I guess I can stop writing what day of the year it is, since 2014 has come to an end. And you know what? I did it! I spun my hoop every.single.day for an entire year. A few days barely counted, but the intention was there and I made sure I never went to bed without having picked up my hoop that day. 365 days of hooping. Hooping 365. Can I do it for another 365? Only time will tell!
So tonight, just a few minutes ago, I was spinning away in my living room, thinking/hoping/wishing I could do more with my hoop(s). More skills, more tricks, more flow. For a moment I felt discouraged at the thought of all the things I still don't know how to do, all the things I wish I could do. All it took to break that negative train of thought was to remember where I was a year ago, and everything I have accomplished this past year.
One year ago I made a commitment to myself to hoop every day. One year ago I had never been to a hoop workshop, never worked with a professional hooper, never spent time around any number of hoopers, never even made a hoop. In one year I have done all those things and more. Let's take a look back and see what happened in 2014:
In February I started Hoopla Hula hoops and embarked on the journey of learning how to make my own hoops.
Also in February I had the opportunity to attend 3 days of Hoop Path with Baxter.
In March I started teaching hooping at the YMCA.
In May I started and completed Deanne Love's online course to become a Hooplove Coach. I also held my first workshop that month.
Also in May I did a two day workshop with Hoopalicious.
In June I applied for and won the FlowBot Award which would allow me the opportunity to attend in the InFlow Festival. I also started my hoop classes at Head Over Heels Gymnastics.
In July I started weekly hoop jams at Sunset Point. Much of the time it was just me out there, but slowly people did start to join me towards the end of the summer.
In August I attended the InFlow Festival, a life changing experience for me. I got to have time to myself, and got the opportunity to connect with so many other hoopers. I learned from some of Ontario and Quebec's best hoopers, as well as the lovely Beth Lavinder from North Carolina. I got to try fire hooping for the first time.
In September my fall session of hoop classes began and I had a great turnout for the whole session.
Also in September I did a two day workshop with UK's Emma Kenna.
In December I had the opportunity to perform not only as a hooper, but as a bellydancer and an aerialist as well at the Circus Tribe production put on by Aerial Silks Collingwood.
In addition to all the hooping I have done this year, I have also started taking aerial arts classes which include silks and lyra. I absolutely love these activities and plan to continue them throughout this coming year. I have also gotten back into bellydancing a bit which has been long overdue for me.
And here I am, it is January and I am excited for all that 2015 has in store for me.
Some days I still don't know where my hooping is going to take me. I confess I am probably not as highly motivated as many other hoop dancers and instructors out there, I'm not pushing my classes or hoop sales aggressively. Rather I wait for people to come to me. I think I am ok with that little niche. I like being here when other hoopers need me. I love that I have inspired others to hoop and have started a small hoop community here.
It is winter and outdoor hooping, for the most part, will have to wait. But I am finding ways to hoop every day, and be inspired every day.
2015 is going to be another amazing hoopy year, I can feel it.
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