The Beginning

"Find your passion, get active, and make a difference in your community"

This year, I am setting out to complete the Gold Gaisce challenge, also known as the Irish President's Award. I kept putting it off, BUT (as usual) deadlines are the best cure for procrastination- and the Gold challenge must be completed between the ages of 17-25, so I am actually starting to run out of time! In order to earn a Gold President's Award, the participant must complete 52 weeks of: a physical activity, a skill, and community involvement, as well as an adventure journey and a residential activity. For more information on the award, visit: http://gaisce.ie/ Also, if you are wondering what on earth Gaisce stands for - it is an Irish word meaning "great achievement"... but can also mean "brag"- I'll leave that for you to decide!

For this challenge, I have leaped out of my comfort zone and into...dance classes! I've never had the knack for dancing, my brother definitely got all the dance genes. Instead I mostly awkwardly bop around, never know what to do with my hands, try to look invisible and hope no one is actually watching. I decided against taking Hip Hop classes, because aside from coordination I probably lack necessary sass. Instead, I am starting ballroom and latin dancing - which so far seems set to include the foxtrot, waltz, swing dancing, tango and cha cha!

Having pretty much just sat at a desk for about 5 years writing essays -with minimal physical activity in between - suddenly going to the gym probably isn't the greatest idea. Instead, for my physical activity, I have decided to take up yoga, in the hopes of improving my flexibility. Finally, for my community involvement, I have decided to start volunteering with the Irish Cancer Society in one of their charity shop branches. Cancer is something which touches everyone's lives at some point, so I am glad to help cancer research funding in whatever way I can.

This blog, as you've probably realised by now, will be following me on my Gaisce journey, and while it would be great if this turned out to be a tale of "Clumsy Girl Becomes Great Dancer", "Sarah Can Finally Touch Her Toes" or "New Breakthrough thanks to Cancer Research Funding", I am not setting any particular goals, I am just really excited about the process. I hope that at the very least, you get enjoyment out of reading this blog, or, even better, I hope that you might be encouraged to try something similar- step out of your comfort zone, or give your time to someone who needs it.

If not, in the typical Irish way, sure just read it for an auld sneer.

Till next week!