It’s been a see-saw month on the emotional scale but what else is new. Here are some little happenings that kept me thriving throughout October… Because it’s the little things that have been providing the most positive impact in life.
^^ Fall Foliage Views From the Top of Old Rag Mountain.
It’s been five years since I hiked up the most popular and most challenging trail in Virginia. A 9-mile circuit with a 2,348 elevation gain that took us about 7 hours to complete round trip. I was convinced after my first time going up Old Rag (hello sore, barely can walk legs for TWO weeks after), that I would never do it again. But then we traveled to Alaska last summer, upped our hiking cardio and strength capacity, and Charles decided he, Tarek and myself should give it another try. So we did and the rock scrambles were still tough but I felt much stronger and was able to climb up certain sections without any help this go round which was a major win for me. Liikkkke, your girl is 20lbs heavier than she was five years ago but is somehow more fit and actually has some upper body strength starting to peek through??? Backwards af but Ima roll with it.
^^ Celebrating Charles’s 34th Birthday.
We were originally supposed to be in Toronto to celebrate. But obviously, this year plot-twisted super hard so instead we took a few days off from work for a mini-staycation that included renting electric bikes to ride the the Mount Vernon Trail from Old Town Alexandria in Northern Virginia.
At first, Charles suggested we ride tandem, i.e. two people on one bike. But 10 minutes into the wobbly ride, I realized that my view would be of Charles’s back the whole time and yeaaaaa, Nope. So we turned around and exchanged our bike for two individual bikes and it was the best decision ever.
We rented our electric bikes from a local bike shop in Old Town, Pedego <-not sponsored. The owner is George Mason University alum (both Charles and I are fellow alum), passionate about bikes, and was super personable and understanding when we came back around to switch out our bikes.
Honestly, after our ride, I don’t think I ever want to go back to regular bikes. It was soooo clutch to have the ‘pedal boost’ option when riding up all the inclines on the loopy trail. For every pedal I pushed, the bike would give me an electro-power boost to get me up the hills with no effort/thigh burn whatsoever.
^^ Closing out Charles’s Birthday with a 3-course Homecooked Dinner and Failing at Almost Everything.
Your girl was in the kitchen for six+ hours prepping and cooking everything from scratch and stressing and mumbling to herself that she would never offer up this ‘gift’ again and trying to stay composed and not transfer her stress onto Charles on his special day throughout the whole process.
Charles’s Requested Birthday Menu & His Post-Taste Ratings
– Appetizer: Lemon Garlic Mussels (B)
– Main Course: Crab Cakes, Seared Scallops w. Rice Pilaf and Greens for Sides (B)
– Dessert: Sweet Potato Cake w. Cream Cheese Frosting (A+)
This was my first time making everything on the menu and so I simply followed a few recipes I had found online. Overall, while everything tasted good, nothing really wowed our tastebuds except for the sweet potato cake. At least, we closed out the night strong with dessert…
Basically, I’m throwing out all the recipes I found except for the cake one. That recipe is definitely making a come back for the holidays.
^^ Voting Early.
It’s been a head butting year for me and control… Coming to terms with the aspects of life that are not within my control. Coming to terms with the aspects of life that are within my control and actually taking/owning my control of them for the better. And most importantly, coming to terms with the aspects of life that are within my control and learning when to consciously let go for the better.
Voting is one of the few that are within my control that I fully own in responsibility. It was an hour in line for me and Charles at our library to vote which wasn’t that bad compared to the three+ hours I’ve heard people have had to wait in line to vote across the US.
Election Day is only a few days away and I’ve gotten my boss’s approval to give my admin team and myself the option to take the day AFTER election day off. Just in case, for our mental well-being, if it’s needed.
^^ Experiencing A Drive-In Dance Performance For The First Time
Not having any sort of in-person energy exchange through dance has been especially tough this year. I work a 9-5 to pay the bills and teach dance on the side to stay connected with creative, movement side of life I’ve always been passionate about since I was a kid. A multipassionate lifestyle that’s been years in the making, is a constant balance struggle but worth the effort to maintain.
Teaching dance virtually this year is simply not the same as the real thing. But I do it because I need it and because I’ve found that the university students I teach need it to. They’re in front of computers now 24/7, working/stressing their minds non-stop and so I hope that learning how to dance from home has provided them an outlet and safe space to escape, create and express themselves physically when words can’t capture what they’re going through day to day.
Since all the theaters/ in-person performance spaces are closed, the dance program I teach with decided to put together a drive-in dance concert where the students presented the pieces they choreographed in a parking lot and audience members watched from their cars. Facemasks on and car windows open so we could hear the music; instead of clapping we honked our horns. And man, did the students daaaance.
To feel that live, direct exchange of energy, movement, music, and expression between the dancers and audience again… I caught myself tearing up a few times watching the students perform. A much needed cathartic experience. Innovation for the win.
What’s been keeping you going and thriving this month?
xo, Setarra
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