2011 has been, in so many ways just unbelievably amazing.

It has also been incredibly shit too.

Of course, you need the balance, but a lot, and I mean a lot of amazingness has occurred in these last 12 months.

1 year ago I had my 5th laparoscopy. I wrote this Letter to Endometriosis post and it was a global hit, being translated into different languages and striking chords with many endo sisters. I hung so much hope on that much longed for op to help my pain and health, but my journey has gone a different way this year instead. I am realising more and more that my journey doesn’t have a neat ending, there is no “and then I did this and it was ok”, but it’s about learning to live. This year, the Dexterous Diva was born; my blog evolved from being my personal weblog of family digital scrapbooks and my published online clips to be a reflection of life as a self employed twin mum with endometriosis. I have found a voice, a readership and I know that my blog posts on endo have given inspiration to others in their darkest times. That knowledge means the world to me. To be able to raise awareness of endometriosis and the way it affects my life, my family and my health on every level means I am doing something, however small, to make a difference in awareness.

As I began to document my journey and life with endometriosis and to link my personal health with my working world of fashion, beauty and lifestyle, the blogosphere and Twitterland opened up for me and opportunities arose. When last year I watched as Bangs and Bun took her Team Bangs ladies to Paris as I recovered from my laparoscopy, I followed their progress avidly from afar. I was inspired by these ladies; waiting to heal from my laparoscopy I so wanted to get out running again, to get fitter after putting on weight from my increased pain and bed-ridden time with endo. I hoped that Bangs might announce she was doing a second team, and dared to daydream about being part of Team Bangs.

You know what? Daydreaming works.

BOOM.

I was lucky enough to be chosen to be part of Team Bangs on the Run 2. This September I ran the 13.1 miles of Nike Run to the Beat Half Marathon with the most awe-inspiring ladies I had the pleasure to meet. We all came at the challenge from different walks of life with a personal mountains to climb; if you read my earlier posts you can see my reasons for running and what I learnt along the way (search Team Bangs tags to see my journey). I cannot thanks Muirrean enough for giving me the platform to share my journey and experience of running, literally for my life. I ran to overcome endo, to overcome depression, anxiety, old wounds. I ran to be me, to show my daughters what is possible when your mind is set, and to instill inspiration in them and other women to put some damn trainers on.

Team Bangs changed my life and I am so glad I did it.

Through Team Bangs I also met some new friends, soul mates who I add to the collection of new people that came into my life this year that  I cannot believe I never knew before. Here is a roll call of fabulous people the universe bought to me in 2011: Jo James, Mike Sullivan, Jayne Hardy, Sarah Andrews, Sarah Williams, Muirrean Carey-Campbell, Tracey Robinson, Clare Neill, Lea Rice, Jenn Rowe, Sam Sparrow, Michelle Allen, Sally Todd, all the Team Bangs crew..I have a crew of people I am collaborating with personally and professionally, and it’s GREAT! I have at least 3 projects springing up from these dynamic, fabulous people and it’s like having an entourage of like minded folk with me all the time.

Of course, no year would mean anything without these little dudes:

My precious Mini Divas who are learning, growing and changing so quickly it’s miraculous to watch. I adore my Mini Divas, and Eva and Mia bring sunshine to my life just by being my little girls. I am such a lucky mummy.

This year the Cherry Sorbet Cyber Savvy workshops began, and so started a whole new dimension to my company, with exciting things planned for 2012 including ebooks, podcasts and blogging for clients, which is keeping me very busy and happy!

I also won flights to the US from an Endo UK raffle, and I am planning my trip to New York at this very moment I am always campaigning for more awareness about endometriosis as you know, and have some projects up my sleeve for next year, so this trip is a lovely surprise and I can’t wait to hang out in NYC and be inspired.

I started Zoladex, my next stage of treatement for endo and it is knocking me for 6 right now. I am struggling with chronic fatigue, pain and the menopause, but it is forcing me to look at life and take a step back to be able to put my health and family first. The blessing of being idle is there is more time to write and blog, always a good thing although I would kill for a social life and some energy right now.

So readers, thanks for staying with me this year, for joining me on my journey as you dip in and out of my blog. Don’t forget to sign up for updates and lovely freebies, and I hope to explore my journey further with you next year.

2011 you have been big, and you have set the scene for an even better 2012.

Bring it on.

Love and colourful creativity,

Dex Diva
x

 

 

Tags: 2011, crew, featured, running, sexy, Team Bangs, year