Action: Month 2

Action: Month 2

Action: Month 2

2019 is my year of Action. And boy, does that mean something different than I expected!

First of all, life throws curve balls. 10 days ago, I fell and landed on my tailbone. Like, directly on it. I’m pretty sure it’s just bruised and not fractured (the treatment is the same but the time it takes to heal is 4 weeks instead of 12), but I’m having to learn where my limits are and ask for a lot more help than I usually do.

Seriously, I had no clue just how independent I was until I couldn’t do it all by myself anymore!

Second, it’s been a crazy busy month. We’ve been spending our weekends at Disney if we aren’t cleaning our Airbnb or at the dance studio. This isn’t unexpected, but it does mean our schedule is more crowded than it used to be.

But I’m still making progress!

I bought a bunch of the tools I need for some of my projects (will list them momentarily), and I’m averaging a unit a week of Spanish. I’ve also made more progress on my Esther book. It’s going to be an audiobook as well as for Kindle and a print book, so this morning I read the first chapter. It’s harder than I thought it would be!

So while the kitchen projects will have to be put on the back burner (ha! get it?), I’m making strides on two of the goals. 

Currently the list looks like this:

  1. make tamales
  2. make macarons
  3. make Manti (a Turkish ravioli-style dish)
  4. edit and publish my Esther book (starting the audiobook format)
  5. edit and publish my 2018 NaNoWriMo book 
  6. learn Spanish (halfway through Unit 6 out of 20!)
  7. make vanilla extract in the Instant Pot (bought the vanilla and the containers)
  8. make Fire Cider (bought the containers)
  9. make sauerkraut (bought containers)
  10. make kimchi (bought containers and kelp powder)
  11. make croissants 
  12. ? I still don’t know what my final goal will be. 

 

 

 

2019: Action!

2019: Action!

2019: Action!

A few weeks ago, I heard something that got me very excited.

“Action is the antidote to fear.”

I liked it so much, I put it on my Letter Board so I could hold onto it.

But I didn’t really think about it when I was thinking about what I’d make as my word for 2019. I struggled with my word: for awhile I was calling it “Leap 2.0“, but I knew that wasn’t accurate. I’d faced my fears in 2018 in a very real way, and I no longer feel like fear holds me back (at least not nearly as much).

Instead, I wanted to tackle things that had always sounded like too much work. Things that intrigued me but scared me in their commitment. Things like making macarons.

After talking to people about this idea, a friend suggested the perfect word.

 

This year’s word: ACTION.

I’m going to choose twelve projects that I shy away from, not because I’m afraid, but because they just seem too big.

I’m not even sure yet what all 12 projects will be. But at this point here’s what I know it will include:

  1. making tamales
  2. making macarons
  3. making Manti (a Turkish ravioli-style dish)
  4. editing and publishing my Esther book
  5. editing and publishing my 2018 NaNoWriMo book
  6. learning Spanish (I bought Rosetta Stone right before Christmas)

First up: the Esther book.

My goal is to get it in Amazon: as a Kindle, a paperback, and possibly an audiobook, in time for Purim (since that’s the holiday connected to her story).

I’m excited to see these things come to pass and am very curious to see if it changes how I see time-intensive projects.

My Year of Leap

My Year of Leap

My Year of Leap

When it was almost 2018 and I looked at what I wanted to achieve in the coming year, I knew I needed my word for the year to be “leap.”

I’m sure it would have made more sense to do it on a leap year, but I’m not willing to wait that long. I was ready to tackle it this year!

What does it mean?

It’s my year to stop being so fearful and cautious. To do things that pushed me out my comfort zone.

The first opportunity came early in January: the offer to run the front desk at the brand-new dance studio. YES!

Several other opportunities have shown up as the year has progressed. Some have been things I’ve initiated (like running a small group for 6 weeks), and others I’ve been ready for when people suggested them (like surfing. Once you’ve picked your jaw up off the floor, you can read all about my story here.)

Some are one-time opportunities, like the surfing (because as good as it felt to try it, it’s NOT my cup of tea. I still don’t like water!). Others are things I’m joining and continuing, like taking a musical theater class at the dance studio. Not only am I getting gradually more comfortable singing and acting in front of the class, but I’m pushing myself to tackle emotions I don’t usually experience (currently humor and anger!) Plus trying (and loving) yoga, and yesterday was my first stretching/conditioning class. Oh, and I’m going to attempt hip-hop with a bunch of 9- to 12-year-olds. No, you can’t see video ;) I’m a ballet dancer so this could be really awkward. No, I pretty much guarantee it!

I’m doing smaller things, too. Writing little notes to people, just out of the blue, to thank them for their friendship. Things that are still putting myself out there, but aren’t quite as earth-shattering as surfing. 

I’ve still got 3 1/2 months of the year to see what else I’ll tackle.

And you know what? I don’t foresee stopping this once it’s 2019. I don’t think my 2017 me would even recognize the me I am now, and I like that!

Difficult Lessons

Difficult Lessons

Difficult Lessons

Something I’ve always been weak in: humility.

Something I got a big crash-course in this week: humility.

This week the directors of our dance studio were gone on a much-needed vacation. I’ve been living vicariously through their trip thanks to Instagram. It’s been an amazing week for them, and I’m so glad they got it.

But I’m realizing just how much I depend on them! I may think I’m helping keep things run smoothly, but there’s a LOT that goes on here that I’m unaware of. Then you add in all the substitute teachers…plus the normal surprises that crop up on a regular basis…and this is one emotionally exhausted mama.

I made so many mistakes that I’ve had to apologize for. SO many. Telling parents the wrong time for a make-up class, for example. Or bringing the wrong set of keys so I can’t unlock anything. It’s embarrassing and humiliating and frustrating.

But on the flip side, it’s not just that my pride taking a beating (which isn’t really a bad thing; I know it should be knocked down a few levels). I’m experiencing the grace of the others I’ve been surrounded by this week. Being forgiven is an incredibly freeing feeling. It helps me to forgive myself for those mistakes (while also taking note of what I need to do differently in the future).

So all in all, it’s going to end up being a decent week. I’ll be so glad to go back to “normal” this coming week, but it’s been a great learning experience. And that’s  always better in the long run than being comfortable and never changing.

When they’re not dancing

When they’re not dancing

When they’re not dancing

My son is a constant ball of energy. If he isn’t dancing, he’s riding his bike, playing tag, or surfing (if we’re fortunate enough to make it to the beach).

My daughters, on the other hand, aren’t nearly so active off the dance floor. My eldest only takes ballet and jazz (total of one day of dance per week), and she’s not terribly interested in practicing at home the rest of the week. (Confession: she takes after me!)

My middle child, the one who is in all the dance classes available to her, choreographs more dances at home and loves to practice her latest dance moves. But if I suggest walking to the mailbox (6 houses away), she looks at me like I’m asking her to eat our parakeet: “ARE YOU KIDDING?!?!”

Where do your kids fall in this spectrum? Have you come up with ways to get the less-active ones more physical? I’d love your suggestions and ideas!

Feel free to keep the conversation going on Instagram or Facebook!

New swing of things

New swing of things

New swing of things

We’ve known this was coming for a long time now, but it finally actually happened.

January brought the start of a new dance studio, Blink Christian Performing Arts Center. It’s at our church, run by a couple who taught us previously at a different studio.

It feels like we’ve come home (and not just because our church has a huge “WELCOME HOME” on the wall of the foyer ;) ) . Melissa and Gio, the artistic directors and instructors, are that perfect blend of pushing excellence while also encouraging the joy of dancing. My kids are stretched as dancers, but are also falling in love with dance all over again.

I have the perfect role: I’m at the front desk, greeting the dancers and their parents, and getting to take pictures to give the studio. (The bulk of what gets post on Instagram is shot by me :) )

We’re so happy.

And busy. We’re making a lot of the recipes on this board, and I’ll be adding a ton more to it as I try new recipes.