I believe everyone was put on this earth with special gifts and talents that no one else can duplicate; making each of us, one-of-a-kind. Some may recognize this at an early age, while other’s lag far behind. For me….yep, you guessed it….. I was a lagger. Looking back, I believe mostly because I doubted I had anything to share, more special than the next person. What I didn’t realize until much later, we all possess something wonderful and great. Like me, I think many search for the answer to the burning question….”What was I put here to do?”

I’ve always thought of myself as a positive person, but once I heard the words within this video, I realized I was guilty of casting negative words upon myself. Then and there I decided to change those negative thoughts into positive ones by committing to meditation for forty days and forty nights on the Power of I Am.

In the midst of chaos, I kept hearing my authentic, heart-centered voice tell me to trust and believe that things would work out. Don’t stress or worry…..yeah, those two words aren’t even close to my top ten to avoid……HA!

So, what does a single girl do on Valentine’s Day? She hangs with her girlfriends and makes the most of the occasion. Over the weekend I was invited to a “Gal”entine’s’ Day celebration with four of my girlie-gals. We could have whined and complained about not being in a relationship, but instead we celebrated life. It was a fun weekend, and as always, laughter and happiness filled the air.

When it comes to Valentines’s Day, I adore everything about it, including the thought of writing love letters to special people in my life. But how often do we think about writing a love letter to ourselves? If you’re anything like me, probably next to never. This year I decided it was time.

Last week I was chasing sleep all week long. I’d get up every morning vowing to be in bed early that night, but sleep kept eluding me for one reason or another. You know it’s bad when your first waking thought is “I can’t wait until tonight to get back in bed”.

When I read the funny but poignant sign, it was a reminder of how I want my days to play out…..stress-free. Or, realistically, as close to stress free as possible. So, how does a so called perfectionist learn to have less stress in her life?

A few years ago, a friend had asked me what was my one word for the year…….huh? I wasn’t sure what she was talking about, but I liked the sound of it….”tell me more.” She talked about choosing a word that resonated, and felt right in my heart regarding the upcoming year. One word that would inspire me, one word I would go back to time and time again throughout the year, if not on a daily basis. One word to give the year meaning, one word only meant for me.

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?