I put out the best intentions for 2018. I had a gameplay and ideas that I wanted to implement. Looking back, some worked out very well, while others never landed. Still there, some challenges arose that I couldn't have predicted. All in all, I spent an hour or so looking back at this year and gaining a full perspective on all that I accomplished as well as the lessons that I learned. I find this an important thing to do before setting sights on a new year. With 2019 looming, I wanted to share my 2018 and hope the you will do the same.
First off, I taught a New Year's Day class on January 1, 2018 with a manifesting ritual at One Yoga Center, my home studio. I was blessed to be surrounded by some teachers and good students who all wanted to start the year right too. That first week of January I also moved the studio around, and basically removed the issue with the pole in the middle of the room. The room opened up and became more spacious and inviting. Students and teachers agree that it feels so much better. I believe that this propelled more positive energy moving forward for the studio throughout the year! In the month of January I also decided to open up my Thai Bodywork offerings more and started to book many more of these amazingly healing sessions. And then there was a little work in Princeton. First I conducted a special class at Princeton University for my Special Olympics family, and then I did my first television interview on Princeton TV. Holy Ivy League, Batman!
In February I announced that my book, The Accidental Yogini, would be released in March. So much support flowed in! The book and its promotion would be a huge project for me throughout 20189, and I will share some of those highlights:
- 1. March 1 the book comes out on amazon
- 2. March 31st I hosted a book launch party at One Yoga Center, attended by students, family and friends. I felt the love deeply!
- 3. July - September held a host of locations for the book tour, to which I am grateful for every venue for having me and helping me to get the word out
- 4. The Accidental Yogini retreat in Yogaville was a huge success - and the book mark on the bulletin board still remains!
- 5. Winning Awards: first was the International Book Awards finalist position, then the American Fiction Awards finalist, followed by a Pinnacle award for spiritual fiction and a 5 star Reader's Choice award. Not too bad for a first outing!
Also in February we began work on the Special Olympics yoga program cards by doing our first of two photo shoots with many of the athletes of our unified program. This was so much fun!
In March I started to feel a little burn out and issues with major energy shifts. I dealt with a lot of personal issues for several months, seeking healing treatments from many people who shared their healer gifts with me, helping me move through some of the darkest times of my life with the highest possible energy frequencies. One of the things to come from this work was passing a kidney stone on March 13th - probably one of the most painful experiences in my life - maybe even worse than breaking my back. Three days later I thought I passed another stone and was back in the hospital, although they explained it was merely muscle spasms from the first one. I do not wish kidney stones on anyone. But, when I look up the meaning of the stones I realize that this is releasing much anger that I'd held in for too long of a time. I was happy to see it go, but there was still more healing of my heart work to be done.
In April Gwen R. and I headed to Colorado to share the Yoga4Sobriety program with people form Colorado, Utah, and Canada! Woo-hoo! Such a Rocky Mountain High! I also decided to pursue my Reiki level 3 in April, moving my energy work into higher gear. I felt this was not only appropriate for my own healing, but after 20 years I felt it was time to revisit and complete my Reiki trainings. Having found Michele Granberg, I knew I had the right teacher to take me there!
Then in May I turned 50. I know! I don't look 50 and I don't feel 50. But I AM 50. I am proud to be 50. It was a good month with some needed wellness doctor visits and preparations for June's events.
Which brings me to Greece! Yes, I conducted my first international solo yoga retreat escorting folks to Greece for a fabulous trip. It was better than could be anticipated with one exception - my husband was at home basically dying! Yes, ladies reading you will understand me, he wouldn't listen and go to the hospital. I thought was his appendix, but he said it was something else. OK. I had a plane to catch. Fast forward to him getting gangrene and being hospitalized and alone while I was away. This added some stress, but still, I managed to pull through and ensure that everyone had a fabulous time! Oh yeah, and my book also was at the Book Expo NYC! My mom and I took a trip into the city and came home with a huge bag of books.
July 8th I had the privilege of baptizing an adorable little boy named AJ, one of my student's first children. It was a lovely event that I was so grateful to be a part of. I realized I want to do more with my Ministry services and I put it out there! During July I was booked at 4 different venues to show my book and also attended the Soulsational Festival at the shore. I didn't sell many books anywhere, but I started to get my name out and the book's name out. It was challenging to not feel a little defeated, but at the end of the day if I sold two books, then I reached two more people, and I was humbled and grateful to have done so.
August was the Yogaville trip, an East Windsor park series where I met lots of new local friends, my Cousins reunion, the Stu and the Kids fundraising dinner, and achieving my Reiki Master! What a month!!!
September proved equally busy. I decided to revamp the store at the studio and create a full Metaphysical Shop - chock full of candles, incense, crystals, angel cards, smudging supplies and more. I had so much fun stocking it. For most of my adult life I have honored natural energies and done metaphysical work, personally. So, I thought after 20/30 years it was about time to share it with others. Truth be told, I kept being told my angels and spirits to do so. Having done so much work to heal my heart and raise my vibrations, attuning to ascension energies, I could no longer hold back! I put out a Natural Healer Course and began a four month foray into teaching the natural healer/shaman's ways and it has been a blast! I also attended two very large venues to promote my book: Lovelight Festival and Autumn Goddess Festival. Both were immensely important in furthering my notoriety as an author. One was very costly and headed little benefits, while the other was of little upmost with much reward. It made me think a little bit about how to proceed best in promoting my book moving forward - sometimes bigger is NOT always better.
So after all this outward promoting, I needed to get back to One Yoga Center - where I started my energies in the year. So, I repainted the sign out front. After 3 years it needed it. The Hightstown Annual Harvest Fair was a blast. I was so busy talking to people and giving mini angel card readings that the day flew by! I was asked to do a full day of angel card readings in Lambertville at a spa on the 24th, and did. When I do my readings the day passes so quickly. I felt blessed to be able to offer these and put myself out there more as an angel tarot card reader too.
November's highlights included my fist podcast interview (Hmm, I could do that forever), officiating a very good friend's wedding, and taking a well-needed family trip to our happy place in Mexico. Boy did I need some down time! I spent four days sleeping on a beach chair under an umbrella, happy as ever. Day five I got antsy and met with someone about a yoga retreat - but that's another story.
Bringing me to December, I got clarity on my tattoo situation and got my Hamsa tattoo and figured out a gameplay to integrate the pieces on my back together. We had a successful holiday craft fair at the studio, I finalized plans for yoga teacher trainings and the Thailand yoga retreat January, and took on both of my grandmother's christmas cookies - two with success, and another still in the works. Not everything can work out, after all!
Reading through this it seems quite overwhelming! I accomplished A LOT - and I went through A LOT! I didn't even mention teaching all my regular yoga classes, finishing up a 200 hour training, as well as advanced 100 and 200 (500 hour) teacher trainings modules, conduction numerous reiki and shamanic healing sessions, Thai yoga bodywork sessions, Yoga4Sobriety trainings (we did 5 this year!), writing several articles for Neighbors of East Windsor Magazine, and applying for all the wring contests and other book promotional things that I did.
I FEEL SO TIRED READING THIS!
But I also feel really completely honored. I feel empowered and grateful. I feel humbled and lucky.
It is often said to be careful what you wish for. When you start a year with the mantra "Manifest the Best..." you better get ready to manifest! Well, I did. I'm feeling that my theme for 2019 need to be little different - maybe "Integrate!" I haven't quite nailed that down yet. But I will...I have 11 days to do so.
As for the those of you reading this blog, please do not feel the need to match or compare your year with me. I am me. You are you. But, do take some time to count what you accomplished. Go back through your photos and your calendar and see what happened this year. What was your theme? What did you accomplish? What did you learn through the challenges that arose?
Thank you for listening, and for giving me a place to go to remind myself how much I was able to do on the days when I am not feeling so high.
In Love & Light,
Tracey
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