Gratitudeus maximus

In recent years, it seems like every time things start to level out and feel positive, a nasty dark cloud comes along to block out the sun. It's easy to get swallowed up by the tough times and lose sight of all that is good in life. I would have to say that the last few months have been especially difficult, constantly testing my emotional strength; nevertheless, there is still much to be thankful for.

• JC and I may not have the perfect marriage, but who does? I think we definitely have things going in the right direction, and am truly head over heels in love. We've known each other for 6 years, but it seems like we've been friends forever. I feel supported, respected, protected, and (most importantly) loved every moment of every day. We travel through life, hand in hand and side by side, tackling challenges together and celebrating the triumphs. I am very thankful for my relationship with my husband.
• Living a few states away from my parents, and many states away from my sister, has been tough. With family scattered in all directions, it's difficult to feel that true sense of "home". But being apart does not prevent that deep-down family bond from taking root in all that I do. I strive to make my family proud, and I constantly refer back to the morals and ethics instilled in me from my parents. I know I would not be where I am today without their support and love. I am the woman I am because of my upbringing and my family. I am grateful for my parents and sister.
• Every day presents a unique set of challenges, but I have finally found a career that brings me great satisfaction. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to do something that made a difference, to leave my mark on the world. Not only do I see my work making an impact, I have also found myself working beside some amazing people with a common goal. The education system is broken, and we a making strides to fix it. I am acquiring skills I never thought I would develop; I am able to guide others in transforming their teaching practice; I am helping students to become well educated and prepared to enter into the world beyond school. I am extremely appreciative of the work I am able to do.

A roof over my head, food in my belly, overall good health and happiness - I am grateful of these things as well. In general, I have no complaints, plenty of reasons to wake up each day with a smile on my face. There will always be moments that will shake my security and challenge my confidence to move forward - this is part of life.

"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it."
— Mother Teresa

Zumba makes me happy

It's no secret that I've always enjoyed movin' and groovin' to music. There are a two ultra-embarrassing home videos that come to mind of spazz-tastic prancing and spinning in the living room (Paula Abdul and Garth Brooks...), both at a fairly young age. Then, of course, there are the more sophisticated moments of actual choreographed movements that have been captured on video from numerous Nutcracker and Spring Recital performances. Ultimately, I really love to dance.

When I started getting serious about ballet, I was constantly told that to be a good ballerina means having some experience in other forms of dance, like jazz and modern. I was hesitant to try anything other than ballet because I felt I was more the graceful type. The reality was, I carried myself in a more balletic way, and it was somewhat awkward to let loose. To this day, standing with my feet in a parallel position feels so weird; standing turned out feels much more natural. I tried jazz, modern, and tap in conjunction with ballet, and I can say I really did enjoy them. At the time, I'm not sure I really drew the connections between the disciplines that I can now, but it was a smart move to at least expose myself to other forms of dance.

Recently, I decided to try dancing again. I found a great studio that is for adults only and really focuses on the fitness side of things. My favorite class is their Bella Barre, which incorporates ballet, pilates, and yoga. There's lots of stretching and strengthening, all set to whatever type of music the instructor feels like playing. I've never been particularly strong in any area of my body, but after four months of classes, I'm starting to notice muscles in places I didn't know I was even supposed to have muscles. I'm no where near looking like a body builder, or even sporting anything resembling a six pack, but I can just feel a difference in the way I move. Awesome!

There are so many other classes offered at the studio, and I thought I would try Zumba. I was totally nervous at first, recessing back to my old awkwardness of movements outside the realm of "ballet technique". When I signed up for the class online, I almost chickened out at the last minute. But Zumba has become one of my new favorite styles of dance! There's a little hip hop, a little aerobic dance, and a whole lot of Latin moves. Best of all, I leave every class absolutely drenched in sweat - not because I'm insanely out of shape, but because there is so much cardio and non-stop movement. Yes, there are times when I feel like a total dork, but there is such a wide range of skill levels in the class that everyone just blends in. There's no judgement. No competition. Really, there isn't even any particular technique to master. It's all about moving in a somewhat choreographed manner and just letting go of the stress.

Every Friday and Sunday, I sweat it out in Zumba. Mondays and Wednesdays are focused on toning and limbering in Bella Barre. I think I've finally found what I've been searching for.