So here’s something I have been wanting to write for a very long time: I am happy.
Not just “I had a good day today!” happy, but more like, “I’ve had a lot of really good days in a row, and last weekend I was literally too excited to sleep and this past weekend my cheeks hurt because I was smiling so hard.”
Good reasons to be tired and in facial pain, I think.
And it’s not just one thing. It’s not just the new job, it’s not just the fact that I’m feeling a little better and it’s not even just the fact that Brian and I can finally go on dates — even entire weekend getaways! — again. It’s a lot of good things coming together at once, and for that I am riiiiiidiculously grateful.
In fact, Brian has commented almost daily recently about how I’ve “been so happy lately.”
I still don’t love the state of my stomach. But I’m just living with it at this point. Sometimes it’s really awful, sometimes it’s unbelievably bloated and distended and I look 15-months pregnant, and other times it’s actually kind of OK. I can’t seem to predict it, so I’m just rolling with it and majorly basking in the good times I get.
The last few weeks have been pretty crazy in The Life of Ali.
I left my job at Dance Spirit and started a new one right away at JackRabbit Sports. You knew that already; and my goodness, thank you for the kind and supportive words about the transition. I was, of course, nervous about making what felt like a monumental life decision, and all of the nice comments on my last post helped. Thank you. High five. Hugs. Cheese. Chocolate chip pancakes.
What now?
Madness, yes. We were talking about the madness.
The resignation process was unfamiliar territory for me. I started at Dance Spirit as an intern during my senior year of college and got hired after graduation, so this was my first post-college job. When the time came to leave, it was my first time having to give my resignation, and that was hard for many reasons.
As I’ve already said, I’ll love Dance Spirit forever, and I’m forever thankful for the wonderful people I met through my job there.
Namely my BFF Michael, also a former Dance Spirit-er, who fortunately lives right next door and sometimes comes over for late-night Pitch Perfect singalong dance parties. We get pretty sweaty. Do you want to come next time? RSVP in the comments. Bring dark chocolate covered graham crackers. We like those.
My first week at JackRabbit went great. It was overwhelming for sure, figuring out exactly what my role is there, and meeting everyone and learning who does what; but overall, it feels like a good move.
I’m surely stating the obvious here, but in addition to the new meds I’m getting (I did get the drug in this clinical trial, right? Not the placebo? What’s the guesstimate?), I also believe stress plays a major role in my health, and my health has certainly improved in recent weeks.
Change — good change — does a body good. Are you with me?
It’s not just the new job, though.
A few weeks ago, I resolved to “force myself out of the apartment.” I couldn’t bear spending any more days inside, and I vowed to leave even if only to take a walk around the block. Eventually “just leaving the apartment” led to going for my first run back in Central Park…
…my first yoga class back at Lyons Den and my return to SoulCycle.
I’ve spent whatever downtime I have doing things I love doing — and that I don’t get to do when I’m sick. I am making sure that when — if? — I get sick again, I can look back on my “moderately healthy time” and know that I lived it up. (Do people still say that? JLo has a song about it, so I assume it’s cool.)
I have had so much fun recently just getting out and doing “normal Ali” things.
I spent one of my last days at Dance Spirit at the New Amsterdam Theatre, doing a “behind-the-scenes of Aladdin” photo shoot, which was super fun.
My last day went pretty well, too. I said my goodbyes at the office and took one last “office bathroom shot” waving goodbye…
…before I went downtown with Brian for “dinner.” He spewed all these lies all day and wouldn’t tell me where we were going, which of course was annoying as shit for a planner like myself.
But then I wasn’t mad.
Brian planned a kickass surprise party for me. He reserved Luke’s Lobster (my favorite) for the night, had my favorite foods (so many lobster rolls) and my favorite people lined up for me. I felt very loved and very happy.
I couldn’t sleep that night because I couldn’t stop smiling.
The rest of that weekend included some fun workouts, quality girl time with Michael and her sweet sweet baby, and my first haircut in more than a year.
I decided to kick off my first day at JackRabbit with a run in Central Park. It seemed like the right thing to do, so I got out for five perfect miles. I haven’t been timing my runs, so I’m sure it wasn’t fast, but I do know the one number that matters: zero.
For only the second time in more than a year, I didn’t have to make a single bathroom stop during my run. Whaaaaat?!
Coincidence? I don’t really think so, but I’m not a scientist.
It was a kickass start to the day, and I’ve pretty much been riding high since then. (The no-stopping thing hasn’t happened again, but it was still a darn good omen, right? New job = no stops on the run, woo!)
And in case I had any doubts about making the big job switch, those went right away when I saw a sign — no, like literally a sign — during my first commute…
This past week, I saw If/Then on Broadway, which was amaaaaazing (see it; bring tissues), and then had another pretty spectacular weekend.
I did yoga, I spun…
…I ran.
I even reconnected with “Jenny from China,” the exchange student from my second grade class. Turns out, we’ve been doing yoga together for weeks and had no idea that we were in the same class with Mrs. Jones in Contocoook, NH (but seriously, how insane is that connection?).
Brian and I made more progress on our spring cleaning mission…
…I ate two crepes, I Skyped with Tyler (He turns 2 next week! How crazy is that?) and I got some quality sleep.
On Saturday morning, after doing yoga-to-spin with a group of really great people, I headed back to the Upper East Side with one of my newest and greatest friends, Maureen.
By the time we were halfway home, my stomach was in a ridiculous amount of pain…
…from laughing so hard.
(I know I’ve said it before, but thank you so, so much. So many people have stuck by me through the lowest times in between these good times, and it means the world. I feel very lucky to “know” you. Let’s get Nutella crepes together sometime.)
54 Responses
Love, love, love this post!!! So glad you are doing well and I enjoy hearing about your job!
Sorry I missed Luke’s Lobster! (I may or may not live across the street from a location, you know, if you ever need to go. Don’t stalk me, internet world.) Congrats on the change, I’m so excited for you!
I’ve been waiting for DQ to come to NYC ever since I moved here. IT IS SO AMAZING.
Just wanted to say… YAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀
That is all!! x
wow! you are an amazing person!! I feel lucky to be a part of the yoga/soul team with you and had a blast last Saturday on our mad-dash!
Your striped dress is darling! Where is it from?!
Why thank you! Your name is darling and I love it! The dress is Kate Spade (they have a gray and white version on the website now, but I am not a full-price-pay-er and got mine at the outlet).
I want to let you know that I nominated you for the Liebster Award. You can check it out on my most recent blog post. I hope you have as much fun with it as I did! If you don’t have time, no worries. Rock and run on.
Peanut butter cup blizzards everyday?!?! That’s heaven right??
A GREAT post!
How did I miss this post? Just so very happy for you…the Jenny from China story is hilarious. As everyone else has said, it’s just so nice to see you looking and sounding so happy. I think you made everyone’s day with this post. Hugs x
This is just awesome. So happy things are getting better for you, Ali!
I love this post. I wish I still lived in New York, so I could “accidentally” bump into you in spin and yoga. Oh, dreams.
This makes me happy 🙂
Happy Happy Happy! I was SO glad to read this post….mainly because I BELT OUT songs from Pitch Perfect daily, especially in the shower! It’s pretty much my dream to be on Broadway, although I’d take just being able to make my entire life a musical and just sing and dance randomly while walking my students to gym class or while I’m teaching science.
So glad you’re feeling better…I agree, stress does play a part and sometimes it;s hard to get out of a funk….YOU GO GIRL!
So glad your days are brighter! And glad you are back to writing more regularly on your blog. Yours is the only blog I look forward to reading.
Oh man. I love this post so much that I wish there was another word for such a BIG, STINKIN’ AMOUNT of love. IS there? I was an English major, but I’m totally coming up empty here.. Anyways, I also sooo wish I lived in NYC still so I could join you at Soul Cycle (and a run + those choco chip pancakes). Darn it.
Hooray!!!
I never comment on blogs, but I have been reading yours for a while and rooting for you the whole way! I am so happy you finally feel happiness again – you seriously deserve it. Congrats for making some tough choices on the job front and doing what is best for you! I also want to give a shout out to Brian, because it seems like you have got yourself a FANTASTIC guy. Good luck to both of you and I hope things only keep getting better for you. Give me a shout if you’re ever in the Baltimore/DC area and want a running buddy!
I’ve been reading your blog for about 2 years now and I’ve never commented before, but this post just made my day – I am so happy for you!! Why am I so happy for a total strangers happiness? I don’t know, but I am. As a fellow Crohnie, I can definitely relate to a lot of the ups and downs you write about so I’m just going to ride this happy high with you. YEAH!!
This post made me smile so big!!!! SO Happy for you!!!
I have followed your blog for years and so pleased to see this post.
They say a change is as good as a rest and it looks like it is true.
I am so happy for you at long last. Congratulations 🙂
I love this post! I knew there would be better days for you. And I just want to let you know that after you posted about leaving Dance Spirit and pursuing a new career dream I finally worked up the courage to apply for a new job in a new state. My husband and I have talked about moving for a long time but it never went past talking. Well I just sucked it up and said why not….so we will see where it goes.
This made me so happy to read. I’m smiling here at my desk. I hope the happiness continues. I need to watch Pitch Perfect again. And that Brian sounds like a keeper!
OMG! Say hi to “Jenny from China” for me!! Small world.
This is awesome. And so are spring runs 😀
I wanna come to a singalong dance party! Love ’em.
So happy happy happy for you!!!!
This post makes me so happy! Glad you are back, feeling better, and living a happy life! Good things are headed your way!!
Yay! So happy to hear 🙂
YAY!!! So awesome!!! I am so, soooo happy to read you are on cloud 9, which is right where you should be!
WHOA, Tyler is so old! Where did the last two years go?!
🙂
This post made me happy! Glad things are moving in the right direction for you Ali!
I am happy for your happiness!
Happy for you and your happiness 🙂 Intentional choices to engage with things we love is so important- keep it up and good luck continuing to adjust to your new job!
AcaSCUSE ME!? you have pitch perfect viewing parties without me!?!?? wtf.
I also forgot a comma between you & just. My bad, ha.
Ali this is fantastic news! I’m SO happy for you! I am also obsessed with pitch perfect (watched it yesterday) so I would love to have a viewing party with you just name the time & place & I’ll be there with dark chocolate graham crackers & other goodies 😉 Favorite parts-the riff off and the final performance! Xo
Yes!!!! Best news from America I’ve heard during vacation.
So, Nutella crepes….yes?
So happy for you, Ali!!!
I can’t WAIT to see If/Then. I will bring tissues.
I signed up for Bethany’s power yoga class for the Times Square solstice yoga event – I’m excited for it since I’ve heard such great things about Lyon’s Den!
Pitch perfect sing along dance parties!!!
You had me at pitch perfect!
So happy for you. I’m coming to NYC for my version of the Eat, Pray, Love tour and plan to do lots of running in Central Park! I’ll be one singing along to Pitch Perfect….
You are so inspiring!
So glad to read all this! My heart is happy for you! Crohn’s can sure be a life ruiner, not to mention the havoc Remicade wrecked upon my body (I know this personally) but we triumph and come out on top! We will prevail! Good luck with the new job, you will rock it!
Delurking to say I’m so happy you’re feeling better! Your attitude is really inspiring, and I’m so excited about (jealous of) your new job! And your white lace skirt is so, so cute! Where is it from?
Why thank you! The skirt is from J.Crew (outlet).
Imagine that! Long lost friend right next to ya! Looks like everything is falling into place for you. 🙂
This whole post makes me so so so happy!!! I came across your blog awhile ago (searching for other runners with Crohns) and have been following along ever since. I’m so proud of you’re positive outlook on life and thrilled you’re able to enjoy the little things that others take for granted!! Looking forward to more posts like this 😉
This post makes me happy. You are awesome. I declare this to be the summer of Ali! 🙂 Also- Tyler is 2?! Where is the time going?! Our little buddies are growing up!
I know! They’re such little gentlemen now!
so so glad to read this post! plus, you ended with annie. so thanks for that, too.
You can take the girl away from Broadway, but you can’t take the showtunes away from the girl 😉
best post!! best news!
I’m so glad you’re so happy. Good luck with the new position!
This post was the Ferrell song from start to finish. I’m so happy for you.
So happy you are happy!!!! You deserve it!
The Jenny from China story is amazing! How did you figure out the connection? So sweet of Brian to throw you a surprise party, I never would have thought to do that for anything other than a birthday. I love it! I’m glad you have been feeling somewhat better. I was waking up at 4am with terrible pain every day for months, went to doctors, had colonoscopy, etc and in the end what stopped that from happening was starting my new job. It really is crazy how that works.
Yeah, the Jenny thing is SO crazy. I actually had a hard time falling asleep the night we discovered the connection because I was so excited and just couldn’t believe it. So basically, she came to my school in second grade and I LOVED her, thought it was so cool she was from China, all that jazz. She learned English in our class! But she left at the end of the year and we never kept in touch (pre-Internet life!). So turns out we’ve been going to the same Saturday morning yoga class, and have literally been on mats RIGHT next to each other for weeks. Eventually we became Facebook friends and she saw that I was from Contoocook and we were like HOLY SHIT. We haven’t shut up about it since. Because seriously, WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
Also, and more importantly, SO glad you’re feeling better. Amazing the way stress manifests itself in our bodies.