One more trip

... around the sun.  Having just completed my 48th orbit, it's time to reflect on what this last elliptical journey brought to me.  Since last year

• I completed retroactive puberty rites with a Native American healing circle I'm a member of.  I'm now a Man!
• Accomplished a four-directions Quest for Vision.  
• I stood up for myself, confronting and rejecting the abuse I was taking from former shamanic teachers and cut the ties. It was a Good Graduation.  I did it well, grew, and made most excellent Medicine out of it.
• Completed my fifth season singing with a professional, well-known Baroque ensemble. 
• Declared my intent to teach shamanism ... and received absolutely no resistance from said former teachers.  This was a biggie.
• Despite appearances, despite my perpetual "can I afford this?" energy, went for it and received absolutely amazing Middle World shamanic instruction from an incredible teacher.  Life-changing.
• Signed up for a one-year shamanic course that's turning out to be the best thing ever.  Even more Life-Changing.
• Moved in with my honey - he moved here to be with me!
• Seriously started renovating my ancient house.  By hand.  With help.  Lots of help.
• Moved my massage business into fantastic new (custom!) digs in the huge regional cancer center.
• Started doing Yoga.
• Started losing weight.
• Started doing daily meditations and breathing exercises with my healing stones.
• Successfully and quietly and seamlessly integrated shamanism into my daily massage practice.  
• Came out of the massage closet.
• Rented a storage unit with my husband.  Now I know we're married :-)

Birthdays used to bum me out.  I always ended up focusing on what I hadn't accomplished, on the "I'm this old, and this is all I got to show?" story.

I like it better this way.