Taking a cue from Scribblings of a Soccer Mom, I thought it would be great to wrap up 2011 with a snapshot of the year that was, month by month. Beyond being a good way for me to look back at the year and the ups and downs, it’s also a fun way to catch up on old posts (if you are new to reading!) and as for me, I always enjoy reading through old posts in my journey!
2011: a retrospective (part I – because putting all of this into one post would make this ridiculously longer than it already is!)
I started my new job, and the first month was an utter whirlwind. I traveled 3,000 miles to start my first day of work and while it was the scariest feeling in the world, it was also the most exhilerating. I am DOING this. I am diving in and not looking back. And dive in I did. I faced the company sales conference (which I’ll face again in about a month, this time in Laguna Beach…oh twist my arm…), which was the most out of my comfort zone I’ve ever been. But I stuck it out, and got to run alongside Pacific Coast Highway on my right, and the beach on my left, in 80 degree weather. Not too shabby. It was also the month I started the Core Fusion Challenge. (honestly, if I thought that was going to change me…it has NOTHING on the barre n9ne challenge I had no idea would change me in so many ways, forever!)
M and I were still relatively fresh into our relationship and adjusting to my traveling for work, while a challenge, was not impossible. M ‘got’ me then and ‘gets’ me even more every single day. His patience and willingless to compromise always ceases to amaze me. (side note, I just read the tail-end of this post and the phrase ‘my hands aren’t scissors’ still cracks me up!)
My travel schedule for work continued heavily in February (and March, for that matter) and I even had to face carting around the CEO of my company for a day of meetings in San Francisco. Pressure, much? But I did it, and that’s all that matters!! I got homesick during both of these trips, but I tried my best to keep busy, explore the area, and meet up with fabulous bloggy friends (Erika and Misty!).
I think February was one of the more pivotal months for my relationship with M as well. We had to adjust to the constant work travel, meaning communicating was (and still is!) more important than ever. We’d skype. We’d text. We’d talk. And I’d so look forward to him meeting me at the gate at the airport, smiling face, no matter how late at night it was. And during our first Valentine’s weekend together, when he uttered these words, I’ll never forget that feeling. Ever. I too love him more than I’ve ever loved anyone.(and here is yet another hilarious post about our random conversations – hehe)
We went to Jamaica (with my sister and Scott and a couple of friends), and had a blast. However, it came with the added stress and panic that my boss went on maternity leave unexpectedly two weeks early…the day before my trip! I thought I would be asked to cancel my trip, but thankfully, I was not. But I did worry about it while I was away, I am not going to lie. Things went okay on the work front while I was gone, but March touched off three months of flying solo at work and dealing with a lot of navigating completely foreign waters. I think this was one of the most pivotal times for me in my job this year, by far. March was also the month that my body and self-image issues really took a divebomb and now, looking back at the pictures from that trip to Jamaica, I can see why. I definitely had gained some weight since meeting M (ah, the perils of dating and eating out!), traveling (again, eating out, no routine etc) and I just wasn’t seeing it yet…but I would…
(another gem of a fun post about M. I keep finding these, forgetting I wrote them!)
I struggled a lot with my job in April. Because I was constantly compared to my boss. Because I was constantly reminded that I am not her. That I am still learning. It was a tough month for me, but as I said, probably one where I learned the most and grew the most. And I ‘only’ had to travel once in April (vs. twice a month for Jan – Mar!). March was when I started my throwbacks series, talking about my Nonna, my marriage and divorce, and the story of M. Still one of my favorite series.
May
I’d call May the most significant month for me of 2011…at work and on my personal journey. Why? Because for as invalidated as I felt sometimes at work, I was also given the biggest compliment I could have ever received during a really stressful time period (a huge product launch) where my interim boss said I never skipped a beat and it was as if my boss was there the entire time. It was a compliment I really needed to hear, but dammit, I earned it. And second? May was the month that kicked off the barre n9ne challenge, something I feel was the biggest blessing for me and my sister this year. Meeting Tanya and facing my body image issues and struggles head-on and committing to something I never thought was even possible…well, that in itself is just incredible. And sitting here today, seeing how far we’ve both come since that point? I have no words. I am speechless.
(another fun post about my conversations with M – hehe)
June
The barre n9ne challenge was in full force this month. I worked hard. I ran. I took 4-5 barre n9ne classes per week. I adjusted to my caloric ‘number’ and logging my daily eats. And I realized that food is fuel…and that my emotional attachment to it was slowly dwindling. June was an intense month but I loved every minute of it. It also kicked off a flurry of summer fun, beach, Maine, anything to do with the sun and I was there. June was also the first month I did not travel for work. And little did I know I would not travel for work again until September. (my boss also returned to work from maternity leave – hooray!) I also traveled to NYC to see one of my closest (divorced) friends get married…to her penguin. It was an absolutely stunning weekend.
Part II to come tomorrow…I hope you’ve enjoyed my little retrospective!
And now it’s your turn…tell me about a time this year that was completely pivotal for you. Was it a physical challenge? New job? Did you move? What shaped 2011 for you?
