Why Am I Doing This??

This blog is going to be about everything I get up to over the course of the summer and upcoming year.  Why?  Because I am trying to change my life (some of which has changed for me).  For example, I have some time on my hands since I am a teacher without any prospects for the upcoming school year so there isn't much prep work I need to do.  So what the heck, why not write about my life?  I'm busy with a lot right now - health makeover, planning a wedding, gardening and cooking up a storm - so I will write like this is like a journal than anything else to keep track of my learning and progress.

People are always changing but this particular change started way back in my childhood.  My stepmom did an online numerology test for each of us in the family and it said that my defining year would be 2010.  I didn't put much stock into it but clearly the idea stuck in my head since so many years later I can still remember.

What happened in 2010?  I didn't think a whole lot did - I was already dating the guy of my dreams (who is now my fiance), I was halfway through Education at University, I had already had my 21st birthday... seemed relatively unremarkable.  Looking back, a few things that did have a resonating impact on my life included:

• I didn't go to Thailand to teach for 3 months
• Instead I go a job with the Department of Education writing Independent Study courses
• I was placed at a great school for my second teaching practicum

During my year at the Department I worked on three of the mathematics courses offered which gave me a lot of breadth in understanding curriculum (since we were rolling out new curriculum).  Also, my practicum was unreal - I learned so much and made connections that I have maintained to this day.

Because of all of this 2011 was set up to be crazy - I went to Thailand, got a permanent contract, and moved out to a tiny town that not too many people have heard of.  

Thailand was great and I got to go with some marvelous women who I am now good friends with.  As for the teaching in a tiny town - although I was sceptical at first, it turned out to be far better than I could have wished and I stayed there for two years.  Only reason I left - too far from the city which meant too far from Scott and activities for me like soccer.

So we bought a house last year and I spent the summer painting, unpacking, and prepping for my new job (in a school not so far away).

Turns out this was a really tough year.  I struggled to build relationships with the students and felt like nothing I did could possibly get them to engage.  Plus I was swamped with an entire load of courses that I had never taught before.  I brought this frustration home with me, and it got to the point where I was grumpy all the time at home.  And I gained 18 pounds!

So the school year is over.  I am not returning to that school for my mental and physical health, and the health of my relationship.  AND IT'S SUMMER!  So I am going to rebound from this tough year by implementing some changes:

1. Tattoo!  To symbolize my commitment to this.
2. Isagenix.  My mom got into this all natural health and nutrition program last year and loved it so much she started selling it.  I finally caved and have decided to try the 30 day program to help me get the toxins out of my body and kick-start a healthier lifestyle.
3. Maintenance.  Keeping my house and garden maintained to build habits that I can continue when I go back to work.

If you have stuck with me so far, congrats!  I don't intend to write this much ... pretty much ever... but I figured it would be good to trace back the path that has gotten me to this point.