2011 in review

As I am pondering how I will delve into 2012, I'm reminded of 2011...it's small adventures and accomplishments.  This has been one eventful year!

2011 started off with me going back to school!  I have now finished 3 of my prerequisites. I'm a little bit closer to my goal.  It was tough to give up a lot of my personal time for school.  I just had to keep thinking about my future though...stay focused on the idea of a new career that I will be passionate about!  In the end, it will be so worth it!  I don't want to be that 45 year old woman who hates her job! I've actually enjoyed going back to school.  The material is very interesting. I've already done some observations/job shadowing, and I loved every minute of them. And of course, I'm still on the fence about which degree to get...but the PTA will be cheaper and will get me into the field faster!  Who knows?

Because of school and the interests I have, this year lead me to some workshops. I practice Anusara Yoga, and I believe it heals.  I completed an Insomnia/Anxiety workshop this year and a Therapeutics Level 1 workshop through Anusara Yoga.  I learned a ton of information that will be helpful in physical therapy. I am now registered for the Therapeutics Level 2 workshop!  :-)

yoga workshop on therapeutics

Speaking of yoga, I started off 2011 with a ton of yoga.  It really helps heal the body if you keep it up!  Right now, I am dealing with several different types of inflammations in my body, and yoga has been helping me.

Speaking in of inflammations and injury, I'm always inflamed somewhere.  I'm always tired or exhausted, and when I start a new workout, it seems to me my DOMS never goes away...like for 4 months, it is still there.  I started a boot camp this summer, and even though it was beating me into shape (yes, literally.  Just close your eyes and imagine...), I felt stronger at the end of the summer...however, i really never was able to fully recover after each workout before starting the next one.  My body hated me this summer.  At least I tried a boot camp.  Boot camps are HARD. Anyways, I had to eventually quit.  I'm searching now for a beginner type of boot camp for 2012.  However, I am proud of myself for sticking with the boot camp for as long as I did.  But at some point, I was gonna get injured if I kept on going like that!

Speaking of injury, I had my first real injury this year.  I fell on my outstretched hand back in August while walking Bigs (my dog).  I sprained my wrist, and then elbow tendonitis flared up!   I have lateral and medial epicondylitis.  (aka: tennis elbow and golfer's elbow)  It sux.  I have it in both elbows!  But it is worse in my left one, the arm that I fell on.  Very painful.

While in the midst of school this spring, I managed to still get out a few times and climb on the rock, mostly Pilot Mtn. and Crowder's.  I made several trips to Stone Summit in ATL., the nation's largest climbing gym.  It's more like a huge indoor crag!  It has a lot of moderates for me there that I can lead.  I love that gym!  This summer, I made it back to the New a couple of times and back to Pilot, and this fall, I finally got to go to Dixon Boulders.  I was able to successfully top out some V0s and V1s and try some V2s.  I didn't top out the V2s, but it was still fun to try.  I also got another trip to Pilot in this fall.

swimming in Summersville Lake at The New

Stone Summit

Stone Summit

Bouldering at Dixon

This summer was pretty awesome!  I bought a SUP board!  This is something I love to do now.  I was out on the lake a lot this summer on my board.  It is so peaceful out there.  I even did a sunset paddle.  AMAZING! It was fun to have something new in my life besides just climbing...another outlet!  I love to climb, but sometimes it gets old.  I have to have other outlets.  SUP works your entire body too!  FUN

For vacation this year, my friend Paul and I went to the Outerbanks, NC.  I had never been.  It was awesome.  It seemed like another world.  I truly relaxed while I was there.  Paul and I always have so much fun together!  We climbed the giant sand dunes, went horseback riding on the beach, tried SUP in the sound and jet skiing, walked and played with Bigs every morning and night, grilled out, partied our butts off by a bonfire on the beach, sight seeing, and tons of beach time!  It was awesome! 

Dorks!

Early Fall, I went with a group to FATS to ride the trail system there.  Crazy fun!  My first time there.  I was so scared but having fun all at the same time.  I had my first crash too...went over the handle bars!  I am proud of myself for not quitting and sticking with it.  It ended up being a super fun day!

I also went camping at Edisto Beach with my brother and his family this Fall.  It was an awesome weekend.  This was our first time all camping together as a family. Racoons invaded our campsite!  It was a wild weekend!

To end the year off with a blast, my friend, James, took me shooting for the first time.  It was intense and super addictive.  I AM definitely doing it again!

  I also learned a lot about family this year.  I learned more reasons as to what makes my Dad such an awesome man too!  I'm lucky and so blessed to have him as my Dad.

All in all, 2011 was a great year!