she said

She said you make the world a more beautiful place to be

She said it is your good energy that generated all of the goodness

She said thank you for providing all of these opportunities to connect with wonderful people around the globe, and for being authentic and vulnerable enough to help all of us work through this wonderful thing called life.  You inspire.  You make a difference.

She said the way you express yourself is truly an inspiration to others

She said you are a part of my fondest memories ever

She said you have put into words what we all feel

She said you are amazing and inspiring

She said everything you write is so full of heart

She said you capture the best moments

She said you speak from the heart

She said you are a gift

She said you are writing is amazing

She said you are beautiful

She said one of the things I admire so much about you is how you are aware of such beautiful feelings and then how you can verbalize them and make us feel it to

She said I heart you

She said I miss you

She said I am so happy you were here

She said I love the way you use your words, you pull at heart strings

It was what she said that opened up my eyes to the journey I am currently traveling.  I keep dreaming that my writing will make a difference, that I will gather and tend to the souls of others, that what I do in this world matters.  

Hearing what she said made me realize that I am currently walking the walk.  While deep in the thick of it I did not realize that I am already living my truth.  I am cultivating my dreams.  I am tending to hearts.  I am writing from a place of honest vulnerability.  I am touching peoples lives the way I have always dreamed of.  I am inspiring others.  

Sometimes we need our dear friends to hold a mirror up in front of us so that we can see all that we are.  It is through their reflection of us that opens up our eyes to our own innate beauty.  They see us through unfiltered lenses.  They are the recipient of our energy.  They feel what we give them and they can show it back to us.  

 

She said ... is a prompt from a course I am taking called Community Grace with Hannah Marcotti.  The prompt was to go through text messages, emails, social channels, and interactions with our tribe and pull out the pieces when they hold up the mirror showing me where I am really there for them.  

I took some time to go through my facebook feed and found the above words written from others.  It opened up my eyes to the journey that I am on.  To quickly I can lose sight of all I am.  It is my tribe that constantly holds up the mirror and helps carry me through.  They reflect the purest pieces of me, and I do the same for them.  

This is a reminder that we are not meant to travel this journey alone.  We are meant to walk together.  To hold hands, laugh, and love.  

I encourage you to go through this exercise and see what you can unearth that your tribe has reflected back to you.  Write your own She Said and tuck it in your pocket to turn to again and again.  For what they say is the truth. Feel it, know it, believe it. 

what i want you to know

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What I want you to know is that there are moments that I do not know where I am going.  I put one foot in front of the other and just keep moving.  I am unsure of the path ahead of me, but know that I can no longer sit still.  

What I want you to know is that it isn't always easy.  I have stumbled and fallen down more times that you will ever know.  There has been pain, deep deep pain.  Heartache has taken my breathe away and tears have fallen.  But I have survived and I have preserved.  

What I want you to know is that all of my grand plans didn't work out.  There were times when I fell flat on my face.  When others weren't sure what I was doing.  When I made of fool of myself or got lost along the way.  

What I want you to know is that it isn't always easy.  The world isn't going to hand you exactly what you want in a pretty perfect package.  You have to put in the hard work.  You have to try.  And sometimes no matter how hard you try it doesn't work out.  

What I want you to know is that sometimes you will shift courses.  New things will open up to you that you didn't even knew existed and you will be intrigued and enthralled.  You will begin a new journey and you will not know where it is going.  

What I want you to know is that things are always changing.  Nothing stays the same forever.  You have to keep your heart open.  Your feet moving.  And your dreams alive.  

What I want you to know is that along the way you have to give thanks and show gratitude.  You must stay humble and kind.  When you share yourself with others you are doing a service to this world and spreading love.  

What I want you to know is that I never thought that I would be standing where I am today.  But I am here and I am happy.  And life isn't perfect but it is pretty awesome.  And when we appreciate the awesome more of it comes.  

What I want you to know is that you will never get another today, so make it count.  

welcoming this new season

On the east coast a new season is upon us
A new chance to try again
A season of rest
And letting go
A renewal of sorts
Shorter days and chiller nights
Bright colors popping up everywhere
Pumpkins and apple pie
The crispness in the air
And fireside gatherings
It a season to give thanks
To celebrate with those you love
To slow down
And embrace each other just a little bit longer
There is surprise and mystery
Love and kindness
There is a new song to be sung
And new opportunities to embrace
Seek out the adventure
Create your very own journey
Go places you have never go before
See things you have yet to see
Be open to the possibility of it all
And welcome in this new season
With a wide and expansive heart

#fallingopen

ramapo reservation

It is the way the leaves change color
And then they release
Spilling open to the ground
A new life
A different opportunity
A freedom to not have to hang on

This visual encourages me to spread my wings
Let go  
Shift into the possibilities of what can be
It feels powerful
Fresh
Brimming with hope

There is no reason to hang on for to long
Sometimes you need to just walk away
Allow the openness to engulf you
Savor the new opportunities
Take time to play
And see where the road leads you

This is falling open
Releasing into the unknown
And bravely stepping in to the next phase
Seeking out the hidden chance
Not looking back
But carving a path ahead

This is what fall feels like to me
A chance to release
Try something new
Be brave
Stand in my own voice
And move fluidly throughout the season

As we dive into this next season I intend to capture the moments where I fall open through the hashtag #fallingopen   I do not want to let them slip by.  I want to savor the freedom.  Sink deep into this new beginning and fall open into all that is around me.  

The leaves are my inspiration, for they do it so well.  They hang on just long enough and then they  release.  The release is never easy but it is in that shift where a whole new world opens up and you never know what beauty may be there.  

I invite you to fall open with me by tagging your photos #fallingopen.  Together we can encourage one another and witness that shift that occurs with change.  How will you fall open?