single happy moment
Last week we all met up for the gorgeous Katerina’s birthday – her last birthday before she has her baby!! It’s probably the last time all of us girls (save for Liz in Sydney) will all be in the same room before Leigh and Kat’s little bundle of joy join us, and it was simply wonderful to see everyone and cackle over stories.
I wasn’t in a hugely chatty mood, being all run down and in a bit of back pain, but it was kind of nice to just sit back and chill with this wonderful group of girlfriends we have who have grown together over the last few years to form a strong and close knit mini community, and all through dance. Hearing their babble around me, smiling across the room at everyone and having a chilled out drink whilst celebrating a very special lady’s birthday… Single happy moment indeed.
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happy to have witnessed…
Last year, a couple of friends of mine Kat and Leigh got engaged, married, then pregnant in DIZZYING succession (but most importantly, in the CORRECT succession, nudge nudge, wink wink) – and bad bad me, I had every intention of blogging it all but YOU KNOW HOW THAT STORY GOES DOWN.
Err. Procrastination won the epic battle?
Anyway.
I was looking through some photos whilst convalescing from crazy awful food poisoning, and found their engagement party shots. What I loved about their engagement party was that it was in their family home, with lots of family surrounding them, and was full of culturally significant traditions that included and celebrated both sides of the family. With 2 cultures coming together, it was a beautiful representation of how you can include everyone in your joy whilst remaining true to your families needs and traditions.
It was such an honour to be part of that night, and I particularly love this shot I got (by crawling in front of everyone to make sure I could be paparazzi effectively, coz I’m classy like that).
moment, captured
Leigh and Kat were both my dance students who have become very good friends, so I kinda know them VERY well, and let me tell you, this photo is perfectly how they present to the outside world. Both gorgeously attired, Kat telling some kind of story with her ever exuberant and delighted smile, because she knows we’re listening attentively, and Leigh, ever quietly watching her with a twinkle in his eye, thinking, “that’s my girl“. (Sometimes he converts that to, “that’s my girl?!”, and NOT in the good way, but that’s usually when Kat is telling us something QUESTIONABLE!). Uh huh. It’s true.
Anyway. It’s really gorgeous.
And Kat and Leigh are one of those couples that just HAVE THEIR STUFF TOGETHER, and who make each other happy and are so well suited, that you kind of just think of them as happy ever after people. And that’s inspiring. And wonderful. And nice to think about.
Read More2012 thoughts
Last year, just in time for new years’ eve, I wrote the 2010 redux. I didn’t do that this year, mostly because I spent most of my last days before 2012 painting a fence and was way too exhausted! I will though. I promise.
I know many people like to think about the new year and the year past as the 31st of December approaches, but not me. I find I like to live out the last few days of the year to my best and savour every moment, and leave reflection to the delightful and inevitable New Years Day holiday and the first few days of the year before the hustle and bustle begins.
I don’t make new years resolutions, never have, but I do have a few things I’d like to do, that vastly improve my quality of life. Some are simple and easily achievable, and others are more intangible but I’d like to remind myself to keep at them.
Things I started in 2011 and would like to continue:
- making fruit bags once a week so we have fruit every day
- hiding vegetables in everything I cook, as well as vegetables at most meals
- investing in making our house a home
- looking after myself and ensuring I always feel tip-top
- composting, worm farming, gardening, and living more eco-friendly
- listening to my body and believing it when it says it’s at its limits
- keeping our home better organised and functional
- enjoying dancing for myself more and feeling passionate about it again, and feeling like a GOOD dancer again
- living more slowly and meaningfully rather than running around like a crazed lady
- becoming more sure of what I want and need, and not being afraid to ask for them
- understanding the power of my community and seeing its wonderment, rather than dwelling on its shortcomings
Some things I haven’t started/been able to do and want to do in 2012:
- eat salmon once a week
- taking a walk in the evening with S on my non-dance night of the week
- putting up photos of the people I love everywhere in the house
- live painkiller-free
- drink 2 litres of water a day
- be less of a hermit and more ready to face each day
- rekindle past friendships that this injury caused me to let go (I just went through a long phase of NOT COPING).
- take more photos
- take a trip to a significant dance event overseas and dance my head off
- also – become the best dancer I’ve ever been – determined to get faster and better than I was… slowly
- wear little to no black
- wear something different each day to keep me feeling pretty
- be free of my injury (24 month end of prognosis is in August 2012)
- be a better friend, daughter, sibling, girlfriend
The 2012 stuff is mostly very functional things to make life better. I find that as long as I live the best life I can everyday, I’m a pretty happy person at the end of each year when I reflect, and growth is inevitable. “Just Be Better” is a good one – and one I like to remember for most things. So rather than make resolutions about emotions, I just try to be better every day. And I’ll find that 2012 was a year of growth, yet again.
You know the saying “dress for the job you want”? Well that’s my everyday goal, but not in dressing – instead, I try to make every decision and live each day like I’m that intangible amazing woman I wanted to be when I was a kid – inspiring, glamorous, talented, visionary, intelligent, witty, tall, tan, young, lovely. “What would future Sharon do? What would that amazing woman do?” And then I try to do it, not always successfully.
And hopefully, one day, I’ll feel like her. That woman I want to be. It may not be in 2012, but I’ll sure try.
What thoughts do you have on 2012?
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counting blessings
Remember when my back was so bad and I posted about my fabulous recovery plan? (Being mainly that was going to focus on being able to wear high heels again soon, one day, perhaps.)
Well, back then I had no idea if I would dance again, let alone wear heels again. And whilst it’s now been a whole year, I still have some bad days and some lack of ability to live life at 100%. This week has been a particularly bad pain week, but to be truthful, it comes on the back of 3 weeks of flying through the air dancing, lots of consulting work, and looking after my dad, so I’m hardly surprised. And I can deal with intermittent pain, given I’ve had so much ongoing, unrelenting pain.
STILL though, and I’ve only hit this stage about 6 weeks ago – I’m reminded ALL THE TIME of how far I’ve come. From being bed-bound and weeping daily, from being SO painkillered up and numb all the time, from not knowing how I’d ever dance again. From feeling cloistered at home, useless to anyone, and tired all the time. To 70% normalcy.
Life in the last 2 months have improved considerably, and I almost haven’t blogged about it so as not to jinx it. In happy new I’m finally feeling a bit like myself dancing again every so often, ALMOST as fast as I used to be. I feel like I’m closer to being myself again rather than further. Like I said, 70%.
So whilst it’s not good yet, it’s certainly pretty damn hopeful and unbelievably better. Almost crazily so. And it’s all happened in the last 6 weeks. Amazing.
And I like to every so often, celebrate this ultimate triumph with the wearing of some killer heels. Oh my shoes, they have missed me, and I them.
mmm.
A few friends have chastised me, saying I’m tempting fate and not doing my spine any favours. But you know what? High heels make me feel so alive now, and they make me feel less “ill”. It’s like I’ve spent a year in convalescence being dowdy and unpretty, and I ain’t doing it no more.
Last week, S took my Pa and I to the Melton horse races for an experience we’d not had. He assured me it wasn’t going to be dressy, that my jeans would suffice, that it was a casual night. But I was so excited. I have had a year of fretting about every outing (would I be able to go and would pain take over half way?) and stressing about long nights out (so debilitating and soooooo pain management filled). And for once I was simply happy and not anxious at all. I mean I still have to take painkillers. But no more fretting.
So I finally got to take these newbies (similar here) on a test drive, and it was unbelievable how comfortable they were! Plus we had a fun night of $5 bets on horses, junk food and giggling together.
So yes I’m certainly counting those blessings, and especially the high heeled ones.
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