the moment you said yes

It was the moment you said yes that it all came together
The exact moment that you choose to no longer hide behind the curtain
But stand on the stage with the spot light on
You knew that you deserved to be seen
And bravely you stepped out

It was the moment when you said yes to sharing your heart
Not just with those around you, but with the great big wide world
This is the moment it all became more real
You saw how powerful truth and bravery are
Just like you knew they were

It was the moment that you said yes to facing the difficult questions
Looking for the truth behind the story
Listening in
Sharing bravely
And letting the world see for exactly who you are

It was the moment that you said yes to others desires
Wanting to see them sparkle and shine
You encouraged
Held hands and stepped together
And also stepped out of the way

It was the moment that you said yes to feel all that comes up
You knew along the journey there would be difficult questions
Moments of struggle that you would have to face
Differences and judgments
You knew this was all part of getting real and living boldly

It was the moment that you said yes that your whole world shifted
And so did the world for those around you
You have shown up with so much courage and bravery
Sharing the truth of your story with love and kindness
It is through you that others are inspired, reahcing for their own moment to say yes

:: this post is inspired by my dear friend mindy tsonas whose brave, honest, and raw heart inspires me each and every day.  she shows up in this world with her heart wide open, inviting others in, and never once judging.  she is amazing and i am so blessed to call her a friend.  

walking the line

There is a line in the sand that constantly washes away, and gets drawn
Again and again
Keeping up with social media and truly be present in life
Is a fine line to walk
Staying connected with others is so easy
You can do so through the palm of your hand
Yet sometimes we become consumed
The computer screen becomes our window to the world
And we forget about the beauty around us
Balancing online accounts and in person interactions becomes a juggling game
Time can pass quickly when we are staring at the screen
We wonder why we didn't get things done
And are left feel empty and divided

I am at a crossroads with social media.  I love it and hate it all at the same time.  I know my hate comes from a place of being too consumed with it.  Between blog post, Facebook, twitter, instagram and email where does one have time to breathe?  I sit all day in front of a computer screen and need to slow down, soak in the sunshine, dig my hands into a few creative endeavors, and simply just be when I come home from work.  I need to find balance between online and offline.  Staying social and being present.  

Is this a struggle for you as well?  If so how do you navigate your time?  

inner light

You have an inner light that shines
It sparkles brilliantly
Healing others as you pass them
Igniting the fire within them that has since been extinguished

This inner light is filled with beauty and grace
It flows out of you freely
And as you heal others
You heal yourself

You are wise and filled with love
When you share your own heart you lift others up
And fill your own well with so much goodness
When you smile, the world smiles back

And when you hug another
That simple embrace evokes a wave of radiance
That continues on
Even after you each have departed

They say that laughter is the best medicine 
And they are right
When you laugh you feel lighter
And you share that feeling with everyone around you

The world is a better place when you choose to be happy
And that choice may not always be easy
But when you shine your inner light you guide others home
And that is good, so very good

Keep shining your light
 

yoga

It has been awhile since I have shown up on the Yoga Mat
Running has consumed my time
And I haven't carved out any space for anything else
But tonight I pushed myself to slow down
To show up and release what no longer served me

My shoulders were heavy
My body tight
My mind racing
Some of the poses we held felt like an eternity
I struggled to be in the moment and concentrate on my breathing

With each pose and reach I felt my body lengthening
The stress in my shoulders released
My mind was clearing
I felt taller, and stronger 
Even if my legs were shaking

I surrendered to the moment and I let go
I saw things from a different perspective
I regained confidence in myself
And reaffirmed what I already know, that I can do what I put my mind to
As long as I show up

What I love about Yoga is your ability to go at your own pace
To listen to your body and do what it needs in that moment
There is no judgment from others
Just a silent knowing that we are each doing what we need
And we got through the hard part, we all showed up

I leaned into the discomfort
I breathed in deeply and stood on the edge
I pushed through and practiced
Time and time again
I made it through and I am better for it

I can feel in my body that I need this
The stretching, the quiet, the releasing
I carry around so much with me each day
It is a beautiful thing to slow down 
To surrender and to listen

 

showing up

The shift takes time
It doesn't happen over night like we wish it would
You have to show up day after day
Put in the hours
Trudge through the hard work
And make it happen

There will be days when you will be the only one who shows up
That is ok
Try again
Give it another chance
It may have been wrong timing
You may have not given proper notice
You will never know why it wasn't what you wanted it to be
So pick yourself up
Dust yourself off
And show up again

It will take time
You will stumble along the way
And you will learn about what works
You will learn about how you best succeed
And there will be times when you will fail
That is ok

Keep showing up
Day after day
Show up and smile
Remember why you put yourself out there in the first place
Each time is a fresh start
A new beginning
An invitation to open up and dig in
Give it a try, time and time again
Keep showing up

ignite the spark

"Life isn't about getting and having, it's about give and being." -Kevin Kruse

This week has been filled up with so much goodness including sitting on my patio listening to this interview.  If you ever wondered how Squam Arts Workshops came to be listen in.  So interesting to hear how it all unfolded, and this line from Elizabeth resonated with me deeply:

"I don't have a social disorder. I wasn't with my tribe. Because with my tribe I could talk to four in the morning about things we are passionate about"

My wrist has filled up with color after adding this adorable piece. Erin creates such fun pieces and is such a delight to do business with.  

I am also looking forward July where I will be immersed in 28 Moments.  Michelle GD is such a kind heart and I can't wait to begin the journey of exploring writing and photography as a tool to look closely at how I move through my days.  

What about you?  What has been filling up your cup this week?