celebration surprise

What a year it has been.  So much has happened in a single year that I find it hard to wrap my head around it.  I still cannot believe It has been an incredible journey filled with a roller coaster ride of emotions.  Even though there was deep sadness there were also moments of joy.  Incredible moments where great things happened.  Where love filled my heart.  Memories where made.  And I accomplished something big.  Yes, there was goodness.  So much goodness.  

I am grateful for these moments and the way they have filled my heart with love.  Looking back on each memory make me smile wide and reminds me of how good life can be.  I do not want to forget these moments and the way your family came together during such trying time.  

Knowing how difficult this year has been for my family I wanted to do a little something to remind them of all they have accomplished and to celebrate all the good moments that they have tucked in there heart.  So I packed up boxes of homemade cupcakes, candles, and a note inviting them to celebrate all that was and make a wish for what they hope 2016 to be. 

I went on a secret mission and dropped the boxes of sweets off on their doorstep {although one brother caught me in action}.  It felt fun to be leaving little surprises.  My hope was that they would be encouraged to slow down and remember the good moments from the year.  

Later that night Dustin and I sat down in front of two cupcakes and talked about all that the year was.  We celebrated EPA approvals, fantastic memories from our travels, the way we showed up, the love we shared, the incredible life that we have built together.  

Through all the struggle there was love, love, love.  Family came together.  Friends and loved ones showed up.  There was so much to grateful for.  We cherished all the memories.  

We then lit the candles and made wishes for 2016.  We wished for ...

• Good health
• Love
• Growth
• Lots and lots of laughter
• Travel
• Stepping more deeply into our light
• Time with family
• A house being built with out much struggle
• Happiness

We are excited for all the new year will bring us.  We are grateful to be stepping into it together and are looking forward to making incredible memories together. 

What about you?  What would you celebrate from your year?  What have you done?  What memories do you want to take with you? Celebrate it.  Celebrate it all!  Then light a candle and make a wish for 2015.  How do you want to feel in the new year? What dreams do you want to go after?  

I would love to hear what you are celebrating and wishing for.  Leave a note in the comments so that we can all celebrate with you.  

love, give it out

Love
It is all around
Showing up in the most unexpected places
Reminding you that you are seen
Nudging you to keep stepping forward

Love
It infuses you with hope
Lifting you up
Bringing down your walls
Helping you to find your way home

Love
It heals the the heartache
Reminds you how far you have come
Embraces you with kindness
Filling you up with happiness

Love
It isn't meant to be help tightly
It needs air and space to grow
The more you give, the more you receive
It needs to be spread around

So share your heart
Give out some love
Open up your hands for a hug
And graciously pull someone in
One small gesture can change someones day

story of your life

This every day living is the story of your life
It is in the waking, the dreaming, the moving about that your story get's written
You choose the direction you are going to go
You hold the reigns to savoring the small moments or giving them power to agitate you
Yes, you are the one writing the story of your life
No one else is holding the pen
There will only be happiness if you choose it

What do you want your story to look like?
How do you want to feel?
What do you want to bring more of?
What do you want to leave out?

Now is the time to start
There will be no perfect moment
No grand entrance
No one telling you to get going
It is all up to you
What are you waiting for?
Jump on in full force
And write the very best story of your life

doing your best

Outside of my apartment window I have a view of the most beautiful sunsets.  There are days when it is takes my breathe away with the sky lighting up with spectacular color.  Each time the sky lights up this way I am reminded of the cross country adventure I took years ago.  Out west the sky was free of power lines and buildings.  You could gaze for miles and miles soaking in all the beauty that this world has to offer.  

They sky memorizes me because no matter where we are in the world we are all under the same sky.  We see the same sun and moon and make wishes on the very same stars.  It is  a gentle reminder that we are all human and each of us are just trying to do our very best. 

Life isn't always easy. There are moments where it is tough just to walk out the door.  We struggle on our path and feel like we can't catch a break.  It is difficult and heart wrenching.  During these times we need to be tender with ourselves and remember that we are during our very best.  

We are all human, looking up at the same sky.  We are not perfect.  We face challenges and have our own inner struggles.  Do not be quick to judge someone because you never know what it is they are going through.  Just show up in your own corner of the world and do your best. 

“It helps to remember that everyone is doing their best from their level of consciousness”

— Deepak Chopra

share your story

We gathered around the Thanksgiving table and his aunt and mom told stories of when he was young.  It was lovely to get this insight into who he was before I met him.  Along with this story there are many more, each one playing a part into who he has become.  

Hearing these stories filled my heart with happiness, yet at the same made it break a little bit thinking of how my mom was longer with us to tell the stories of my childhood.  My mom knew me before I knew myself.  She was the keeper of all the stories and always told us of the times we had forgotten.  She knows the story of when I lost my first tooth, learned how to ride a bike, and how it all went down the night I was born with clown makeup and all. 

I think of my three year old niece who spent a lot of time with my mom. She was with her almost every day and will still speak of her.  I know that as she grows older those memories of her will fade and the angel necklace she wears will become to small.  

But my father is teaching all of us that the memories never have to fade if we keep sharing stories about her.  There are moments with my family that I feel strange talking about my mom.  I know when I bring her up that tears surface for all, but I enjoy speaking about her.  She has infused so much into me and my family.  Her spirit lives on in all of us.  

At my Father's thanksgiving table he brought my mom along by drawing her as his place setting and writing around it that he was thankful for 40+ years with her.  I wasn't there to witness when he drew it but I was so grateful to have been able to see it in person when I gathered with him later in the day.  

This drawing is a reminder that we must continue to share stories about my mom.  We must talk about her often, even if the tears surface.  This is what keeps her spirit alive, and there are so many stories to choose from.  There are happy pants, and moments at the shore, chocolate covered pretzels, and tar beach.  There are corny jokes and seashells.  Nutcrackers and birthday dinners.  

Sharing stories of her feels healing and fills me with love.  Even though she won't be with us this holiday her spirit will be and the traditions that she has instilled in us will be carried through.  You can find a piece of her in everything we do.  

It is important to share our stories. To speak of what made us.  To laugh about the hard times and savor the good moments.  Each piece our the story is what has made us who we are today. When we share these stories we are inviting people in and bringing down the wall.  This is necessary for connection.  

This past year has filled my heart and soul with stories.  The time the front lawn of my parents house was filled with feathers.  Sitting outside the hospital so my mom could have some alone time with her friend.  Her last mothers day.  The moment I gave her the bracelet.  Coloring together at Luke's birthday and the moment she took off her real pants to reveal her happy pants.  Even through the sad times there was so much goodness.  

I know I must share these stories.  They are the stories that have shaped my year and who I am.  Without these stories I am nothing.  

It is important for all of us to share our stories.  To show up and tell the truth, even if it hurts.  As individuals are gathering in the Heart Notes classroom stories are being shared of favorite memories from the year and I know there are plenty of more stories to come.  These stories give us a glimpse into someones life.  This is incredible personal and amazing. 

There is still time to join.   We begin class December 2nd.  Throughout our time together we will close out the year by looking back on all that was and dreaming and scheming for what we hope 2016 will hold.  

I invite you to join us and close out the year with a community of like minded, brave, and tender souls.  Even though you have to walk the journey yourself that doesn't mean you have to walk alone.  Together let's bid a proper farewell to 2015 and welcome in 2016 with a wide expansive heart.  

make your own happy

You have to make your own happy
You cannot rely on others
You are the one in the driver seat
Sure, things will be thrown at you
Bad moments will happen
Hurt and devastation will occur
It is how you react to it that matters
This is what sets the stage
No one can choose your reaction except yourself

You have to make your own happy
Create the life you most want to live
Take risks
Reach out
Find what it is that truly lights you up and go for it
It won’t always go your way
There will be times you wished it was different
How you choose to be in that moment is what matters
Do you let the sadness drag you through the mud
Or do you pick yourself up by your boot straps and continue on
Your happiness is in YOUR hands

You have to make your own happy
You are the one writing your story
You write your own daring adventures
And you figure out a way through when it doesn’t work out
Write happiness into the story
Add smiles and laughter
Joyful moments of seeking out the beauty admits the disaster
Choose to put one foot in front of the other
Smile, smile wide
Because when you make your own happy
You encourage others to do the same

Go ahead, make your own happy