Mondo Beyondo, part 1

So, this is a little late in coming – but better late than never! The fabulous Super Andrea is doing her “Mondo Beyondo 2008″ this year. I have been thinking about mine for a while and am just getting around to actually posting it. I’ve kept previous years private, but I think this will be good for me, getting it out in the open. So here it is…

1. What do you want to acknowledge yourself for in regard to 2007?
(What did you create? What challenges did you face with courage and strength? What promises did you keep to yourself? What brave choices did you make? What are you proud of?)

I learned how to be married, and I learned that I love being married. Through that, I have learned new things about myself, some good and some bad. But I give myself a pat on the back for recognizing: I don’t have to say absolutely everything I’m thinking, it’s okay if the bathroom doesn’t get cleaned every single week, sometimes a date is more important than laundry, I am often more like Monica than I am like Phoebe [Sorry. "Friends" reference].

I learned how to belly-dance. I fulfilled my life dream of being a dance teacher at a really nice dance studio, and I got to teach fire dancing which was such an awesome experience. I am proud of myself for making it to Burning Man again, and for learning to breathe fire. I participated in my first drum circle.

I grew herbs and tomatoes and flowers on a tiny little balcony. I learned how to drive and live in a completely new city. I called the cops on our neighbors. I learned the bus system. I made new friends.

I also want to hooray my body for this long, long healing process it has been going on. It’s been through many steps, sometimes lots of pain and a whole lot of adjustment. But I say hooray because now…at last…I can feel it getting better [for those of you who don't know, I've been dealing with spinal issues. It's not cancer or anything].

I got my nose pierced like I’ve been wanting to do for years. And I tried straight hair for a day.

I successfully got my business website up and running.

2. What is there to grieve about 2007?
(What was disappointing? What was scary? What was hard? What can you forgive yourself for?)

This is a difficult one.

It was hard having my husband’s car break down, giving him mine so he could get to work, and having to quit my wonderful job because I had no way to get there anymore [I got that job back later, thankfully]. It was hard being home that much. I forgive myself for watching so many movies.

It was scary when my husband lost his first job. It was such a good thing for that to happen in the long run, but still scary. It was hard just scraping by and not being able to make payments on loans.

I forgive myself for needing to take baby steps toward healing. I forgive myself for gaining too much weight. I forgive myself for not being ready to talk to an extended-family member. I forgive myself for being a Budget B*#ch and a Receipt Nahtzee (does my husband forgive me?). I forgive myself for deciding that any career involving sewing just isn’t going to be right for me. I forgive myself for ahead of time for how many times I’m going to have to put my foot in my mouth in 2008.