I'm not gonna lie, it was hard. It was damn hard and many nights my children would find me at the dining room table crying or frustrated over some statistic problem I was trying to solve or a  paper I had worked on for hours that somehow got deleted from my computer because I didn't save it correctly. Those days I wanted to give up. I never showed that side to my children but trust me, inside I just wanted to quit....throw in the towel and settle for mediocrity.However, there was a fire in me that kept burning and wouldn't let me give up. So, day after day, week after week and year after year I've been doing the hard work to make my life better. To make a difference in the world.

The evening started off by donning our tall, white chef's hat and black apron, then the owner described the good, bad and ugly of olive oil. Have you ever stood in front of scads of olive oil bottles at the grocery store and wondered which one to pick. I have, on many occasions, often picking either the prettiest bottle or the one on sale. I learned that wasn't such a great idea.

When my website designer mentioned she wanted to move my site, I dug my heels in at first and then slowly over time realized I needed something easier to manage. Since I'm not tech-savvy by any means, I was afraid to take the leap but a few weeks ago while meeting with her, it somehow took a turn for the unexpected. I agreed to not only change my platform and web hosting but I also agreed to use another name for my life coaching and soon I'll have my hypnotherapy certification. Let me tell you......this was a GIANT LEAP for me.

For three days and two nights, 10 women came together and formed a close bond and sisterhood. We trusted, laughed, supported, cried and held space for one another as we took a leap, head first into a heart healing program. So often we get paralyzed from moving forward in our lives by fear and self-doubt and we’d rather stay stuck than risk the vulnerability of change. If we can trust in our inner guidance and follow our heart, it changes everything.

We all have what we define as our core values and principles on how we choose to live our lives. You may live by integrity, compassion, motivation, service to others, kindness, humor, respect or courage. The list goes on and on. You may not even realize what all your core values are but you have them.

Long before September 11, I had made plans with a few girlfriends that included travel to New York City in November of 2001.. We weren’t sure until closer to the date if we’d be able to safely travel or if we still wanted to travel but as it turned out we were able to go. Even though the trip was sprinkled with happy events, 9/11 still loomed over the city and the hearts of the world.

A few weekends ago, I had dinner with 151 dear and mostly new friends on a beautiful summer’s eve. It was a night under the stars and farm-to-table dinner, held in an opened-roof greenhouse. Farm-to-table dinners are all the rage now and would recommend to give one a try. I’ve been to a few in the past, but this night specifically, far exceeded any expectations.

Two of my girlfriends decided they didn’t want me to bring them sweet corn, they wanted to learn how to select and pick their own. I loved they wanted to learn a little bit about the farm. I had been in the field picking the day before, just after a good rain and needless to say, have a new pair, now old pair, of shoes for mowing and picking corn….haha. I mentioned to the girls it’s best they bring their boots.

The visit from my daughter was a good reminder of connection and how warm and wonderful it felt to a mother’s heart. Even though we talk several times a week, the human and physical touch was a blessing. Just hanging with my girl was exactly what this mama needed on a sunny summer day and I’m pretty confident it’s just what she needed too. Connect with loved ones you haven’t seen in a while……it’s good for the soul.

Bloom with Wellness is a program to create personal health and wellness goals while connecting the mind, body and spirit. We’re already into our fifth session and feel completely connected to the group, as we are all like-minded women, wanting to challenge ourselves and set goals for improving life. We are there to support one another, hold space for one another and lift each other up.

Now, in our new location we talked about the meaning and power of a new moon. Black new moons are said to be more powerful than regular new moons. This black moon is in Leo and helps re-learn ways to express our creativity. It’s also a time for self-love, including all matters of the heart; especially our own. It’s time to stand in our own power.

Why are we always critical of ourselves? Crystal, Andrew and Hannah all liked the picture and when I showed it to a few friends, they equally agreed. What were they seeing that I wasn’t? My critical eye, was not grounded in fact, rather expectations that wouldn’t measure up.

This past week I spent an evening with a good friend along the lakefront in Wisconsin. It was a beautiful night and we had originally wanted to dine outside which didn’t work out but none-the-less we had a delicious meal and fun conversation. At one point over dinner, my friend mentioned it was the seventh year anniversary of her Dad’s passing. It was significant since both of us were daddy’s girls.

Within another 30 minutes or so, a crane was spotted sitting on a nearby dock that looked as if it wasn’t set up for the season yet and the bird was taking advantage of the height the stacked wood provided. The merganser family showed up again right next to the crane as if they had a mutual understanding of sharing the area. We saw and heard loons, listened to bullfrogs, watched families of mallard ducks, deer and many chipmunks scurrying around the cabin.

Until recently, there was a place I hadn’t thought about in a while, the Slew. After reminiscing with my brother, he mentioned the Slew was what farmer’s referred to as wet areas that weren’t farmable. The Slew was in the middle of the large piece of property adjacent to our house. We used the wet and swampy area as a playground, even though the land surrounding the Slew was planted and harvested each year. Right smack dab in the middle of the property was an old dirt road, we referred to as Slew Road.

Monkey see, monkey do was how they acted as a troop. What one monkey did, the others followed suit. It reminded me of peer pressure in life. Sometimes we’re afraid to speak up for what we want, but doing so moves us beyond our fear and gives us the courage to take our own path. Are you walking yours or are you following someone else’s path? Be bold, be brave be you!

I asked if she would send me a picture of it later that evening. One of the items was to take my children on a trip; which had been on my mind and already planned. You may think that’s no big deal, but for me, it was. We spent time each year on vacation, but they always included other friends and family. We hadn’t taken a trip with just us, until this year. I had given them a trip of their choice for their Christmas present. It was fun to think and plan of what would suit us best. After many conversations and investigation, we settled on Costa Rica and would all experience it together for the first time.

The straightforward quote that caught my eye was, “Nothing is worth more than this day.” It’s uncomplicated yet so meaningful. This day is all we really have. How do you want to show up for it? How will you make it memorable or make a difference? Live each day like it’s the only one that matters and then if we get another chance tomorrow, repeat.