Oh man… this is the third draft of my 2015 Year in Review post. This has been a tough post to write. While there were some nice highs, there were some tough lows to deal with.
My Health:
2015 was a much healthier year for me than 2014. I started Field Control Therapy in March and it brought a noticeable improvement regarding my autoimmune disorder. While I still had a few urticaria flare ups and allergic reactions, they were not nearly as frequent or severe as the ones I had in 2014 that would last for weeks at a time.
My Career:
I received news in February that Health class, the course I’ve been teaching for 12 years, was likely going to be cut. That was a hard pill to swallow. I fell into a depression, dealing with an identity crisis and feelings of obsolescence. In the end, I decided to go back to school myself– I enrolled in a program to get my authorization to teach Science. So far, I’m doing well. I’m surprised how much better I’m understanding Chemistry and Physics now than I did back in high school and college.
Being a Gluten Free Vegan:
November marked two years of my being gluten free. December 26th was my 2-year veganniverary!!! Although I miss bagels and real pizza crust, eating gluten free and being vegan hasn’t been difficult at all. Thankfully, SoCal has a ton of options for me both in grocery stores and restaurants. I feel healthier and stronger than I have in a long time, plus I can eat with a clean conscience!
Running:
In 2015, I ran more than I ever have before. I participated in several races: 3 5k’s, 1 trail 10k, 4 half-marathons, and a Ragnar Relay. There were a couple of races that I DNS’d because of my weekend school schedule at UCR: the Golden Gate Half and Ragnar Napa. In the mid- to late summer, I needed to take a break for a few weeks to let an achilles injury heal properly. Although I lost some of the speed I had acquired in the spring, I’m starting to gain it back and increase my base.
I also started running with running groups on a regular basis. I really feel like I’ve plugged in to the running community in LA & OC. I’ve met a lot of new friends who are super encouraging and supportive. And they get it. While others think I’m crazy for running so much, they’re right there with me on the pavement and the trails. I’m looking forward to running the LA Marathon in 2016 with a lot of them! Plus, to top it all off, I was selected to be a 2016 OC Marathon Race Ambassador!
Family Life:
In 2015, my youngest child entered junior high and my eldest demonstrated that he could hold his own as a sophomore in high school. My wife continued to have her own health issues throughout the year. Admittedly, I had a difficult time trying to balance my personal goals and my family’s need for me this year. Going back to school, developing as a runner, signing up for races, and the new friends I made in the running community made less time for me to devote to my family… especially my wife. It was tough. Resentment and bitterness built up and in November things got pretty heated. I was thrown for a loop. I started to question my purpose and worth. Since then, we’ve been working on it. I am working on it. Balance. Priorities. The holidays and winter vacation has helped the reconciliation and healing process.
Connecting with Social Media Friends IRL:
Definitely a highlight of 2015 was being able to meet up with many of my social media friends in person! From group meet-ups to one on one hangouts, it was great to connect with everyone face to face. I hope 2016 brings even more opportunities to meet my FB, IG, Twitter, & SC friends.
Looking back, the theme of 2015 was resilience. Whether it was bouncing back from physical illness and injury or emotional hurt and pain, I learned it was important to keep moving forward. Yes, I was tempted to give in… to give up. But here, writing this post in the last few minutes of 2015, I have not yet given up and I don’t intend to. Happy New Year! Bring it 2016!
How did 2015 treat you? Did your year seem to have a theme? What were your highlights? What are your goals for 2016?
