Christmas happened.  I know that because I was there, but also because that’s what the calendar tells me, and the calendar seems to rule all.

When it comes to managing life and time, the calendar presents as my perpetual nemesis.  Whether it’s moving at a clip that’s too fast, or painfully slow, disagreement on what reality is seems to be perpetual.

So, while I recognize that chronologically speaking Christmas (and Hanukkah for that matter) has come and gone, I still find myself in a state of disbelief.  This was hands down the least festive holiday season I’ve ever known, and I blame both myself and mother nature in equal measure.

I’ve been spending all my time keeping my head above water, to the point that I didn’t have time for a tree, much less decorating, and most of my shopping was done either online or locally in November, without even the excitement of seeing people savagely elbow each other in line at some overpopulated department store.  And then, of course, there was the easter bunny weather that threw off all bearings related to space and time.

At this point HomeGoods should likely revoke my VIP status, and if it weren’t for the fact that I still obsessively purchased things I barely needed all season, I would just cut my credit card up right now.

In addition to my poor holiday showing, the last two weeks has brought ups and downs of the most unreasonably warm t-shirt weather that took away even the most remote thoughts of holiday hibernation, and for that, I say shame on you mother nature; SHAME.

In an effort to make up for the shortcomings of myself and nature, I did the only other acceptable thing: I ate all the foods.

On Christmas Eve, in full boycott of taking on any personal responsibility of feeding myself or others, we let Orzo fill us with Christmas Cheer the best way they could, with delicious food and wine that warmed the heart (even above the already balmy atmosphere).

Since my parents moved to Charlottesville this year it takes out some of the question of whether or not travel is required during the holiday season (which is great, since holiday travel anywhere that is not tropical and warm is the worst).   The other perk is that the Holidays become an amazing blend of family + friends (that are family), and community roots grow just a little deeper over shared holiday meals, sweats, and overall love.  This is what the Holidays are for me now, and is the real basis for why I’m being agreeable with the fast march into 2016, and the end of what has by far been the craziest year of all.

So, here I stand, just a couple of short hour left in 2015, and while I’m committed to squeezing every last working minute out of each of them, 2016 is kicking off with some amazing promise of just a few of the things I love most: community, professional development, fitness expansion, clean eating, forward progression… and lots of it all.

This week we kick off the #wholedamnthing16, our annual and not-actually-cliche ‘life changing’ community initiative (regardless of how cliche it sounds), and it’s already better than ever.  More to come on this, but if you’re local in Charlottesville, join us at b:core methods on Sunday at 4:30pm for a kick off community potluck to meet the troops, community leaders, and connect with the resources that will help you evolve your lifestyle into what is healthiest and best for you. [If you’re not local to Charlottesville, you can join us in our Facebook group, or right here, to follow along and engage virtually].

So in summary, in case you missed it, the Holidays happened, and we’re on to a new year.  Clean slate, let’s do this.  Loved to know ya, 2015!