The Not So Good Stuff

Work
This was just oh so hard. The day job was soul-destroying, and I was working 2 other jobs. I got very close to burning myself. I got tired, run down, irritable and not-such-a-joy-to-be-around at times. It was just hard after hard after hard.

Sickness
I spent more than half the year with a cold (probably due to the above). And I also was diagnosed with candida, which put me into a crazy strict diet that is just an eternal challenge to follow. And my shoulders and neck jammed - I could not dance for 2 months!

Dance
My teacher moved back to sunny California and I saw myself having to make the jump from student to teacher, mentor and troupe director. Argh. We also had our first show, which was so far from sold out that we almost lost money (but didn't...)

Friendships dying
It's always hard, but particularly when you did not see it coming. And having to kill others because they suck all the goodness out of you. Not good at all.

The Good Stuff

Courage
It took months of agonising and debating and weighing pros and cons and driving my husband up the walls, but I finally found the courage in me and resigned my job. In the middle of a recession, yes. Crazy? Maybe, but I have not felt this happy in a long time. This deserves its own post, which will come soon in the new year.

Dance
Despite all he hardness, I LOVE teaching and I am blessed to work with amazing, understanding, talented dancers who make it all that bit easier and totally worth it. I will be teaching 4 nights a week in 2010, we will have 2 shows and 4 haflas and much more to come.

Family
I have the best husband in the world, the best parents in the world, and amazing in-laws.

BABY
Yep, I am pregnant - and over the moon with joy. Right now I am just around 12 weeks, and there will be belly pictures and more about this soon.

Lessons Learnt

Know when to open the heart wide and when to protect it. It's too precious to be broken so many times.

If you have nothing good to say, shut up. However, sometimes a little bit of tough love is needed. Knowing to choose is the tricky bit.

Dance everyday, dance all day if you can. It warms the body and the heart.

2010

I've been thinking a lot about a theme for the new year. I am making no resolutions, for once. None at all. But I do want a theme, something to keep me focused throughout the year. I still don't know what it will be, and some more checking in is needed. But I will report back here once the theme manifests.

***
This is it. 2009 will be over in less than 2 hours now. I hope 2010 it's a cracker!




so this is it from me. do join in the tradition if you feel like it!!!