My Personal 2009 Year-in-Review: January-April

From the look of the posts on this blog during 2009, it was a good year for me and our family. And it was. It really was a good year.

We had a good year when you look at the facts in black and white but for the past 365 days there has been an tumultuous undercurrent flowing that I have not brought to light here. The truth is, the undercurrent stems from other people’s problem, not my own. So, why post about them, right? I’m not here to dredge up and comment on what is going on in the lives of others.

But, for as separate as these issues are from our little family, they still affect me. I’m the one trying to give advice when someone wants to talk for three hours in the church parking lot after Zumba class. I’m the one helping to provide a calm, normal routine for the children of those who are struggling. I’m the one trying to balance saying too much with saying too little. I’m the one watching from the outside as depression sets in.

This year has been a dark time for a few close people in my life. It has held some very deep lows. Rock bottom in some cases. It’s been painful to watch and frustrating to help when I don’t really know what to do.

And, perhaps, the most eye-opening and hopeful thing for me, personally, has been the recent realization that I need to distance myself from it. The issues that my close friends and family are facing are slowly bringing me down. I have to take a stand. Push away. Breathe.

While on the surface 2009 has looked rosy and fun, I have not always felt in-the-moment. I’ve been filled with worry and what-ifs. That’s not fair to my husband and my children. It’s not fair to me. I must be present. That is my main resolution for 2010- get from the blanket of others’ struggles before it suffocates me.

Right, so, I’m hoping that 2010 is a more peaceful and positive year for those around me. I’m going to do what I can to make that happen for me.

Back to my year-in-review… I’ll break it down into 3 segments. Here’s January-April…

January

January, as it typically is, was a slow month for us. Cutie Pie and I celebrated our birthdays on January 18, 2009. He turned 2. I turned 33. Yaya threw a little party for us at her house. Little did we know that it would be our last birthday celebration in that house.

We also took a trip to Animal Kingdom as part of our celebratory activities. Disney in January is the way to go, people. No crowds, no lines. The holiday rush is over.

Oh, and we got a new president 🙂

February

February saw me run my first ever 5K. I ran the whole way and finished with a decent time. I was so proud! I’m not a runner, you see. This was huge for me.

I also began my Zumba journey in February by becoming a certified instructor.

I guess February was a month of fitness for me…

March

Wildman tried t-ball for the first time in March of 2009. He loved it!

I went to a Zumba in the Park fundraiser and worked on choreography with Steph so that we could start up our own classes. We knocked on a lot of doors and finally found a spot at a local recreation center. Woo hoo!