Time flies when you have no social life

The topic of blogs came up in a conversation between my friend, Tessa, and I recently. We'd been reading some particularly horrid ones and ones that were pure inspiration on a computer screen.

It got me thinking about my own blog and the neglect it had been subjected to this past year. I decided to pay my shunned child a visit and was quite shocked to find out that the last time I (properly) blogged was just over a year ago. This realisation made me feel both ashamed (as I had promised my handful of readers that I would get better at this) and somewhat numb by the fact that an entire year had passed!

So Tessa and I made a deal. I would write a post this week, and she would start her own blog, with the intention of sharing her gardening and cooking experiences. The idea is that we would encourage each other to post at least once every two weeks.

So, I figured, what better place to start than a follow-up on my year-ago (proper) post?

On 14 January 2011, I blogged that I had joined a gym. This was no small feat, considering my past gym/exercise experiences, and I wasn't convinced I would stick it out (money-saving incentives aside). Who would have thought that a year down the line I would be an avid spinner who hauled her ass to the chlorine-smelling establishment three times a week for some good ol' torture. I love it! And I do believe it's played a huge part in my stress management this past year.

Gym aside, I made some pretty big decisions in 2011, I discovered what I am capable of, changed jobs, and even got a bout of bad news, but nothing that a positive mindset can't cope with.

I decided early on in the year to go back to university. I started my Honours in Journalism after I got my degree in 2006, but dropped out after a month or two when I realised it wasn't for me. I remember my mom being very upset, I think she may have even cried. I promised her then that I would get my honours one day, although I wasn't entirely convinced myself at the time. Fast-forward six years and I finally decided to take the plunge. Deciding to study towards my Honours in Linguistics part-time while working full-time was absolutely terrifying. That being said, I am halfway through and I actually can't believe it, even if it did murder my social life. I start my second year next month and I'm actually excited. *Insert mental image of my teenage brother yelling 'nerd!'* It helped having the support of my husband and family as well as the encouragement of my professor to push through to Masters level. Hmmm, well.... no decision there, yet.

I also abandoned my comfortable position and the toxic environment of my previous job and started working for ITWeb. The people, the work, the appreciation was like chalk and cheese and I can't believe it took me so long to cut my losses and move on. They say we're creatures of habit and I do feel that returning to my old job in 2010 after spending nine months in London was probably not the smartest move I've made, but it was a necessary one. I'm glad I did because I had some epiphanies, the biggest of which is that one environment can produce the best of friends and the worst of enemies, but they're all life lessons I'm glad I signed up for, because they made me a stronger person and gave me the courage and confidence to change my path and seek a healthier environment.

I found out, too, in 2011 that I have arthritis in my right ankle. After my car accident of 2006, the doctor warned me that it would happen, I just wasn't expecting it to happen so soon. It was a bitter pill to swallow. I allowed myself to wallow in self-pity for a few weeks, but at the end of the day, I can still walk, I can still spin (whoopee!) and I have it mild compared to others. The arthritis hasn't bothered me much, I have uncomfortable days but I'll never admit to them. My grandmother, who never complained once while cancer ravaged her body, was a great inspiration to me. People have their own issues to deal with; they don't need to shoulder your burdens, too.

So as I enter another whirlwind year, I thought I'd change my blog design and my outdated profile picture. After years with raven hair, I also went red in 2011; they say everything happens in threes; apparently the same goes for life changes in one year. Time permitting, I'll try my best to stick to the one-post-every-two-weeks agreement, but I can't promise anything.

In the event that I don't, click through to some of my friends' inspirational blogs:

Jozibelle - Warrior mom in the city of gold - by Paula.

Food 101 by Michelle.

Tessa's to follow soon.

Viva 2012!