you shine!

There is so much I want to tell you
But where do I begin?
Do you know how AMAZING you are?
YOU, yes YOU
You are amazing
And I am so grateful to know YOU
You taught me so much
And you being just as you are
Brings so much to this world
I want you to know this
I want you to feel it
I need you to know that what you say
What you do, matters
Yes it all matters
There is no one else in this world like you
You see things the way no one else does
You make others laugh
You make others smile
You, just being who your brings so much to this world
I am grateful for you
And I know so many others are
I know, for you it is hard to see and feel
But I know for certain it is there
So be who you are
Say what you mean
And know that it matters
It all matters
So do not hold back
Share your heart with the world
And shine
Shine, shine, shine

need to hear

I reached out to the Love Notes Facebook Community and my friends on facebook asking them what they most need to hear in this moment.  The responses were incredible, inspiring, and many of them were exactly what I needed to hear as well.  It goes to show you that we are all connected and even when we think we are alone there is someone else out there who is feeling the same way we are.  

The images above are the responses.  I invite you to pour a cup of tea and take a moment to scroll through.  We are each human filled with ebbs and flows of emotions and sometimes we just need to hear that we will be ok.  

What is it that you most need to hear in this moment?  

you, yes you

Be gentle with yourself as you step through this week.  The to do list may be growing.  The dishes may need to be washed.  The laundry may be piling up.  But remember to set aside time for you, yes YOU.  I know you are so busy thinking of others this time of year that you forget to think about yourself.  

You deserve a moment.  A slice of time dedicated to whatever you desire.  A warm cup of tea.  A brief moment outside looking up at the stars while you make a wish.  A walk around the block.  Time dedicated to working out or making something.  Take the time to do whatever makes you smile.  Remember when your heart is happy and you are filling your soul you bring so much more to the table when you are around others. Do not forget to fill up your soul.  

You bring so much goodness to this world
Never forget that
Your big glowing heart bestows joy and love onto others
Your kindness is appreciated
Your love is undeniable
You are a gift to this world

Know and believe this
Tend to this soul that is so brilliant and bright
Nourish it with love and kindness
Care for it
Be gentle with it
And know that when you love yourself
You are opening up for more love from the world

breathe in

Take a deep breath in
Breathe in all the goodness that surrounds you
Breathe in the sparkle of the sunshine
Breathe in all that makes you smile
Breathe in the quiet moments and the peaceful feelings
Breathe just a little bit deeper

Now let it all out
Exhale the worry you are holding onto
Exhale what is weighing you down
Exhale the hurt and the tears
Exhale what has not worked the way you planned
Exhale it all out

Slowly now breathe in, breathe out
Breathe in
Breathe out
Be right here in this moment
Exactly where you are

gratitude for the small moments

"When you hold onto gratitude it is like you are holding onto a precious gift" 

I invite you to pause for just a moment
Slow down
Find something to be grateful for
Yes, just one thing
The ground beneath your feet
The way the blanket felt on your skin this morning
How the sun shines bright into your living room
How she laughs with her entire heart and it's contagious
What brings you joy
What lights you up
What makes you smile wide
Show gratitude for this
Give thanks for what it has brought you
A moment of peace, a smile, a feeling of comfort
Life is beautiful when we seek out the beauty in the small moments
It doesn't need to be life altering
Monumental or incredible
The simple ordinary moments shape us
They make up our days and fill up our lives
Savor these ordinary moments
Appreciate there simple elegance
And give thanks for each one

dreaming up the year ahead

I invite you to close your eyes and think about the year that lies before you
What do you want to unfold
What dreams do you wish will come true
What do you want to overcome
How do you want to feel
What do you want to make happen
What is it that you want more or less of
Who do you want to be along with you for the ride

Go ahead, take your time
Think deeply about the next 365 days
Each one a chance to begin again
Each moment a new opportunity
What are you hoping for
What is your heart whispering
Which roads do you want to travel
Do you know exactly where you want to go

Nothing in life happens unless we make it so
We must set our dreams into motion
Speak them out loud
Tell other people of our goals
Show up and put in the hard work
Lean in
Navigate the unexpected
Make the plans but be ready to veer off course

You know where you want to go
Set those dreams into motion by writing about them
Imagine it is November 21, 2017 and you are looking back
What happened
Who did you spend your time with
What did you do
Where did you go
How did you feel

Go ahead, grab a piece of paper and get writing
Start with your year at a glance
Then break it into six month chunks
What happened
Now really dig in
And explore each month
Be as detailed as possible not leaving anything out
Write your best year yet  

Trust what flowed out of you
And seal it in an envelope
Find a safe place for it to  be for a year
And go on living day by day
Next year I will remind you
To pull it out and open it up
A precious opportunity to see how far yo have come
And celebrate what has come true   

Each January I make a list of my wildest hopes and dreams, nothing is off limits.  It is such a fun exercise to do, giving myself permission to spill open.  But as the season is changing and shifts are happening in my life I am feeling more of a call to go in deeper.  I want to dream the big picture then dig into the details.  I want to give myself permission to say yes to my hearts deepest desires.  And so I am going to do just that.  Looking out a year ahead and dreaming of all I hope it will be.  I invite you to do the same.  Carve out some time, settle in, and give yourself permission to listen to your hearts deepest calling.  It knows where you want to go.