Katie

I'm just a girl...still trying to find my place in this world but certainly enjoying the ride!

Hi there...my name is Katie. I was born and raised in a small town in New Hampshire. It's important to note this because being raised as a hard-core New Englander has much to do with my personality. I'm a compassionate, empathic woman who loves to help and bring joy to others. But, I also have a hard-ass, sarcastic edge that only the freezing NH winters can give you. I've always been an extrovert and love being the center of attention.

I started doing gymnastics and dance at the age of 5 and I was a natural. As my Mom recalls, I was "cartwheeling out of bed in the morning and into bed at night". I was a spastic kid; always flipping around and showing off my ariel skills to all who would watch. My love of movement would eventually lead me into more discplined ballet in High School and to the Department of Dance at the University of Oregon in the Fall of 1997.

I was also a Varsity Cheerleader in High School (as a Freshman I might add...those gymnastics classes paid off), a ski racer, a Triple Jumper and sprinter on the Track team and a member of the Field Hockey team (I defected from Cheering my Senior year when my rebelous years were in full effect). Skiing is still a passion and I love to be able to see Mt. Hood perched in the distance everyday. The path to this place has been and ebb and flow...much like my inner currents.

There was another side of Katie...the perfect over-achiver that was my young self; always trying to be the best and brightest. I got to a point where I broke from this ideal and started down my own road. This lead me on a journey from NYC to Colorado an back...did I mention I was very into Phish? While I loved to be on the road, living from day to day it did make me realize that college wasn't really a bad idea after all. I had spent three weeks at Barnard College in NYC before admitting that I just wasn't ready for more school just yet.

"So if you're from NH, how did you end up in Oregon??"

I get this question all the time. The fact is that I had a gut feeling. A feeling that the University of Oregon would be a place that I would find other free-wheelin' souls like my own. And I was right. From the moment I looked out of my tiny plane window and saw the lush green of this state I knew. I knew that I could breather deeply here and find a comfortable place for myself. Go west, young girl, go West...

I loved Eugene (and I still do) and the adventures I had in the 7 years I lived there before migrating North to Portland. Getting a BA in Dance was not as easy as it may appear. The performing arts are very demanding and the dance world can sometimes be a little harsh. I was influenced by a number of professors there that really made me dig deeper into my own body, mind and soul and I came out an adult on the other side. I spent 3 years after college teaching ballet to children in Eugene and did a little performing with a local modern dance company there. I also starting doing Yoga regularly with some locals for $3 per class. This was really good for my soul. I am finally getting to a deeper place with my yoga practice these days; 3-4 times weekly. I am excited as I am starting to build credits toward my teaching certification and it is a comfort to know this will be a long-lasting component in my overall health and well-being.

It's not always easy living so far from my family and native New England. I do miss it (not really the winters though) but I feel a part of me has grown solid roots in Oregon and I love the West Coast. There are aspects of living here that I really never want to give up. I've got the beach and the mountains, the city and the rural country, the high desert and the lush rain forest in my backyard. I feel my soul running in the many rivers here and I know that my story still has a long way to flow.

My blog is an effort to start documenting my thoughts and to just go with my whims and post anything that intrigues me. My mind wanders constantly with all sorts of thoughts...now I can share my stream of consciousness here for all the world to see...or the rare few that may stumble upon me. For my friends and family this is how you can peek into my life when you so choose and join me in surrendering to the flow that is life.