@darlenegayle

Well that year went by quickly .. just like the years before that !!

I am happy to say that this year has topped last year, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It just means I am putting myself out there and applying myself to different opportunities that have been presented to me. The biggest accomplishment of 2011 is that I finally graduated college with my undergrad in Exercise Science - Physical Therapy. My whole family was there and I couldn’t have been more happy and I know that they were proud to see their eldest daughter cross the stage ! It was truly a humbling experience in itself knowing that I had finally accomplished such a rare feat that most don’t even have the opportunity to do. Also what makes it that much better is that my parents didn’t pay ANYTHING for school. 

My parents especially my dad dedicated countless hours of his life to take my siblings and I to the golf course to either practice and improve our skill set, or to a tournament to see if we were capable of performing at a higher level. Needless to say that all the good and bad times growing up and playing golf, it paid off and I was able to attend college with a full scholarship. Not many people can say that they had the opportunity to do so, but I did, and if it sounds like I’m bragging, then so be it. But hell, I worked hard and made my dream come true and made my parents proud of me. 

Anyways, back to 2011 ! We won conference !! We were NCAA bound. It was such a crazy experience .. so many emotions came flowing out when I watched one of my ex-teammates make her final putt that sealed her individual win and our team win. ALthough I was not playing, I was very part of that team as a Coach. I was so proud of how far our team had come in just 3 years of starting the program. Going to Notre Dame was also such a great experience and that school and city is every bit of historic. I was happy to just be there amongst very talented golfers.

Hmmmm .. another great memory would be from this past summer. My internship at the Cardiac rehab facility really opened up my eyes in the sense of my own health and how I really needed to change my lifestyle. I saw 80+ year olds exercising and being able to do everything and I knew that if I continued going down the same road, I might not even make it to see my 80s. Also listening to the stories from all the older folk was really interesting and some of their jokes were really some of the funniest jokes I have ever heard .. some of them were dirty jokes and it just made me appreciate them even more because regardless of their age, they still had a sense of humor.

Also July was when I decided to change my life for the better. I made a promise to myself that I was no longer going to keep letting myself go, and I was going to take control of my life and lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. It has been over 6 months now and it has been a battle each and every day. Some days are harder than some, but I have been grinding every minute of the past 6 months. I have made a lot of progress, but I still have a while to go. I told myself that once I reached my ultimate goal, that I was going to get a tattoo to symbolize how far I had come. I still don’t know what I want yet, but I know that I’m going to get one sooner than later :) 

Soooo … I feel like I’ve written a lot already. But this year I also started to make new friends, still keep the close friends I’ve had, put myself out there as far as meeting new people and even possibly trying to date. I’m blessed to have the people in my life. They are always there for me whether I need a dollar for some chips .. or if I put diesel in my car and need to fix it. Some are even there just to make me laugh and give me a hug when times get rough. I appreciate all of the things & people in my life. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Here’s to 2012 in having to prove itself as offering more opportunities and challenges in my life in order to top what went down in 2011. I’m excited and scared all at the same time, but I feel that I am equipped with the tools that only success is in my future. Let’s make it so good that 2013 will be too scared to even come around !! 

Thanks 2011, Welcome 2012 !