Last weekend I was invited to attend a community “State of the Union” event. I wasn’t asked because I was an elected official, but more importantly I was invited because I was a member of the community, a tax payer, and a stakeholder in my city. It was a nice opportunity to come together as one for a common goal: to make our community better.

People…..I kid you not, this all happened in just a few days. Law of attraction is no joke. We get what we focus on. If it’s doom and gloom that’s what we’ll attract, but if it’s appreciation, kindness, and goodness, it’ll show up again and again.

Fast forward to now … I want to take the younger me into my arms and tell her how bright her light is. That she is special and can do hard things. That it’s ok to fail and learn valuable lessons from those mistakes. I want her to know she was born to shine and to help others see their own radiance. I want to tell her that I see her and I love her.

As many of you may know, I’m always trying new things that expand my learning, better my life, create more fun, and in general bring me joy. I was recently listening to a podcast that invited the listeners to try something new to bring goodness into the day. As I continued listening, I knew I wanted to experiment for a few days and would record my findings to use in this week’s blog post. I immediately enlisted my daughter to join me.

February happens to be one of my favorite months of the year. Not because it’s winter, or the second month of the new year, but because it’s about honoring relationships, love, and Valentine’s Day. Each year I look forward to celebrating the month of love with the special people in my life. I admit, I’m good at doing for others, however, not very good at allowing others to do for me.

Once our plates were full, and the Thanksgiving prayer was said, I noticed that Andrew was handing his plate to Crystal. All I could think of was why in the world would they be exchanging plates. What I hadn’t seen was Crystal was handing her glass of wine to Andrew. Still not clear why in the world they would be swapping dinner plates, Andrew says, “If she’s eating for two, I’m drinking for two.” My daughter exclaims, “I knew it!” Knew what? What did she know?

February 2, has a completely different meaning in many parts of the country based on the 1993 movie Groundhog Day. The main character keeps repeating the same day over and over until he learns valuable life lessons. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” - Albert Einstein

Lately, I’d been feeling like my body was starting to let me down. Getting older shouldn’t mean doom and gloom. It should be about using what we have while making the most of it right now. Our amazing bodies support our physical being, mind, and soul.

In last week’s blog post, I asked you to avoid looking through the green-eyed glasses of jealousy and envy and instead see things differently by using the following sentence, “I want some of that.” As a follow-up to that suggestion, this week I’m asking, “What’s currently working in your life, right now?” Make a list mentally, or grab a pen and paper and start jotting them down.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes the meaning of envy as, “the feeling of wanting to have what someone else has.” Can you relate to these words? In this new year, I invite you to do and feel something radically different. It will take the pressure off comparison and will actually make you feel better, and dare I say satisfied. Read on my friends.

As 2022 is just coming into focus and 2021 is already in the rear view mirror, what do you want to call into this brand spanking new year? What do you envision for your life for the upcoming 12 months? You get to decide for the next 365 days how you use your time and what energy you call in.

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see,’ Mark Twain. During this year’s Thanksgiving holiday, my sister-in-law, Pat sent out a communication to the family in regard to the upcoming Christmas holiday.

Children come to mind during the season that fill many with the wonder, and the magic of what might be underneath the Christmas tree or simply the feeling in the air . Looking back when I was a child, I can remember how excited my brothers, sister and I felt in the waiting, in the preparation, and in the anticipation of the season.

Recently, I was thinking of some of the stories my Dad told over the years. One memory in particular, I’d like to share which happens to be one of my favorite stories from his childhood. I also believe it had a huge impact on his life. He never said those words out loud but by the way he told the story, I could feel it through his heart.

I like to think I am an excellent gift giver, however this year there will be no gifts to buy for my children….gasp! It actually seems odd and frankly I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it.

Fear not, sometimes the smallest shifts can create significant changes and opportunities. Especially if you are willing to take a chance, reshape your thoughts, and keep yourself open to possibility.

The holiday season is already upon us. Which can be a time of joy, expectation and happiness for some, but can also be a time of sadness, isolation, and emotionally draining for others. Recently, I was reminded of the ancient Hawaiian spiritual practice known as, Ho’oponopono (pronounced: HO-oh-Po-no-Po-no). It translates to move back in balance.

I was able to spend 10 days in Italy with 10 amazing women. It was a continuation of a writing course we experienced together earlier in the year. When our writing journey began we started off as strangers, but through our initial awkwardness, empathy, laughter, tears, joy, vulnerability, and profound moments together, we created a lifelong bond and sisterhood.