mondo beyondo

There are dreams living and breathing in your heart and they matter.  Some of them have never been spoken and some may even surprise you.  What you dream about is important and these dreams need to be spoken out loud.  It is in the act of writing them down that you breath life into them and give them an opportunity to bloom. 

For the past many years I have been following Andrea Scher's lead and writing my yearly Mondo Beyondo list.  This is a list of everything I dream and desire.  There are no rules to what can go down on the paper.  It is an opportunity to let go and dream big.  The way it works is you set a timer for ten minutes and begin to put all your dreams down.  You don't let the pen stop until the time goes off.  There is no judgement to what comes up just space to put it down.  

It is incredible to look back on my list and see some of the things I wrote down that I forgot about and how they have come true.  Things when I wrote them I couldn't imagine ever happening.  But that is the power of manifestation.  When we write it down we begin to put it into motion and once it is in motion it is has the power to come true.  

I encourage you to set aside ten minutes with your journal.  Light a candle.  Say a prayer to being open. Then let your heart spill onto the page all that it desires.  Show up with out judgment and see what you unearth.  You may be surprised. 

2018 Mondo Beyondo List

• Coach people on the power of writing and using it as a daily tool
• Travel to Ireland
• Ride my bike across country
• Be better with my money
• Move my body daily
• Nourish my soul
• Hold hands and be close to the one I love
• Spend time with my family
• Laughter, lots and lots of laughter
• Own a house at the beach
• Teach yoga and meditation
• Teach writing workshops
• Host yearly writing and movement retreats
• Have a job that fills my soul and makes me enough money to not have to worry
• Live in a community where I can ride my bike around town
• Create my own inspiration deck
• Be deeply connected to those around me
• Have the ability to express how I feel without hesitation but also with kindness
• Love deeply and go on many adventures with the one I adore
• Run another marathon
• Gather with women and connect through honest and open conversation
• Have gatherings of individuals from Love Notes
• Give a Ted Talk
• Bring Love Notes on the Ellen show
• Sit down with Oprah and be on Super Soul Sunday
• Travel the world giving talks that inspire and move individuals to live their best life
• Get paid to share my writing
• Travel often with the one I love
• Be present in the everyday moments
• Cook more often
• Slow down and savor the moments and the people I am with
• Share my heart with those worthy of sharing it with
• Inspire people with my words
• Have a deeply connected relationship with the one I love filled with mutual respect, kindness, space, and intimacy
• Continually grow and develop

What is on our list?  Whisper your dream out loud to help unearth it coming true.  

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Need a little extra love in your mailbox.  Join me for the next round of Love Notes staring January 14th.  

word of the year

“Your mind shines brightest when you enlighten others; your heart, when you encourage others; your soul, when you elevate others; and your life, when you empower others.”

— Matshona Dhliwayo

Since 2009 I have had the tradition of choosing one word to tuck into my pocket for the entire year.  A word that is calling to me.  One I want to manifest and dive into.  I never know how it is going to unfold but it usually brings me exactly what I need, even if it is not what I expected.  

As I was journaling my way through the end of the year my word emerged.  I know that NOW is the time for me to step into the work I am meant to do in the world.  I have deep creative dreams brewing and this is the year to make them happen.  

My word for 2018 is:

elevate

verb
   * to move or raise to a higher place or position; lift up
   * to raise to a higher state, rank, or office; exalt; promote
   * to raise to a higher intellectual or spiritual level
   * to raise the spirits; put in high spirits
   * to raise (the voice) in pitch or volume

I want to elevate those around me.  Be a guide in my community and help others unearth the brilliant light inside them. I want to choose joy and be aware of the energy I carry with me.  Raising my own spirit and carrying kindness into every interaction.  I want to radiate my own light and not be fearful of how bright it can shine.  I also want to raise my voice and allow myself space to be heard.  

In 2011 I made a piece of art with my word and it still hangs on my wall today.  It was powerful to do it and was the year that my word manifested itself in the most brilliant and unexpected manner.  It was as if taking the time to create something I could see every day helped proclaim to the universe how serious I was about this word.  This week I am going to be working on a piece of art for elevate.  Something that will inspire me each day to live with this word in my heart.  

Do you choose a word or intention for the year?  Would love to hear what it is.  

My previous words have been:

2017 - Expand
2016 - Daring Greatly & Gather
2015 - Connection
2014 – Build
2013 – All the Cards on the Table
2012 – Soar
2011 – Love
2010 – Connect
2009 - Wings

2017 Inventory

As 2017 is coming to a close I have been digging in, looking back and seeing what was.  It is amazing what surfaces when we take the time to slow down, see how far we have come, and look at what we made it through. 

This past year has been filled with a lot of up's and downs like all years have.  I wouldn't rank it as being one of my favorites.  I carry with me a whole set of battle scars.  It wasn't a stellar year but I definitely learned a lot. 

Below is an exercise I like doing at the end of every year.  A year end inventory of sorts.  It is a great way to reflect.  

>> 2017 felt like a blur.  I don't even know what happened and feel like I wasn't present.  In this moment I see how deeply I need to spend time with my notebook.  It is in that sacred space that I allow myself to open up.
>> I did to much of not being present and blindly moving through each day without feeling. 
>> I did to little of sharing my heart and speaking how I felt.  
>> I never should have stopped paying attention and thinking I was invincible.  
>> I am glad I got rocked to my core because it has woken me up and made me see how I need to be more present.
>> I learned that life can throw you curveballs and try to teach you lessons.  But it is only when you are truly ready do you learn them.  And then sometimes you even forget them. 
>> My biggest adventures were our August road trip to Maine and finding my way to the first marathon viewing stop all on my own.
>> My most romantic moment was walking hand in hand with him underneath the glow of the moonlight.
>> I celebrated choosing to show up at "She Recovers" and boldly allowing myself to know that there is something I need to recover from.
>> I never expected to be single.
>> I was unable to find my confidence in teaching yoga and never took the leap to try to find a teaching position.
>> I can't believe that I am so terrible with money.  That needs to change in 2018.
>> I became closer with some friends and family due to heartbreak and I want to continue to nurture those relationships.
>> I let go of my voice and I need to stand tall in it.
>> I loved being with my nieces and nephews.  Receiving a hug from them made my day that much better.  
>> The major life change that occurred was shifting to being single and living alone.
>> If I had to sum up 2017 in one sentence it would be:  What the heck happened?
>> 2017 Theme Song: Waiting For My Real Life to Begin by Colin Hay

What does your 2017 inventory look and feel like?

in this moment

In this moment I know that I am so much stronger than I ever have given myself credit for
In this moment  my heart is broken, but it won't be broken forever
In this moment I know that I need to get back to moving my body
In this moment the page is calling and now is the time to begin writing my book
In this moment I know that I have an amazing support system that I am beyond grateful for
In this moment I have a safe space to land
In this moment I know that I must choose love, always
In this moment I have to be tender with myself
In this moment I know that I must allow space to heal
In this moment I cannot forget about laughter and joy
In this moment I know that there is so much goodness
In this moment I must lean in, open up, and share my voice
In this moment I know that I will never get back today so I must choose to live it

Where are you, in this moment?

{In this moment ... is a prompt from my free Heart Notes class that I am closing out the year with}

turning heart break into heart opening

Two years ago my mom passed.  It all happened so quickly and was very unexpected.  Since that moment I have been in a dark place.  It wasn't until recently that I realized how deeply I have fallen into this darkness.  So deep that I have lost my way.  

In this moment my heart has been shattered into a million pieces and can see for the first time how that darkness has taken over me.  You would think with the passing of my mom that I would learn to appreciate every day, that I would understand how life is short, and we never know when it is going to end.  But rather than appreciate the moments I was consumed with all the things she would be missing.  So consumed that I began to miss the little moments that were happening in my day to day life and I began to take this life I am living for granted.  Things began to slip away as I dug myself deeper and deeper into my hole.   

But as I stand here now with my heart broken I see how precious life truly is.  How we never know what is going to happen next.  We can think we have it all planned out and then a curve ball is thrown our way and everything changes in an instant.  

My heart break has lead to a heart opening.  As I have been navigating this new direction and trying to find my way in this new world I am unsure of where I am going or how I am going to get there.  But one thing I do know for certain is that I cannot waste this time.  I can't live in the sadness of what I have lost.  I can't be afraid of what my future holds.  I have to be grateful for all that was and be ok with what can no longer be.  

With my heart wide open I am inviting others in.  Letting them see the pieces of me that I have kept safely tucked away for far to long.  I am showing up and sharing who I am and how I feel.  I am choosing to break through the wall that I have been hiding behind for far to long.  

My life isn't perfect.  There are things I need to work on.  I have my highs and lows.  But we as human beings all have these things.  It is once we start unearthing these layers that we begin to see we are more alike than we are different.  We begin to learn that we are never truly alone in this world.  There are people who are willing to reach out, grab your hand, and pick you up when you feel you cannot do it yourself.  There are people willing to listen to your heartbreak, give you a hug, and let you know that they are here for you.  

And so I step forward into this new life.  The one I didn't think I would be living in.  This unknown territory.  I am unsure what the future holds for me.  But I trust that it will be beautiful, filled with love, grace, gratitude, and kindness.  I believe wholeheartedly that what you put out into the world comes back to you.  And so I am putting out love, lots of love.  

I am also opening up my heart and sharing my voice.  Because life truly is to short for us to not to.  And even though it is not always easy living with a protective wall up is so much harder than living with your heart wide open.  

And so this heartbreak has lead to a heart opening and for that I am eternally grateful.

share your heart

The world will open up to you, when you open up to it.  It takes courage to speak from the heart.  It takes strength to share your story.  But it is needed in this world.  Yes, it is!  What you have to say matters.  The stories you hold, the love you share, the way you show up ... all of it matters.  

It has taken me time to learn these lessons.  A lot more time than I care to admit.  I can put pen to paper easily.   But ask me to speak these words and I struggle.  Afraid of what others will think if I open my heart.  Afraid of judgment.  Afraid of not being understood.  

Yet I have recently stood in the face of fear.  Showing up exactly as I am.  And I was embraced and held.  I was seen.  I brought something to the table and showed up so much stronger than  I ever thought I was.  I never thought I was the one brining something to the table, but I am.  And you are to!  

You, exactly as you are is a gift to this world.  What you share with those around you is important.  You must continue to show up.  You bring a unique perspective.  When you share your stories you encourage others to share as well.  Do not be fearful of showing others who you are.  It is necessary and so very needed.  

I have struggled for far to long with showing up in this world.  Thinking I was meant to be invisible.  But no one is ever meant to not be seen.  Know this and feel it deeply inside you.  I see now how my thoughts, feelings, and opinions matter.  I see how I have a way of teaching others just by being me.  This my friends, is powerful.  When we understand that our presence alone effects those around us we show up in the world with much more intention.  We do not take for granted the time we have and we respect the energy we give out.  

When you walk into a room you bring a certain energy with you.  Others feel this and it effect their energy as well.  What do you want others to feel from you?  How do you want to show up?  

I encourage you to examine the way you show up in the world.  To notice the energy you carry with you when you enter your home or office.  See how this energy effects those around you.  Be conscious of the strength your energy holds.  See how you can shift it into a positive feeling.  

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Looking to close out the year with others?  Individuals are gathering in the classroom to savor and learn from all that has been.  Together let's take the time to sink deep into the moments, celebrate the successes, and let go of the hardships. Let's clear space to boldly step into 2018 with a wide open heart.

I invite you to close out the year together through a FREE offering that invites you to slow down and reflect.  Join us HERE.