Grateful for in 2020

Way back in November of 2015, I wrote a pretty standard holiday blog post about what I was grateful for. This week I re-read it, and marveled at how different life is now, five years later. In my head, 2015 still doesn't seem like that long ago, but five years is more than a fifth of my life. A lot has been packed into those five years! 

For context: Thanksgiving of 2015, I had just graduated high school that spring. I was still working at Market Basket. I was only in my second season of skating with TOI Boston. I was single, and living at home. 

Today, I'm living in an apartment with my boyfriend. We have a dog. I'm in college, and working fulltime through two jobs. A large portion of my work is self-employed. I'm skating professionally. 

On Thanksgiving Day 2015, I wrote: "2015 was the year of the unexpected. It held so much heart ache, and so many achieved goals. I'd say I grew up more this year than I ever have before. I've been doing a lot of thinking to what was going on in my head this time last year, and it seems both just yesterday and a million years ago. For a lot of reasons, I'd say I'm not even the same girl."

Replace 2015 with 2020, and insert a (slightly) less dramatic attitude, and I could have written that paragraph today. This year has held a lot of hard decisions and heartache for most of us, but it's also given me the opportunity to chase some goals that I might not have otherwise. I feel like I have grown up a lot this year, and truly embarked on my adulthood in a way that 18 year-old Gillian certainly hadn't. I am for sure the same person I have always been. But I do feel more grounded, a little older, and a little more capable. 

For Thanksgiving 2020, I am thankful for:

My work, which is finally starting to feel like a "career" and not just a "job."

The fact that coaching is now the vast majority of my income. 

The other local coaches that do so much to encourage, support, and teach me. 

Youtube yoga videos. 

Renewed energy towards skating, and making time to focus on my growth as a skater again. 

Getting to perform in a Christmas show locally. 

Learning more about choreography and stretching my creativity with American Ice Theater's MCT course. 

My (much more reliable than in 2015) car. 

Houseplants, and my patio veggie garden this summer. 

Our cozy little apartment, it's great natural light, and our quick walks to downtown. 

The cozy sweatpants I've been living in lately. 

The Creative Bug subscription I just found I get for FREE through our library!

A puppy I've grown to love way more than I thought I would. 

M planner. 

My Airpods. 

Audiobooks. 

Building new friendships, and stronger friendships. 

Coffee, and seltzer water. 

Chris, and the adventurous yet grounded life he gives me. 

The hard work of navigating new family dynamics. 

Challenging myself to critically think about what I believe, and what I support. 

A holiday season spent at home!!

Show opportunities coming up. 

Therapy. 

Good books. 

This year is different. We ended up driving down to New Jersey to be with Chris' parents for the holiday (limiting exposure before, and no indoor stops on the way down, of course). I hope you've all found safe and cozy ways to celebrate. "These are the days" has been echoing in my head lately, and I'm trying to be conscientious about soaking up the remainder of the year, instead of wishing it away. All we have is today. 

Happy Thanksgiving! xoxo. 

A Saturday

 

Yesterday was one of those unremarkable days that was just perfect. Nothing crazy happened, I still did homework and worked a little, but the whole day felt calm, productive, relaxed, and like there was time for everything. 

I got up at 6:30am, let Bear out of his crate, made coffee, and settled in at the kitchen table. I cracked open my laptop, and got through some admin stuff for work I hadn't done on Friday. Then, I checked off a few last minute homework items so I wouldn't have to think about them for the rest of the day. 

Somewhere in the middle of that, Chris got out of bed and started making breakfast. Chris making a fancy breakfast on the weekends has become a sort of quarantine-tradition, and I absolutely love it. He made scrambled egg, cheese, and bacon biscuit sandwiches that were heavenly. We've discovered that the Trader Joe's canned biscuits are the best ones. 

Around 9am, I made myself a cup of post-coffee tea and jumped into the shower. Within the last year, I've become the type of person that never showers without a drink...be it wine, beer, coffee, or seltzer. I always have something propped on the edge of the tub. It's become such a habit that I don't just bring whatever drink I have in with me, I specifically start making one to take into the shower. It's a habit I love. 

After a hot shower, I wrapped my hair in a bun and left for the rink at 9:45am. I'm currently only teaching a quick Learn to Skate session on Saturdays, just a half hour away. I was on the ice at 10:30, and done by 11:10. This particular class has some of the sweetest kids. 

On the way home, I took the backroads and listened to Laura Vanderkam's Off The Clock. I devoured this on audio over the past week, and could really feel her thoughts permeating the way I went about daily life. In the book, she talks about how we all really do have time to feel like happy, whole people. It is possible to have a career, workout, have good family relationships, read, and see friends. She als talks about how a lot of our thoughts about how scarce time is, is really just an attitude. She talked about doing memorable things, and being intentional. I think this book is especially relevant right now, as so many of us are navigating completely new schedules and life situations, and finding it easier to feel sorry ourselves, due to covid. It definitely prompted me to breathe more, call friends, and be grateful for everything this week held. 

I got home around 12pm, and changed. Chris took Bear outside for a quick walk and then at 12:30, we headed downtown for lunch. We sat outside, bundled up in hats and coats, at our favorite local brewery. We split a burger and nachos, people watched, and just chatted. Going out for lunch at a brewery on Saturdays has also been a new quarantine habit. It's fun to not be out late, and to feel like we're avoiding the Saturday night crowd that may be less covid-conscious. We make reservations before we go, so it all feels pretty low contact. I love this tradition, and we've vowed to stay outside as much as possible even as it gets colder. 

After lunch, we headed off to a craft fair. It was so fun to stroll through the vendors. We bought an adorable felt Santa, and a set of clothes pin The Office ornaments. I am so excited to decorate the apartment for Christmas! This fair felt like the beginning of really prepping for the holidays. 

We got home a little after 4pm. Chris took Bear out again (he is totally becoming the primary puppy parent, and I'm so grateful for that). I reviewed some choreography I'm learning for a Christmas show, and cleared some laundry off the floor. After eating a small bowl of soup, I left the house at 6pm. To drive to The Skating Club of Boston, about an hour and a half away, for a rehearsal for that Christmas show. It's a free community show in Boston with Joy Skate Productions, and it's been so much fun to be putting together. On the way, I ended up finishing Off The Clock. The rehearsal was so fun with the rest of the cast, and I started driving home around 9pm. I got home at 10:30, snuggled with Bear, took him for his last walk, and watched some TV with Chris. before heading to bed. 

This Saturday held so many unrushed parts: a fun coaching day, checking homework off my list, going to a craft fair, getting quality time at lunch, and getting to skate with a really inspiring group of peers. It was the rejuvenating mix I needed this weekend. I'm relishing not working all day on Saturdays this season, and preserving pockets of time on the weekend for fun, for work, and for chores. More days like this, please. 

Living in November 2020

It is November 9, 2020, and we are here! Here and just...doing. Today, I am feeling bedraggled, overwhelmed, grateful, hopeful, sad, and relieved. I have hit a weird point in this covid era where I feel so skeptical of every plan being made, that I'm not even surprised when things change last minute. Frustrated, yes, but not surprised. 

This fall, though, is making me feel a little more grounded and invigorated. I want to round out this season, and year, by working hard to be a better friend, girlfriend, coach, dog mom, caregiver, community member, and relative. Additionally though, I'm working hard to be a better parent to myself. To embrace self-care not in a bubble bath way, but with the intention to actually spur myself on to healthier habits. I'm ready to put in the work. 

3 Things From Last Month

COVID Scare: In early October, I got word that two of my private skating students tested positive for COVID. They and their families are fine, for the most part didn't have symptoms, and are ready to go! Once I found out, I canceled everything for the week and Chris and I got tested. Everything is fine, but it was a little scary and stressful and came at the same time as lots of other big news. In a way, though, it was good. It was good to be forced to get a test, and understand what that entailed. Since then I've had to get another test for work, and we're planning to get some over the holidays so that we can travel and see family. I'm happy I know what to expect. 

A new job: In October I started a new job! I'm working as a Direct Support Professional for One Sky Community Services. I am paired with a disabled adult, and support him as we go out into the community, clean his apartment, volunteer, and exercise. It's very similar to being a para (which I loved!), just without the academic side. We are having a ton of fun! And it's been fun to think of different things to do and go see, especially with keeping COVID in mind. 

Skating: Before all NH and MA ice rinks shut down at the very end of October, I was having a blast getting back to skating. I had a jumps lesson with my old coach, and started partnering during my ice dance lessons. After almost two years of training to maintain instead of training to grow, it feels really good to be pushing myself again and setting some goals. Rinks are opening back up now and I'm SO READY to get back to skating (and teaching). 

3 Things From Right Now

A show!: After deciding not to travel for ice shows this holiday season, because of how precarious everything is, I'm really excited to be part of a show in the Boston area. I'm skating in Joy Skate Productions Kendall Ice Show, and have been having a BLAST learning all the choreography. The show is upbeat and happy and fun, and free to the public. Working on a show with people is making my heart sing. 

Election: I know: duh. Biden has it! And like, wow, what a relief. I am excited, especially, for Kamala Harris to be our VP. This election, Chris and I both sat down with sample ballots and googled everyone on them. For every seat, from president all the way down to local county offices, we made an intentional choice. We were excited to jump around the ballot, and not vote straight down the line for either party. We were also excited to vote for some more diverse opinions in NH legislature: more women, LGBT individuals, and individuals with disabilities. We got so much satisfaction from it, and will be doing it at every election moving forward. 

Joy The Baker: Here's something a little lighter for you. The infamous Joy the Baker wrote a holiday magazine!! I went to Barnes and Noble this weekend and bought a copy right away. It is joyful, comforting, and makes me feel all kind of festive. I've been slowly flipping through it all week and reading the recipes like their pages of a novel. I am extremely excited to start making things from it, and pie may be in my future this weekend. 

3 Things I'm Looking Forward To:

Thanksgiving, and the holidays in general: This year, we're planning to go to New Jersey to be with Chris' family for Thanksgiving. In general, I am incredibly excited for Christmas shopping, seeing family, baking lots of good food, and decorating the apartment. While I still feel pangs that I'm not doing Sea World's Christmas show this year, I'm incredibly excited to make the most of it while I'm home and be really festive, with a full kitchen to help!

Working out again: This one is laughable because I'm largely *not* but, after virtually giving up on working out since June, I'm attempting to start up again. I'm starting to feel extremely out of shape at skating and that's just miserable. Currently, I'm trying to skate 2-3x per week (but more often than not, it's 1x), run a little, do Youtube Barre videos, and complete Yoga with Adrienne's November playlist with my friend. 

Possible New Apartments: I am extremely happy where we are. But we looked at a bigger apartment this week and if we get accepted, I'll be very happy with that too. It's close to where we already live, cute and historic, has access to a fenced in yard, and extra room for us to have a workspace that isn't the living room or the kitchen. 

Happy Monday, everyone. What is this November like for you?