One of the best things I did for myself this year was to start doing yoga. I was a gymnast when I was younger so the idea of doing something acrobatic always appealed to me, but I never tried to work on the harder yoga poses or push my flexibility. During my semester abroad in China, I decided to see if I could gain more flexibility - even though I was doubtful. I've always had good leg flexibility, but I chalked it up to my gymnast background. I didn't think it was possible for me to get more flexible than I had been during my high school years, especially in my back and shoulders, which have always been frustratingly tight.
Over the summer, I started following a number of instagrammers who did yoga and discovered many of them started in their 20's! I realized I wasn't stuck after all. I've been practicing and practicing this year! I can now hold a headstand comfortably for however long I want and I can grab my back foot in a scorpion (top right photo) without too much difficulty - none of which I could do before, even when I was a gymnast.
I feel like it's a common sentiment nowadays for it to feel like it's "too late" to start things or pursue the things we love. I had a random conversation with a woman sitting across from me at the airport a few weeks ago who was 49 and going back to nursing school after working as an engineering consultant for over 20 years. She seemed excited. If someone at 49 can start pursuing what she loves - I think it's a sign that I still have to time to chase new dreams.
I'm excited to see where 2016 takes me!