Greetings everybody!
It has been too long.
I hope that everyone reading these words is in good health and good spirits.
I am so excited to be returning to this blog after a long hiatus. I guess if these last three or so years have taught us anything, it’s that the plans we make are often deterred at the whim of outside forces, and that unforeseen events and circumstances have a tendency to get in our way.
(In other words, life’s a bitch).
As much as this project is a passion of mine, the ups and downs of my own life recently have been a lot to handle, and I’m still working on the concept of balance and fitting all of the pieces of the puzzle together. It’s going to be a constant struggle, as I always seem to biting off just a wee bit more than I can chew, unforeseen hardships aside. However, you can always count on the fact that I will come back here and give it my full passion and attention when I have the time, and this fall I am recommitting myself at full force.
If you came from my instagram, you may have noticed that I shared a tentative blogging schedule from now through December, following a bimonthly posting plan. It is my hope that I will have most of these posts written by the end of summer, with just the need for some minor editing and updates before I add them to the site. Despite having very little time for this blog amidst school and other commitments, I do actually find great fulfillment and enjoyment in sharing my thoughts and reflections in this format. I find it to be so much more authentic than social media, and it fuels connection in a much deeper way (after all, only the real ones are gunna actually read it haha). It is my hope to limit my time on instagram and other platforms and devote most of my energy here. Of course, as I always do with this blog and the whole @plantbased_inpointeshoes account, I am giving myself permission to prioritize my mental and physical health and grow/change in any way that is needed. So, while this schedule represents an intention that I am setting going forward, it is not stringent or set in stone.
You may also notice that my original purpose for this blog has shifted slightly too. These three years I have had in college have drastically altered me as a person, and my interests and worldview have greatly expanded. Therefore, alongside health and dance posts, you may see posts about yoga, books, and justice/equity to name a few :). After all, we are ever-changing beings (I am certain that anyone reading this is not the same person you were three years ago either). I am looking forward to entering this new chapter, and I hope you are too.
Anyway, that was a long introduction (I feel like one of those recipe bloggers that tell their whole life story before you can even get to what you came there for). Hopefully, that was a bit more informative than those ramblings though. Now for the updates I promised in the title :).
Life Update
Despite the positive attitude I try to have on here, I said that life’s a bitch, and I definitely meant it. I won’t lie, 2021 in particular had a lot of difficulties. Although I am obviously speaking from a place of privilege, a number of things really hit me hard, and hit me painfully, in a way that I have not yet experienced in my time. Family conflict, division and tragedy really took their toll, adding to a sensation of fear and general displacement that has been building since the pandemic first arrived in the United States. I’ve also been dealing with a lot of physical issues, fighting with both illness and chronic pain for the majority of 2021-22 the school year. There is no doubt that I have always been a bit of a perfectionist and over-thinker, but never has my anxiety come to a head in such debilitating instances as it has this past year, and I think the presence of these underlying stressors have contributed to this.
That being said, amidst all this there has been a whole lot of good going for me that I don’t want to play down or overlook. Among my accomplishments this past year was being a soloist in a performance at the U for a second time in a piece that was exactly what I love to dance: athletic and emotional, with very cute costumes 🙂 (thank you so much to Melissa Bobick for creating it for us <3). In addition to being a performer, I was able to cast, choreograph, stage, and light my own work for our student showcase. It was such an enjoyable experience, from collaborating with my delightful dancers to getting feedback from my peers to watching it come to life onstage. On top of this, I got to continue my rehearsing with my student organization Character Dance Ensemble and work with dancemakers from across the world through classes and performances, as well as expand my horizons through workshops such as Salt Dance’s LINK intensive. Man, I just love art. These larger events are not to undermine all the in-between moments that have been graced with good views, good food, laughter, and my lovely found family at school that I will cherish forever.
In more recent history, my most notable update is probably that I am now a certified yoga teacher! I am not always the most firm believer that everything in life happens for a reason, but in this case I am extremely grateful for the forces that put me down this path. At the beginning of this summer, I had big plans to attend a dance intensive and optimize my technique for my senior year. However, at the last moment, a gut instinct (along with some pointed advice from my physical therapist) told me to sit this one out. As I mentioned before, I have been dealing with chronic pain, primarily in the form of shin splints in my lower legs, for the entire year, and it has definitely NOT made dancing as enjoyable as one would hope it to be. Therefore, at the last minute, I decided to forgo the summer program that I had signed up for and do something that has been on my bucket list for a long time: get yoga certified.
WOW you guys. I truly believe that this summer has changed me in ways that never would have been possible if I had gone the dance route. I decided to do the 240-hour summer immersion training offered by Green Lotus Yoga and Healing Center in Minnesota, and it was a transformational experience. I learned so much about by body, myself, and my spiritual path that has been so incredibly valuable to me. Of course, I cannot speak of the training without mentioning the intelligent, enthusiastic, open-minded and open-hearted group of people that I shared the journey with (thank you :)). All the more I want to say about this now is that, if a yoga certification ever seems like it is calling you, take this is the sign to DO IT! As you may have noticed, I am hoping to write more on this to come, but this is where I will leave you on the update for now.
Period Update
I honestly don’t have much to say about my period… which is actually a good thing :). However, since it is one of the central parts of my health journey as documented on this blog, I thought an update may be appreciated. I am quite astounded yet thankful to say that my period has been a regular monthly occurrence ever since I first got in 2020. Symptoms of it have been present, yet mild and manageable, which is another thing that I am extremely grateful for – although I have been caught by a few inconvenient surprises and emotional days, never once has it sidelined me completely. I actually have to keep reminding myself not to take the slight nuisance of it for granted :).
Even amidst all of my troubles with my shins, my bones have remained strong. It is often a concern that, if drawn out for too long, shin splints can create danger of stress reactions and even stress fractures in the lower legs. However, my MRIs don’t show anything of the sort, and for that I am also extremely grateful. One of the main reasons for maintaining a regular menstrual cycle is to support bone health, and it seems that thus far it is being effective in that regard.
Don’t think I am tired of this topic, though. I feel like I have so much more to learn. So much, in fact, that it is going to be the topic of my undergraduate thesis this year. So stay tuned for more on this as well :).
Senior Year Plans
I thought I might as well address this, since I’m sure that it is going to be the question of the hour for the next ten months: What are you going to do after you graduate? What are your plans for senior year? Much like my Why I’m Vegan Post, I thought I might as well get it out there, as it is slightly more complex than I’d prefer to keep repeating :).
Obviously, I don’t know where I’ll end up when I graduate. Most undergraduate students don’t, especially if they’re in the performing arts, and especially in this pandemic climate.
But I know what I want to do: I want to create art. I want to help people, and make them feel less alone in whatever struggles they’re facing. I want to keep moving my body in space, and also around the world through travel. I’m not one to stay still :).
There are so many ways that I can achieve this, whether it be joining a dance company, becoming a traveling yoga teacher, entering musical theater or becoming a new voice in the dance world through teaching and choreography. Eventually, I’d like to get a master’s degree in nutrition, but that might not be for a while yet.
So, yes, health providing, I will be participating in this audition season. However, there are so many ways I can achieve my dreams. I don’t expect to find the answer right away.
Rest assured, though, I’ll take you with with me for every step of the journey… especially if you keep up with this blog :).
So make sure you subscribe, as well as follow my instagram accounts for regular updates and a chance to provide feedback. I can’t wait to see what this year will bring!
Thank you, as always, for reading, and I will see you next time 🙂
-Olivia ❤
Plantbased in Pointe Shoes 