2009 The Year That Was

If I had to pick a descriptor of what my year has been like, I would choose the words "amazing learning experience". I have waded through some tough times this year, starting this year off doing personal training , leaving to work as a pharmacist, finishing that and ending the year at the end of a springboard, waiting to take a huge leap into the unknown!

There have been a couple of constants, which include my family and teaching group fitness. The consistency and stability in those two elements of my life have only served to strengthen bonds, rather than break them. I also had the pleasure of coaching three fantastic girls (Shan, Selina and Casey) who competed at the INBA All Female Classic in Melbourne this year - all did really well and we bagged a 1st, 3rd and "Best Routine" - no one went home empty handed! ( Yay!) I also coached some fantastic "real life" and "online clients" in 2009.

Fitness wise, it's been rather mixed. I gained some amazing strength when Shelley told me not to be a pussy and to go and lift some heavy metal with her! Benching 50kg without thinking about it has been one of the highlights of the year. On the down side, I've been nailed with severe AC degeneration (age related, yikes!) as well as foot issues (which I've pretty much rehabbed now). The plus side is I'm learning a lot about rehab which has opened up a new and interesting world for me.

Personally, it's been an emotionally trying year, with posts that I had made in a Forum in the interests of helping and supporting others being published in a well known fitness magazine without my permission and attributed to somebody else. I also discovered chunks of my blog being plagiarized on several other websites and took action to have the content removed. This experience, although extremely unpleasant, gave me insight into my value as a writer, especially in health and fitness related circles. It was the nail in the coffin that awoke the "monster at the end of my bed" and I've spent the last few months getting well again.

However, on the plus side, I've rebuilt and strengthened friendships dear to me and these friends have helped me to heal and come back stronger and they've given me inspiration to write again about what I am passionate about.

I'm not making any resolutions for 2010, even though I have plans to do all sorts of things in the fitness, family (sorry no babies) and personal spheres! I'm not putting it out there though, especially after last year, where I blogged about my 2009 plans and events and didn't execute a single one of them! Looks like I'm going to have to be the master of surprises.

Before I go back to regular programming, I wish to thank everyone who follows this blog for joining me on this journey in 2009, it certainly wasn't what I expected! However I believe that everything happens for a reason and I'm looking at 2010 with a sense of curiosity and anticipation.