2012 A Year In Review - A once a year update

I have to start this with the usual, “Can you believe it’s already another year nearly done?!”

It is always hard to believe though. Every year is busy and this one was no exception. Work-wise, the clinic has continued to grow. Early in the year I had the chance to be on tv. I acupunctured the host Isla who was really nervous, as it was her first acupuncture session. She loved the acupuncture though and also loved the cupping I did on her back. In fact, the episode was called “Boobs on my Back”! Here’s a link to that, in case you want to check it out: http://www.activetcm.com/blog/2012/06/09/my-connection-to-oprah/

I also got to be in the Vancouver Sun as one of my patients chose to be interviewed for an article about integrative medicine.

http://www.activetcm.com/blog/2012/12/14/vancouver-sun-connects-to-connect-health/

In March we threw a surprise birthday party for my mom. She’s a long way, it seems, from retirement, but it was a landmark birthday. Though we celebrate her everyday (at least in our thoughts), it was great to show her in a tangible way how many people love her.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150755194435429.462409.588800428&type=1&l=b573940069

In May, I went to Germany for four days of training from a homeopathic company. I do homeopathic injections for all kinds of health issues—but especially pain and immune boosting. Since it’s such a long way to go for just four days, I decided to make a holiday of it and Sean came along with me. We stayed for just under two weeks and had an amazing time visiting both Germany and France.

I wrote tons about that on a blog here, if you want to check it and my pictures out: https://picsandpicks.wordpress.com/

I had always thought that I would save European travel for when I’m older so that I could travel in style; I figured I’d do more “roughing it” travel now. We walked a TON in Europe though—especially Paris—so I’m glad we had the energy for that. I could live in Paris! Loved it!

Sean was back in Victoria for most of the month of August for his Communications degree training. The pups and I missed him being away, but he’s that much closer to graduating. He’s really enjoying the program, though it is a ton of work.

While Sean was away, I started doing the Grouse Grind. “The Grind” is a 2.9 km climb up Grouse Mountain. It’s a steep incline as it was developed in the 80s by hikers wanting to create a challenging aerobic workout. There are 2830 stairs. It’s a love it or hate it sort of thing. I happened to love it. Ok, sometime during it I always hate it, but ultimately I find it meditative to just step, step, step. And at the top it is always rewarding. I went by myself twice, but then friends joined me for the next few times. The Grind is closed now for the winter, but I plan on restarting it as soon as it opens again. I already have my year prepaid pass, so I’ve committed myself to going! Here are a couple of articles I wrote about lessons I learned from the Grind.

https://activetcm.com/lessons-from-the-grind/

https://activetcm.com/more-lessons-from-the-grind/

In September our new friends Pascal and Marie-Helene came out to visit their son, my friend, Julien. We had stayed with Pascal and Marie-Helene when we visited Strasbourg, France and had such an amazing time! It was great to see them again!

For Thanksgiving long weekend, my dad and I flew out to Montreal where we met up with my Uncle Robert. From there we drove to visit my grandma in Richmond, Quebec—Eastern Townships. I had been wanting to make this trip for awhile and was really glad that we could do this together! Dad and I stayed at an old railway station, now a hotel. We spent a lot of time taking pictures of the beautiful fall leaves and scenery and eating unhealthy food—curd cheese, fries, and St. Hubert’s. Best of all, of course, was the time we spent with Grandma. It was really hard to leave, and thankfully her sister and niece were visiting less than a week after we left. I miss her again already!