Wow, so far I’m actually keeping up with this challenge.

I’m pretty sure part of the challenge is to take a new photo everyday, but when I just don’t have time I’ll post a memorable photo from the past/something that is relevant to now or whatever :). The photo above is serving as one of my current inspirations - it will remain in my memory as one of the happiest weeks of my entire life. It was fall break 2010, Miami Florida, vacation time from college/meetings/everyday life (even though for me, everyday life in the USA is still a whole lot more eventful than back ‘home’ in the UK). I stayed at a hostel in Miami, met a bunch of the most amazing, inspirational, well travelled people I probably will ever meet, and spent a week living like a total rockstar. I spent money like it didn’t matter, said yes to things that I shouldn’t have, partied all night, partied all day, and definitely lived the ‘Miami experience’ to it’s fullest. The above photo was taken at the Everglades National Park, where we went on an Airboat, saw crocodiles in their natural habitat, and watched a crazy, crazy but awesome man wrestle them and stick his head in between their ridiculous amounts of teeth. Bear in mind, these crocodiles were probably 50 times bigger than the one I was holding.

I remember it clicking in my mind, that I want to continue to have these experiences, no matter where in the world I am, how young/old, responsibilities, career, relationships and commitments. I am a born traveller, it is a need deep inside me, that cannot and will never be fulfilled by anything else. Some people may not understand it, but that doesn’t matter. Travellers can only really relate to other travellers. I think a sort of secret language exists there, the language of shared experience, and the burning desire for the experiences that lie ahead. No picture, blog or postcard can ever fully capture the magic of the moment, and that is where true friendships lie, no matter the distance.

So I’m a day behind but I didn’t even have a chance to post yesterday so I’ll do mine now.

Today I’ll post a picture of one of my favourite sounding items off the Bonefish Grill menu, the new restaurant in Greenville where I’ll be spending a lot of my time. It’s an awesome restaurant, awesome management, and I’m so excited to be a part of the opening.

Below is Lily’s Chicken, a grilled & seasoned chicken breast topped with Chevre goat cheese, sauteed spinach, artichoke hearts and a lemon basil butter sauce …. yum.

Question 2: Something that’s illegal and you think it should be made legal.

I’m definitely going to answer with guns. Having spent a lot of time living in America and really seeing the two perspectives on legal firearms, I think it’s an important part of their culture that should never be taken away from them. It goes beyond self defense, it is the acknowledgment that a man can protect his family, and a woman can protect herself. They are not ‘given out free’ when you sign up for a new bank account (one of the most common myths I hear back in the UK), and people are raised to both respect & fear guns, as well as know that they are there to support their human right to defend themselves should the situation arise.

Begins today! I will post a picture & description every day, as well as answer a life question from the list so I can look back on it.

This is one of my best friends Rachael, we don’t get to see each other that often but she is awesome & we have so much fun together! Last night a group of the girls from Gamma Sigma Sigma went to the State fair in Raleigh (I drove on the Highway for the first time!), went on rides, ate fried food and played games. It was an amazing night with a bunch of great girls!

Question 1: Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days:

Well this is appropriate given the amount of planning I have been doing recently. My biggest goal is to shape up - not just a little, but to transform my body and to be at the peak of my fitness. This will prepare me for whichever US city I move to next, and for me to be able to take dance jobs should the opportunity arise. I’m also going to work my butt off, save money and LEARN as much as I can about my industry!

I’ve thought so many times about trying to put down in words what dance means to me, but I don’t think I ever can. That is the one thing that I love AND that frustrates me most about dance - if you don’t do it, you will never understand. It’s like a hidden, secretive language that dancers share - an unbelieveable passion for something that makes you want to feel physical pain to know that you’re getting better. It’s frustrating sometimes, as some people don’t understand what we do. We don’t just hang out, do a few routines and have a laugh - we train, we train hard and then we train harder, just to improve by a fraction every day. Some days I feel so far away from the standard that I want to be, and somedays I feel like it’s in reach - this is why you can never stop. It’s so incredible to be able to dedicate your life to an art form that is expressed entirely using the body, I don’t think there’s anything like it. Some people don’t agree, but dancers are athletes. We’re athletes because our body is our career, our way of expressing ourselves, and simply because we can do things with our bodies that other people cannot. I can have the worst day in the world, but after an hour dance class I can’t even remember what I was worrying about - it’s an amazing remedy and something that I know I will have throughout my lifetime. I can’t imagine my life without it <3