music :: the key to my heart

Music is the key to my happiness.  It is what wakes me, picks me up when I am having a bad day, and gets me moving and grooving.  If you enter my apartment when I am home alone you will likely find a candle lit and music playing.  

Click play to listen to the top 10 songs that I played over and over again in 2014.  

Music speaks to me deeply.  It is one of my biggest teachers.  I know when I am in a bad mood or looking for some inspiration that I can turn on a specific song and immediately be shaken free.

For this of you who may not be able to view the grooveshark playlist the top 10 songs are:

1. I Lived - One Republic
2. Brave - Sarah Bareilles
3. I Run for Life - Melissa Ethridge
4. Shattered - O.A.R.
5. Counting Stars - One Republic
6. Home - Phillip Phillips
7. High Hope - Glen Hansard
8. I Do - Jude
9. We Are Young - Fun
10. The Load Out (Stay) - Jackson Brown

For the longest time my life theme song was Upside Down by Jack Johnson.  However this year big things happened and a new song spoke to me and ignited my spark. My new theme song is #1 on the list:  I Lived by One Republic.  

What about you?  Do you have a life theme song?  What songs get you up moving and grooving.  songs move you?  

2015 word of the year :: connection

With a new year in front of us and 365 days to write a brand new story I have chosen another word to tuck into my pocket and carry around with me this year.  In 2014 my word was BUILD.  As I reflect back on all that has happened I can see from a vantage point how deeply that word showed up in my life day after day.  

The only way to build something is to show up day after day  

A finished masterpiece does not occur with the wave of a magic wand.  It takes time to put each piece together and figure out your next steps.  You must show up and do the work.  It will not always be easy, and there will be times that you will fall off course but little by little it will come together and you will be amazed and delighted at your progress.  

One of the biggest lessons I learned this year was --- show up, just show up.  

When you show up you are able to build the most amazing things like a stronger body, a thriving mind, a creative spirit, deeper friendships, and memories that last a lifetime.  You will be able to do things you never thought you could  like run a marathon and teach a class at SQUAM.  You will feel your life coming together one moment at a time.  

For 2015 the word that spoke most to me is CONNECTION.  

Connection to me feels and looks like:

• Deep soulful conversations with friends
• Hand holding and long walks
• Love and understanding
• Grace
• Community to create alongside with
• Time spent together
• Deep belly laughter
• Digging below the surface to what truly makes your heart sing
• Nature and fresh air
• The ocean

For 2015 I am inviting more connection into my life.  Opening up my hands and my heart to the possibility of what that may be.  I am ready to dig deeper and throw open the door of my heart.  

What about you?  Have you chosen a word for 2015?  

My previous years words were:
2014 - Build
2013 - All the Cards on the Table
2012 - Soar
2011 - Love
2010 - Connect
2009 - Wings

Spilling Open

I poured a cup of tea, light a candle, and set out a few cookies.  I was setting the stage and preparing to dig into Spilling Open.  Each December I will grab my notebook and answer many of the same questions.  This year I decided to pull all of those questions together and create a one of kind printable PDF that included not only the questions but poetry and inspiration to inspire and ignite the spark.  I created this because I love reflecting on the year that has passed.  It is healing for me to journey through what was and set intentions for what I hope will be.   

I listed my top 10 moments from 2014.  I relived my biggest adventure and praised what I am most proud of.  I learned from what tested me and discovered many things about where I live.  

I then boldly stepped forward and described how I want 2015 to feel.  I dreamed big dreams and set intentions for spending more time with certain people.  I picked one thing to work on and boldly stated what I want to be celebrating when 2015 comes to a close.  

The poems that I had written touched me in new ways and helped me open up my heart just a little bit more.  I felt inspired and excited.  So many good moments were spilling open and my heart filled with deep gratitude.  There is nothing better than reflecting back on your year and unearthing how you want the next year to feel.  I worked my way through the 74 pages and felt so satisfied and filled with love when I was done.  It has been a good year, a really good year.  

I learned:
:: That I am stronger than I ever knew I was mentally and physically
:: I can accomplish anything when I put my mind to it.  
:: Dreams comes true when you follow your heart and do not give up
:: Standing tall in who I am is necessary for me to shine and move ahead
:: I have an incredibly strong and powerful support system

You can get your own copy of Spilling Open to print out and dig into just my signing up for my newsletter.  These pages took me on an incredible journey and my hope is that they do the same for you.  When you state what you want you set the wheels in motion and start carving the path.  What dreams are you ready to say yes to?  What words are you ready to spill open?  Dig into the adventure today.  

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braving the blues

This winter has been mild.  No snow and 50 degree weather.  I was prepared to bundle up and hunker down.  I had a plan in place to help me get through the bitter cold and so far I haven't had to dig much into it.  Rather the bright sunshine and warmer weather has gently invited me outside to play.  I have gone for long walks, laced up my running sneakers, and enjoyed many moments outside in the brilliant sunshine.  

We are over the hump of the darkness and as each day passes we are given just a little bit more day light.  I know we have all of January, February, and March ahead but here on the East Coast I am stepping into 2015 feeling happy and filled with gratitude.  Usually by now I am dragged down and depressed but this year joy has infused my heart and opened up my eyes t the goodness that swirls around.  

I have been braving the blues with each choice I make.  Choosing the gym over the couch.  Going swimming on Friday nights.  Lacing up my sneakers and getting outside for a run.  Taking time to create.  And nourishing my body with vegetables and juices.  I am choosing to navigate my own path and find my own way to happiness.  I will not allow the weather to get me down, instead I will create my own sunshine.  

How have you been fairing this winter?  What have you done to brave the blues?  How do you feel stepping into 2015?

2014 Video Moments

2014 was filled with so much goodness.  Above are a some of the highlights including time spent with family, lots of love and laughter, challenges, and big accomplishments.  It was a year dedicated to training for the NYC Marathon and celebrating with family and friends when I crossed the finish line. It was a very good year!  

traditions

The past few days have been filled with celebration, family, laughter, and lots of fun.  Presents have been unwrapped, love has been shared, and joy and gratitude has filled my heart.  I am so grateful for my family and the way we come together to celebrate.  

As the year comes a close I will be taking the time to reflect on what was and open my heart to what will be.  I have a  few traditions that I carry out each year and this year I will dig into them again.  Some of them are:

Photo Look Back
I take many photos but rarely print them out.  They are all housed inside of my computer.  At the end of the year I carve out an hour or two to sit down and go through my entire year of photos.  I start with January and work all the way up to December.  Memories resurface and the simple every day moments that I took with my iPhone get savored again.  I love these photos because they are a true reflection of the life I live every day. 

Mondo Beyondo List
This tradition was brought into my life by the wonderful Andrea Scher.  At the beginning of each year I sit down for ten minutes and write down all of my wildest and craziest dreams that I would like to come true as well as the little things that have been nudging my heart.  As soon as I start my timer I don't let my hand stop writing until it dings ten minutes later.  It is interesting to see what spills out.  Dreams come up that I didn't even realize I had.  

Once my new list is written I go back and take a look at previous years to see what has come true or what has been written again.  I love having these yearly list to go back through.  Sometimes it takes years for a dream to come true but the simple act of writing it down plants the seed.

Collaging How I Want to Feel
I have always been drawn to collage.  For years I have been ripping images out of magazines and gluing them down. Some of my early collages have been framed and hang in my kitchen today.  What I love about collage is the freedom.  As I go through magazines I rip out the images I am drawn to; the ones that make me feel good for one reason or another.  Then I lay them all out and start gluing them down sporadically.  There is no rhyme or reason for where they end up, just a feeling.  Sometimes one page becomes two and other times I love the way they fit together so much that I pull it out of my notebook and frame it.   These visual pages are a reflection of feelings deep from my heart.  

I am big on traditions.  They are a touchstone in my life and a reminder for me to slow down and savor the passing of time.  The three above are just a few that I practice.  What traditions do you have?  How do you savor and celebrate the passing of time?