Blythely Dancing

 #150 Late spring bursting full juicy, abundant promise expect ripening #151 Gemini season Multifaceted jewels spark, effervescent #152 Diverse interests a portfolio career so much to explore #153 Thank you for being my friend, present, listening loving steadfastly #154 Modes of changing shape flowing form-to-form through breath, spokes, arcs, carving #155 They will let me stay! Jumped through German visa hoops extended two years #156 First restaurant since October, vegan burgers together outside

Today is Germany Unity Day, so it’s an important holiday in my new home. This commemorates the events of 30 years ago, within our lifetime, when East and West Germany were reunited. Usually I teach a couple of ballet classes on Thursday afternoons, but today I took it easy and thought I would also post this blog, the start of what could be a series about how I came to know this beautiful country. My history with Germany and German culture is actually pretty new. Back when we were in college and dating, my ex-husband visited friends who were studying abroad in Freiburg I believe it was, but I couldn’t join in at that time. He had a blast and I thought maybe we would go together someday. Myself, I studied abroad in Italy one summer, then subsequently travelled to other European countries, including France, the UK, Ireland. I’ve also greatly enjoyed other parts of the world I’ve had the privilege to explore: New Zealand and Peru. I first visited German just over a year ago, in July...

[I'm using this habit tracker and also year & monthly planner templates from www.atiliay.com] Wow, what a month of accomplishment it has been already! I  obtained my freelance Arbeitsvisum (hooray! I can stay and work!), applied for a tax number so that I can invoice the companies I freelance with, started teaching ballet officially at Tanzschule Tanzraum and Tanzstudio Odenthal , began my Volkshochschule (VHS) A1.1 Deutschkurs, and took yoga classes in German at Yoga Loft. I'm so glad I've already found some dance-loving, hardworking students to teach ballet, and I've learned so much from them already. Ela and I have even started taking West Coast Swing together at Tanzraum. There has been lots of paperwork & bureaucracy, but also lots of growth, and tons of fun! On a personal note, I’ve been building consistency with my yoga and meditation practice, gratitude, writing (morning pages), publication (blog), making new friends, and still cultivating friend...

Somehow Friday the 13th has always been a positive, good-luck day for me. Maybe it’s my anti-superstitious, contrary nature, but I find that good things tend to come on this day. Well, and most days, since I’m also positive by default. But this blog is to uphold my commitment to checking in weekly on my habits and adventures.  How are my habits going? I have tried various methods of tracking this year, including hard copies (pictured) as well as the Coach.me app for a few months, which was convenient, but not as motivating for me.  What I know about making commitments is that life has a way of jumping up to interrupt. In this case, there was the bicycle tour that I was so looking forward to over the weekend, and after that I came up with a cold and then started up with my German course (more on that soon!) as well as my teaching schedule. So a look at my visual tracker is a peek at a profoundly human experience. It isn’t perfect! But it’s still motivating me to get b...

I have always loved Back to School. After a nice relaxing summer holiday of sunshine, reading, artistic input, inspiration, and travel, having taken time to reflect and assess my goals, I look ahead to a productive autumn leading into celebratory holidays and a fresh new year! Reflection is an important part of my process to ready myself for the coming season, and I enjoy checking in at least several times each year: at the New Year, my birthday (conveniently 6 months later), and then in August/September before the final push.  Having completed my teaching credentials in secondary education/dance and English this spring, and moved abroad this summer, this fall I go back to school for the German language as part of my assimilation effort here in Cologne. Of course, I’m always studying many topics and taking steps on various projects. This Autumn, I’m also back to my blog, and the goal is to check-in here once a week, more for myself than public consumption, although...

Stand/Theme/Keyword for 2018: VISION (2016: Connection & 2017: Service) By "Vision," I mean trusting what I see and perceive, through my senses, intellect, and intuition. Relying on my judgement and input from other trusted sources, gaining perspective to see underlying truths and act in accordance with the greater good. Seeing what is possible in dance and education and empowering others to expand their own capacities. Creative contributions and problem-solving. With an annual stand or theme rather than a list of resolutions, I create not a fix or changes, but a place to come from for the year, asserted on a daily basis. It aligns with my values and is a litmus test for my priorities and activities during the year. Then I revisit my projects and take on what is i n alignment with my Vision, update my commitments and timelines. In 2017 I celebrated many accomplishments, including my second semester of teaching DNCE:131 Beginning Modern Dance at WCC...

The fireworks have burst, champagne corks popped, folks resolved to make exciting changes in their lives… and I have reflected, envisioned, committed, and eaten my black eyed peas. What does your New Year process look like? This New Year, I took stock of the last year’s accomplishments and challenges in creating my vision and practices for the future, as well as a bit further back, reading through old journals and notes back to 2004. 2010 was one of my most eventful and challenging yet, and in some areas I have been disappointed with my progress. Happily, taking just a slightly longer view revealed that I have been moving on an upward spiral towards my dreams, even with the tough times of life along the way, and some out and out failures! I continue to get more clear about what I want, and move step by step, of course stumbling and trying again, toward it. Here are some particularly relevant bits of my reflections and milestones over the last 7 years: February 2004- “I fee...