Atlanta-versary!

I can hardly believe it has been a year, and at the same time am shocked it's only been a year, since I moved to Atlanta. So many things in my life have changed and grown and evolved and I am so so happy where I am right now. Yes, things are still difficult at times - of course I struggle at times, but I have found a place to call home and a wonderful support circle, many actually!

 I love the dance scene here and am so glad to be involved in different aspects of it. I have loved working at Skwhirlhaus, both performing and as a collective member. I love teching shows at Emory and working with the wonderful dancers and guest artists there. I have had a wonderful time volunteering with Moving in the Spirit, it is such an amazing organization and watching the sheer joy of children performing is an experience that is so hard to put into words. And of course dancing for T Lang has just been amazing. T Lang's Mother/Mutha show last summer was one of the first performances I saw after moving to Atlanta and I still remember calling my mom while driving home after the show and telling her just how amazing and inspiring and though provoking it was; how I knew I had made the right choice by moving to Atlanta! To say that just months later I joined her company is something I thought would never happen.

Being a part of the Decatur Yoga and Pilates family is something I am so grateful for as well. It's funny how one day I just decided I needed to try some yoga studios out, and the first one I went to I fell in love with. Now that I am working the desk there and regularly taking class, I am so thankful for the amazing people there that inspire me daily. It is the most wonderful work environment, and I couldn't ask for a better place to practice. Yoga has helped me in so many ways, my body feels better dancing, my mind is clearer, I just feel happier on a regular basis, it has been wonderful!

Nannying the twins this past year has been a roller coaster of emotions and experiences. Nannying twins full time from 2 months - 12 months of age is an experience that not many people can say they have had, and let me tell you it is not easy, but I love them with my whole heart and am so glad I was able to spend the first year of their life with them. Being a nanny is such a strange thing, you form this bond with these children and act as a parent to them on the daily, but they aren't really your children, their life moves on and so does yours. This upcoming transition from me working full time as a nanny with the girls to just part time with another family in the fall is bittersweet. I know I am ready to spend more time focusing on my dance and yoga and also just being 24, but I know I will miss them so very much. That is the good part about them being family though, I know I will get to visit the girls and see them grow up, but it will be a hard change from seeing them every day.

Sometimes I struggle with trying to do too much, I want to fit it all in and do it all and see everyone. My biggest goal for this next year is learning to manage my time and really decide what is important to me. I am so thankful though that this is my problem, that there is TOO much rather than not enough. I am so blessed with such a full life with friends and work and dance and everything I could ask for. Atlanta is good. Life is good. Here's to my first successful year and many more :)