine. This year is what made me realize that. I knew there was something special in the practice.. something that I desperately needed in my life. I think during my first year in Austin I tried 75% of the studios in the city. What can I say, I’m picky. There’s nothing wrong with any of them, but I think it’s important (or it is to me) to find a ‘yoga home’ of sorts. I found that in February. I started going at least 5 days a week, and I started noticing the practice carrying over to my everyday, off-the-mat, life. I went on a yoga retreat in May. It didn’t end up being what I expected. There were lots of tears.. and mind you I’m not big on crying in front of 25 people I just met, but it was also exactly what I needed and made me realize the things in my life that it was time to let go of. I came back to Austin and for the first time it really felt like home.
Friends
Man, it’s not like it use to be. College, grad school.. you’re basically dropped into a community of friends. Moving to a new city where you know next to no one is not as easy. I’ve always been the type to have a handful of really close friends and not necessarily the social butterfly.
A year ago I basically knew one person in Austin (& that was going to crap), but in the last year a few people in particular have played a ridiculously huge part in making this year what it’s been.. and probably saving me a shit ton of money on therapy 
Moving On
You know the saying ‘fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me’? Well what if it becomes ‘fool me 100 times?’ .. yeah maybe don’t answer that. hehe .. Maybe it’s a breaking point. Maybe it’s just growing up enough to be ready to learn certain lessons. Whatever it is.. 2011 was that time for me. I came out the other side better than I ever could have imagine. So much so in fact that I am thankful for what happened. It’s kind of fun being able to thank someone for being a jackass and screwing you over… though I hope to not make a hobby of that or anything.
Fitness
Read the last post for this one.. But the short version.. fitness is a big part of my life, yoga means everything to me.. they can work together. I’m so excited to compete again in 2012!
End of previously written post.
So that was 2011.. on to 2012!
I have a few things on my agenda this year.. but the biggest related to this blog.. yup I’m planning to compete. I’ll be 14 weeks out this weekend. I know this time will be completely different, and I have absolutely no idea how it will turn out. But I’m ok with that. I’m hoping to be able to do fitness &/or figure/bikini but it depends on whether my routine is ready or not. The April show is here in Austin about 10 minutes from my house, so I figure I might as well take advantage! There’s another in Galveston in May where I definitely want to do Fitness.
So far everything is going great! Since I got back from Seattle I’ve been eating completely clean and workouts have been awesome. I’m finally (finally!) starting to see my cardio improve a bit along with strength gains.
The only down side at the moment is that I somehow managed to hurt my back. Fortunately it’s something that actually feels better when I workout.. though yoga has been troublesome, which is really frustrating. At the moment I have stylish black tape across my back and exercises to do, so hopefully it’ll get better quickly!
Wow long post.. back to what’s going on now topic soon!
Fun Links
so happy for youuuuuuuuu! gonna be a great year i know it!
Twitter: SheRocksFitness
says:
Beautiful post! So glad that we have connected and look forward to this year of new goals, new men, new friends, and new challenges. Good luck with your training and cannot wait to watch the progress. You rock and have a wonderful weekend!
oh friend, this is so sweet! i am so glad to have seen part of this. Cheers to growth!
i’m so glad to hear of your peace that you found with yoga and life! i hope the back injury heals up and you’re able to fully accomplish your goals!
This is what life is all about & you did what needs to be done – get back up & move forward. Good for you!!! Hope your back is better & so cool for the competing!!!
Awesome – so glad you decided to compete! And 2012 is the year of YOU!
Yay!
When and where is the Austin show. I’ve never been to one and i’d like to go
Glad to hear you had a wonderful holiday and new year! Loved reading about your yoga journey and can’t wait to see more about your competition prep for this year