So it’s been a minute since my last post!
Never fear, I’ve been keeping myself incredibly busy these past few years: In 2016 I received my foundational certification as an aromatherapist and participated in live workshops with Robert Tisserand and jim mcdonald; I also began regular participation in running groups through Moms Run This Town, and built an herb spiral and garden bed in my front yard. In 2017, I participated in Run the Year 2017 and logged over 2017 running, walking and hiking miles throughout the year, nearly all of them outside; I ran at least one race every month, and set personal records in all my race distances from 5K to half-marathon. I attended the Autism One conference, and received my CNA license in order to serve as Nolan’s CNA — my first official paying job since he was born. I was also formally diagnosed with high functioning autism spectrum disorder and sensory processing disorder, conditions I have been challenged by throughout my life.
This past year, 2018, I started with an ankle injury but still set myself the huge goal of completing the Pikes Peak Ascent, a half marathon from Manitou Springs to the summit of Pikes Peak. To that end, I have worked consistently on my strength, mobility and endurance throughout the year, not to mention climbing ALL THE HILLS; this included 11 races and summiting two fourteeners. Even though I wasn’t able to complete the race, I learned a lot about my body’s structure, my running form, and my overall posture from the experience! I have spent the past 6 months getting comfortable with zero-drop footwear; I shifted my diet to one that is dominantly ketogenic and low in oxalates, losing 10lb in the process; and I have slowly begun to build upper body strength with kettlebells and pull-up prep. I also turned 40 this year!
Now that my boys are both school-age, I hope that this blog will be making a comeback in 2019, as I share some of what I am learning about oxalates, keto cooking, fitness, herbs and essential oils. There may be gardening, sewing, and knitting. I am returning to my Level 2 aromatherapy and aromatic medicine studies as well as a foundational course in Western herbal energetics, and will be looking in depth at the integration of these various modalities into my support of Nolan’s needs. Nothing is new under the sun, and my studies always tend to come around full circle given time, but I like to think that I gain wisdom by layering and integrating my understanding of overlapping disciplines with each pass. So here is to emerging from the radio silence and darkness of year’s end into a new season of emerging light and shared experience.
