2017 Top Five

I’ve spent this first week of 2018 reflecting on 2017. Looking back at what I got right, but also figuring out what I have to do better. So, I present to you my “2017 Top Five”.

Big Boys

I have two school-age sons now. 2017 saw my eldest entering third grade and my youngest entering pre-K. This is pretty big time! Two kids with homework. Two sets of teacher-conferences. Almost done with daycare! Woot! Woot! I officially don’t have babies anymore.

Venturing into Veganism

One of my 2017 goals was to move toward veganism. I quickly realized that I’m no vegan, mostly because I love bacon. Though I missed the mark on becoming vegan, I did make a significant step into vegetarianism with a splash of veganism. I’m dairy-free and meat-free a majority of the time. But, let me tell you, it’s be quite difficult to find vegetarian recipes that don’t include cheese. Cheese and dairy are everywhere! Also, I live for Kerrygold Irish butter! And did I mention bacon, and Chick-fil-A. 2017 witnessed my plant consumption dramatically increase and my animal-based product consumption decrease to 2-3 times per week. I’d love to say that I feel remarkably better, but I don’t. Mostly, I feel less bloated, but weight has remained consistent. As this eating pattern continues, I hope to find my digestive issues resolve themselves and my energy levels rise. I’ve come to realize that my true nemesis is SUGAR!

Life changed when I found a local ice cream parlor that makes vegan ice cream.

Therapy Time

In the summer of 2017 I experienced an emotional breakdown. It came on the heels of watching an episode of the Blacklist with my husband. The main character experienced an emergency delivery of a child. I was triggered. I was taken back in time, 4 and a half years, to the dramatically traumatic birth of our second son. I cried uncontrollably. Nothing could console me. I was a mess. A sense of despair hung with me for days and I just couldn’t shake it. I tried to reason with myself that he was alive and well now. He’s happy and healthy and growing beautifully. This lack of control made me turn to a good friend, who is a doctor, for the contact information of a therapist. My simple requirements were that the therapist be a woman of color. She recommended a rock star of a woman. This has been a powerful decision that I’m happy I made. She has helped me to become more compassionate, particularly with myself. She also helped me to see that I need to work on being more consistent with adding new habits to my life (especially if I hope to see long term, positive change). Therapy isn’t a magic cure-all, but damn does it help!

Business Bih

I had been toying around the idea of starting my own yoga business for a little while, but I am terrified of big time changes. With the coaxing support of my loving husband we started BeYOUtiful Mind and Body. I still have the card from the flowers he bought the day after we completed the official paperwork. I was filled with a mix of fear and excitement. I’m a very introverted person, particularly when I’m outside of my intimate group of friends and family, so the idea of shameless self promotion intimidates and stresses me…to this day. He reminds my daily to post to social media and work on new blog post ideas…because…shameless self promotion broadens the amount of people who’ve heard of your business.

Marathon Memories

By far the craziest, most exciting, most memorable 2017 happening was training for and then completing a half and full marathon. From January through November, I spent a majority of my free time preparing for these two races. Marathoning was never on my radar of things that I’d dream of accomplishing. Marathon prepping led to me cutting off most of my hair because I didn’t feel that I could regularly devote 2 hours to maintaining my tresses. (I later found out that my husband didn’t like.) And I got some new ink. I’ve developed a bond with my three marathon training partners and we’ve got stories and inside jokes for days. The marathon also helped me to realize that I NEED an accountability partner, or three. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have followed through had Jenny not sent texts, made calls, and come to pick me up to train. I abandoned my 2017 goal of improving my handstand so that I could be a part of her goal, Walk 2017.