In May, we had one more week of work and play on the Big Island, several days of travel back to Cologne, then jumped jetlagged back into teaching, coaching, publishing and celebrating there! Felt at home in both Hawai’i and Germany, both happy and homesick in each location.
April revelry took place on two continents and an island, was 50 percent “regular” teaching, creating, and normal publishing schedule and travel prep, 50 percent adventures in several places I feel at home: Portland, Oregon with dear friends like family and Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i with actual family and mentors.
Honored to host and participate in special events along the way, such as World Tai Chi & Qigong Day on the Big Island, a live performance of “The Wizard of Oz Ballet” and a recorded one of the Big Island Choreographers
In a nutshell, my personal themes for the month were Easter & Spring, Love & Friendship, and HOME.
In this article I’ll wrap up the month of March and Quarter 1 as a whole as related to my own projects, life and events. What went on for you during this period and what’s planned?
The first blossoms emerged from the earth, filling me with excitement to bloom with you this season.
February was for protest & partying, demonstrating & dancing, love, Eating Disorders Awareness Week & Koeln Karneval!
The first blossoms emerged from the earth, filling me with excitement to bloom with you this season.
In January I enjoyed a reflective and celebratory staycation, lots of teaching, trying new things, and planning an extraordinary 2025!
My intention for a “Gentle January” held true, even as a new cycle of teaching, coaching, and experiences began.
We had a festive Silvester/NYE into a restful and reflective New Year’s Day, played Fussball/Soccer Billiards with friends for the first time, saw lots of pretty Snow (the snowiest winter so far since I moved to Germany), returned to learning Tango, and attended Live Art at a local gallery.
Protests leading up to German election began and would continue in February, important times to defend democracy and human rights!
In this month of festivity, my Ballet students successfully passed their Royal Academy of Dance-style examinations, so proud of their progress! I continued to create and publish while starting the process of reflecting on the past year as a whole and dreaming and planning the next.
So fortunate to be blessed by feasts of celebration and rituals marking the Winter Solstice, Christmas, my girlfriend’s birthday, and Silvester/New Year’s Eve and to have a period of processing and rest after an eventful year.
Happy Winter Solstice, arriving in late December in the Northern Hemisphere (June in the Southern), a time of celebrations of light in many cultures.
The stark, bleak, dreary days are here in Cologne and strings of lights, candles, treats, and traditions help to warm the cold of winter. It can be a difficult time for many reasons, so be gentle with yourself and make exquisite self-care and kindness for self and others a priority.
November featured the full Beaver Moon, our last gasp of Autumn’s colors, art and culture at Museumsnacht Koeln, and a parade of birthday celebrations.
Cooler temperatures even brought the first snow of the season, the earliest I’ve experienced since moving to Germany!
It being the month of American Thanksgiving, I still took time to be grateful for my life and everything in it and hope you had a lovely feast if you celebrate.
Mom’s knee surgery was a success, the U.S. Presidential Election not so much…
October was an extra-long, very action-packed, fun, and also anxious for various reasons. I managed to vote in the US Primary Election and was worried about the outcome, as well as various other concerns personal and professional.
A short visit with family members I haven’t seen in ages was lovely. Our weekend escape to Mendig with friends was a refreshing adventure. My new fountain pen hobby provided creative diversion.
September I really got in the swing of “Back-to-School” and my Fall schedule, celebrating the Autumn Equinox and Oktoberfest, looking back at Quarter 3 and forward to Quarter 4 and a new year on it’s way before we know it.
