last post of 2013

On the last day of my 36th year, I look back at my 2013 and I realize now how much I have grown as an adult. For the first time in my life, I tried to do it all then realized the sacrifices that I had to make to in order to do what I thought I wanted to do instead of saying NO to things and doing what I dreamed of doing.

I am thankful for:
- Nijole's recovery
- Shauns success in Rochester
- My professional dancesport experience
- My PHD progress

I can honestly say that I was pushed BEYOND what I thought were my limits. I know now that I cannot do EVERYTHING and that I have to manage my own expectations for my own success and development.

There are sacrifices that one makes in order to complete the priorities that he/she thinks are important. I would not give back ANY of the experiences that I had in 2013 for anything.

I do however have to say I am sorry to my students. I spent the past year chasing my ego, not thinking strategically, and not looking at the big picture. It took me until the fall of 2013 to realize that I was neglecting them and expecting them to be there for me instead of the other way around.

In September/October I attended a Brendon Bruchard event with Tony Meredith (High performance academy) and I took back control of my life:

- Shaun and I made a plan for making long distance work
- Nijole moved into an apartment (she can write her own checks now and is back to being independent)
- I submitted my Chapter one for preview (now approved)
- My long distance dance partnership ended (she's a lovely lady)
- I completely turned independent as an instructor (thank you Edgewood Club)
- I made a plan for 2014 . . .

Looking at 2014, this is going to be the result of all of my hard work, restructuring, and dreaming that happened in 2013!

To Cara Levicoff, Peggy McLean, Joan Castillo, Karen Moore, Dee Weinberg, Melissa Harvanek, Samantha Murdock, and all of my other students . . . I can't wait to see what you produce in 2014!

To all my friends that I have lost contact with - get ready because I'm BACK!

To my family - it was amazing seeing you this holiday season and I can't wait to see MORE of you in 2014!

On tomorrow, my 37th bday and the start of the new year, I will share some of what I think will be my strategy for the most successful year yet!