seek out space

Seek out the space where you can expand and grow.  Do not let others tell you cannot do it, or it is not meant for you. Your hopes and dreams are deep inside your heart. 

Breathe life into them.
Tend to them.
Allow them space to grow and thrive.

You deserve the utmost happiness. You deserve to be smiling and living the life you desire.  But the only way for that to happen is for you to grab hold of the reigns and write your own story.  You are the keeper of the pen.  You choose what you want to do and where you are going to go.  You can choose to say yes and you can choose to say no.  

Follow your heart, always!

Yes there will be people nagging you to make different choices, but do not let there idea of who you should be change who you are.  Only you know what lights you up.  Only you know how you want to shine in this world.  Go for it!  Along the way you will find individuals who support you and love you for exactly who you are.  

So do not let others tear you down.  But find those who build you up.  And seek out space to grow, dream, become.  Today is the first moment of the rest of your life.  How are you going to spend it?

thank you for your friendship

I am grateful for you and the way you hold up the mirror and reflect back all that I cannot see.  Without you my world would be dark.  I would fall down the rabbit hole of despair and be unable to find my out.  You walk along the path with me.  You listen when I speak and you listen even deeper when I am silent.  You know how I am feeling without me even saying a word.  What a gift you are in my life. 

As human beings we are our own worst critic.  We pick every little thing apart about ourselves, things we never would pick apart to a good friend or even a stranger.  So why do we do it to ourselves?

You remind me of the good I hold.  You invite me to slow down, take a step back, and see with fresh eyes what is really right below the surface.  You show me that I do have much to offer and you help me to not doubt myself.  

Together we laugh so hard that tears stream down our cheeks.  We jump in the car and hit the road not sure of where we are going but enjoying every moment of the adventure.  You show up with chicken noodle soup when I am sick.  You climb the stairs with advil in hand when I can't bear to move a muscle out of bed.  You bring with you joy, love, and comfort.  You remind me again and again that I am not alone and you always reach out your hand.  You understand how hard it can be to ask for help so you don't wait, you just come right in.  

You have helped me create a lifetime of memories that fill my heart with happiness.  You have seen me at my very best and at my worst.  You never once judged me even when you should have.  You accepted my mishaps and mistakes and helped me find my way back to myself.  You told me when I needed to knock it off, buck up, and just forget about it already.  Your honesty is what has helped me through. 

You have been a shoulder to lean on and someone I could call on anytime night or day.  You knew me back when before so many scars, before so much pain, before I made so many mistakes, but also before so many incredible memories, happiness, and joy.  You knew me then and loved me and know me today and still continue to love me.  

I am grateful for YOU.  For your wide open heart and incredible friendship.   Life would not be what it is today if you were not here traveling this adventure with me.  I want you to know how much you mean to me and how bright your light shines in this world.  

Thank you for the hugs.  Thank you for the laughter.  Thank you for always listening.  Thank you for the walks and the coffee dates.  Thank you for everything!  I adore YOU!  

saying YES!

I have been playing it small.  Opportunities arriving at my doorstep and I do not open the door.  Fearful of failure.
Fearful of not being able to live up to expectations.
Fearful of the unknown.
But here's the thing; when you play it small you never expand.  You never grow.  You never accomplish your dreams. You remain exactly where you are.  

I am stagnant and moving no where fast.  I have lots of hopes, dreams, and desires swirling in my heart yet I have not taken any steps to accomplishing them even when the knock comes at my door.  I avoid the opportunity and shrink away.  But it is time to end all of that. 

It is time to say YES!  

I ned to take the leap.  No more hiding away.  It is time to show up.  Even if I don't feel like I am good enough, even if I don't have complete confidence, even if I am not 100% sure of what I am doing I need to do it anyway.  The only way to truly learn something is to submerge yourself in it and do it. 

If I want to be a yoga teacher I need to teach. Even if that means messing up along the way.  Yoga is about meeting yourself where you are and doing what you can.  I need to do what I can and over time I will improve.  I am learning nothing by just sitting on my coach hoping to one day teach.   

If I want to write a book the only way to do that is to sit down day after day and write.  The words will not magically appear on there own.  And yes they may become jumbled and jump from thought to thought but once they are down on the page I can sort them out.  

If I want to run the marathon in November then I need to run now.  Putting one foot in front of the other even when I don't feel like it. 

If I want to make an impact on this world and use my ability to guide others, listen deeply, and write openly than I need to take the leap and do it.  I need to put it out there that I can create a personalized mentoring program and invite others to work with me.  Nothing will happen if I do not put it out there.  

So I am saying YES! 

Yes to the opportunities that rise up even when they scare the heck out of me.
Yes to believing in myself and going after my dreams. This means putting in the work.
Yes to taking chances even when I do not know how they will end up.  
Yes to me and creating the life I want to be living.  

I am not meant to live small. But the only way to live big is by putting myself out there, going through rough patches and failure and coming out on the other side.  I can't instantly step into the life of my dreams.  I need to build it block by block, step by step.   And only I can do that by taking chances.  And so I am.  It starts today!

What can you say yes to in your life?

I invite you

I invite you to slow down and take a moment just for YOU.  Yes, you.  You deserve it.  You may still be in your PJ's.  Your hair may be a mess.  The dishes may need to be done.  But don't worry about any of that right now. 

Make yourself a cup of tea.  Find a warm place to sit.  Get comfortable. 

Sit for a just moment.  I know, it can be hard to do but I promise you have the time to do it. Constantly we are go, go, go.  But we need to slow down. We need to take the time and create the space to just be.  Do not worry about your long to do list I promise you it will still be there for you when you are through. 

Think about what has made you happy recently. 

What has lit you up?  The smiles from your children.  A wave from a stranger.  That moment in yoga class when you fell into deep meditation.  Just think of one good thing and smile.  Don't smile with just your face, but smile from your heart.  Feel the joy this one precious moment in life brought you.  

Now think of something you are grateful for. 

I know there are many but choose just one.  What one thing, person, moment are you most grateful to have, have been a part of, have been surrounded by.  Think of what you are thankful for and smile.  Again smile with your entire heart.  Feel the the love you have for what you are grateful for.  

Now think about someone you love and adore. 

Picture him or her in all their glory doing what they enjoy most.  See the happiness on their face and the love in their eyes.  Send them light and love for all the adventures they will take in their lifetime.  Smile because they are precious gift in your life and you are a precious gift to them.  

I invite you to sink into all this goodness.  Because no matter how crazy and out of hand life can get there will always be something that made you happy, something you are grateful for, and someone you love.  And when you think of these things a smile will form on your face and you can take it just a little bit deeper by smiling from your heart.   

Smile from your heart today!

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This post was inspired by the third prompt for this round of the Love Notes Postcard Project.  This free, three week project invites individuals to get back to the basics and connect with others through snail mail.  This is the twenty third time I am hosting the project and could not be more excited.  

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use what you got

I am a consumer.  Buying things that catch my eye.  Wanting to try out whats new.  Purchasing, purchasing, purchasing.  Sometimes these things end up in the back of the cabinet collecting dust or tucked inside a drawer never seeing the light of day and never being used.  I have a home filled with things.  Do I appreciate all of them?  Certainly not.  I have a cabinet and freezer filled with food yet each week I go to the grocery store and buy more.  

What if I used what I had?  What if I let go of what truly doesn't serve me?  What if I stopped purchasing things that I already own?  

I have a pallet of eye shadows barley used yet I want to go out and get one that I saw a friend had.  I have cans of chickpeas and bags of frozen fruit, yet rather than use them I purchase more food.  I buy things I do not even need. 

It is amazing how quickly the things we own can begin to consume us.  Each item gives and takes energy from us.  When we open an overflowing cabinet and only feel overwhelmed our energy levels are instantly diminished. What if my home was only filled with the things I need and the things I love?  How would I feel?    

I am challenging myself to use only what I have.  There is no need to purchase more.  No need to have the latest fad or trend when I have a perfectly useful comparison tucked in the back of my closet.  I want to appreciate what I have and only be surrounded by things that nourish my soul. 

It is time to use what I have and toss/donate what I do not need.  It is time to pair down and live light.  I do not want my things to consume me.  I want to feel spacious not only in my heart but in my physical space as well.  

So here is what I am doing:

• Looking at what is in my cabinet and using it for upcoming meals.  Yes, there will be some things that I need but I am going to challenge myself to try to make as many meals with the food I have on hand.  
• Using the makeup, shampoo, soap, deodorant I have stockpiled in my bathroom before buying anymore.  
• Reading through the books and magazines I have rather than going out and purchasing more.  
• Using the art supplies I have on hand and coming up with creative projects to use them.  

It's time to get creative.  To let loose and have some fun with whats on hand. 

I invite you to join me in this adventure?  Let's encourage one another and hold each other accountable.  Comment below if you are in and I will drop you a note of encouragement in the mail {yes, actual snail mail}.  

together we can

Together we can do so much more than we can on our own.  We need one another.  When we come together we cheer each other on, lean in, and help one another out. 

Together we rise.  

As a human being you are not meant to travel alone on this journey. 

You need connection
You need to be seen
You need to be heard

We flourish together.  We encourage one another to step forward, take a risk, take a leap.  We are there to listen, to be a sounding board, and sometimes just to sit quietly.  

Together we stand a little bit taller.  Head held high.   Shoulders back.  Heart open.  We believe in ourselves a little bit more and show others how deeply we believe in them.  We don't let people give up.  We provide the tools and strength they may not have in the moment.  

Together we move mountains.

We cannot wait for someone to come knocking on our door. We must reach out and bring others in.  Because together is where we are meant to be. 

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This post was inspired by the second prompt for this round of the Love Notes Postcard Project.  This free, three week project invites individuals to get back to the basics and connect with others through snail mail.  This is the twenty third time I am hosting the project and could not be more excited.