With the start of a brand spanking new year and three hundred sixty five….well actually, three hundred and fifty nine days left in 2016, what will you do with your time? Most people set goals, make resolutions, and try to make this year better then the last.

In this shiny new year……be present, dwell in the possibilities, listen to your heart, connect with your soul, invite love in, and shine. Each one of us has a unique light to share….let it sparkle, because you are, without a doubt….imperfectly charming.

I was invited away for a weekend to Door County, Wi. The first night coming back to the cabin, the air was crisp with a slight bite of the upcoming winter, and the sky was pitch dark. As I glanced up, it almost took my breath away; just from the beauty of the contrast between the blackish, navy sky and the millions of brilliant, twinkling stars. I could hardly pull my eyes away from the universe above my head, back to the earth below my feet.

Last month, a friend and I commited to a personal challenge. When planning the challenge, my friend suggested we have our “why”……what makes this commitment important to us, and I immediately said “I’m in.”  I just had to dig deep to come up with one that really mattered and spoke to my heart.

f internal feelings aren’t aligned with external actions, trusting your inner voice helps guides our growth through love and joy. The amazing thing about life, each of us already come equipped knowing our own truth, it’s whether or not we choose to pay close attention that matters.

Every year, I pull out my favorite cold weather things, and always stumble across the same familiar t-shirt. I have treasured this shirt for twenty, possibly twenty five years. It is well worn, with frayed edges, even has a hole or two, but still takes up residence and space, in my closet, and my heart.

Have you ever noticed when you express gratefulness, how things always seem brighter? I have a daily gratitude practice that begins my morning on a positive note. It may be as simple as being thankful for the new day, a warming shower, a cozy bed, or deeper gratitude for a loved one’s improving health.

re there fears you are facing in your life? I confront plenty in mine, or should I say, I allow them to get into my head and self-doubt usually sets in. If I can turn that self-doubt into determination, things work out as they should, and I am reminded just how awesome and powerful it feels to conquer that fear.

While doing research, I kept finding myself back at the same beautiful bed and breakfast, located in a quaint, historic city, and I booked my stay.  The city offered many attractions within a short distance that could either be found on foot or within a short drive.

There are so many amazing locations right in my own back yard, but I never thought of myself as being lucky to live near them.  I am close to one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and feel a sense of joy when I am near the lake front.  How did this escape my list of amenities and selling points of the area?  

Do you ever feel like you are in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight? Your goal is to get to the other side, but no matter how long you’ve been on your journey, you see nothing but overwhelm in the distance, and getting across seems almost impossible. If this sounds familiar, then you’re in good company.

In life, everyone faces unwanted challenges and we choose to either conquer them or we don’t.  We may feel isolated and weary, and no matter how hard we try we can’t overcome them; but if we look hard enough there are always life lessons learned.  If we begin to see these challenges or hurdles as blessings or wishes, we come out stronger on the other side.  Sometimes climbing that mountain is the answer to the prayer.

Meditation is something I have tried a handful of times in my life, but never felt I was very successful.  I would close my eyes and think I was meditating, until my long to do list would go across my mind like a ticker-tape at the stock exchange.  

Being aware of the possibility of having perfectionist tendencies that I  may or may not possess, I have been attempting to let go and surrender.

Have you ever struggled with knowing what your natural gifts and talents are, or are you one of those people that has always known?  If so, consider yourself blessed.  I happened to be one of those people that didn’t know what mine were; or at least in my mind that is what I kept hearing.

Even though I consider myself a spiritual person, I often get in my own way, and stuck in my head, which is filled with worry and fear, instead of leading with my heart. Listening to my head holds me back from my true gifts and potential. When I make a conscious effort to really listen with my heart, I can feel a shift and the rhythm of my life seems to fall in place.

Fear often stops us from taking the next step, getting that new job,  living the dream we have in our heart, or maybe tackling finances or weight.  If we take that leap of faith and listen to our hearts and just jump, the fear may be nothing more than a distant memory.

With the start of the new year, and taking it day by day; I am mixing up my mornings as well.  Part of each new day begins with doing things just for me