This week was an emotionally rough one for me.  Hell...this has been quite the year when I think about it.  I am sure I am not the only one with that experience!

In September, I resigned from my job in Corporate America to focus on my business.  I had been transitioning out over the month of September and this past Tuesday was the very last day I physically went into the office in order to welcome the new Executive Director into my position.  I was surprised with a gathering/celebration from my boss and co-workers.  They presented me with a beautiful heart chakra singing bowl and live music from two of my co-workers that literally brought me to tears.  

It was all finally hitting me.  I hadn't grieved over moving on from this job until that day.  I was leaving the best corporation, boss, and co-workers I ever had in my Professional career. I cried throughout the entire gathering.  There were tears of mourning for the connection I had with all of these amazing souls.  It is important ...

“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way”~Martin Luther King Jr.

Throughout my life, I was taught to look upon leadership as a status to be obtained. It was a mark in one’s career that let the world know you ‘made it’ and are ‘making a difference’. I look back at that belief as I would a young, sweet, and naive child. There are some amazing leaders that have inspired me along the way. Amazing inspirational leaders that encourage and encompass kindness and compassion to all. Visionary leaders who take action to create the world they know is obtainable-one of connection, compassion, and collaboration. I still look upon some of the great leaders for inspiration. I continue to saturate my brain with their knowledge, and learn from their teachings and beliefs. I have also been blessed enough to have amazing leaders throughout my personal life. Amongst them include family, my husband, children, friends, teachers, bosses, spiritual mentors, coaches, and therapists. ...

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen”~Brene Brown

So many of my years were spent being the person I thought I “should” be. I am the first born, which means I am an over-achiever and strive for perfectionism. Some of my younger memories include being yelled at for my first “B”, going to weight watchers at ten years old, and being made fun of for the clothes I wore and the hairstyle I chose. Before that, I was a fun loving, free spirited, vibrant, live-out-loud kind of girl. Early in my years, just like most of us, I was taught what was acceptable. I was taught how good little Catholic girls were supposed to act. I was taught that achievement was of the upmost importance. I was taught how wives and mothers were supposed to behave. I was taught what was, and was not, acceptable within a marriage and a family.

I am grateful for all of these lessons and experiences, for it has made me the per...

This movement of #bestlife has been around on social media for quite some time.  Despite the positive connotation, this concept has created some controversy.  There are some that believe this concept is only for the "financially privileged" and is "unattainable" for 'normal people'.  Some believe it leads to a state of constant comparison that is unattainable, which may be true based upon what your idea of living your best life entails.  Living your best life is completely subjective.  

I do not consider myself "financially privileged" in any sense.  I know my life is abundant, and I didn't come from a financially endowed family nor have I ever had a trust fund ever in my life.  I do believe in the movement and ability to live #yourbestlife without a hefty bank account.  Living your best life is so much more than lavish trips and spa days.  

So, what does it mean to live #yourbestlife?  

Over the past year, I have been in a state of re-evaluation.  Not because of the comparison to o...

“The only thing constant is change”~Heraclitus

Through the past six months of drastic changes in the world, it has left people feeling unrest and wanting change, confused on how to act and feel, sad about the state of the world, excited for change, angry with how the change has some about, hopeful about changes that are happening, and afraid of the uncertainty of the change. Often feeling all of these emotions within a one minute time frame. I remember seeing posts on social media around the New Year stating things like “so glad 2019 is over” and “goodbye 2019, it was a rough one” and “can’t wait to see what 2020 brings!”. Well, I don’t think one person was anticipating 2020 being this transformational. I bet a lot of people wish they could have the struggles of 2019 back in an offer to trade it for 2020. Being in the helping field, I have seen several different reactions to the changes. I have seen people fall into deep depression. I have seen people become over-controlling, filled w...

“Many people are alive, but do not touch the miracle of being alive”~Thich Nhat Hanh

The practice of mindfulness and meditation has been around for thousands of years. Historically, the arrival of mindfulness to the United States is attributed to Jon Kabat-Zinn, the creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic. Mindfulness is now a commonly used term that you will hear in many households. It is estimated that well over 2 million American adults engage in mindfulness practices (AMRA, 2017). One the one hand, I think that number is wonderful. On the other hand, I think we can do so much better than a measly 2 million when you compare it to the overall population of 328 million. It baffles me, quite frankly. After all of the research that proves the many benefits of mindfulness, why in the world are more people NOT practicing?

Let’s take a moment here to discuss some common beliefs, or what I consider to be excuses created out of fear of our conditioned self, of meditation and mindfulness:

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As a child, I always had a WILD imagination. I loved to pretend play…anywhere I was. This included church services on Sundays and school days when I attended a Catholic school. I vividly remember strange stares from onlookers as I pretended to have an entire tea party while sitting in the pew, opening up imaginary cabinets to take down the tea kettle and cups. Setting up the imaginary table. Sipping on my imaginary cup. I was 8 years old at the time of this memory. I began getting in trouble for not paying attention in church. I began hearing from others, wether through judgmental stares or actual words, that this behavior and my wild imagination, was unacceptable. This is when I started to quiet my mind and creativity. This is when I began worrying about what others thought of me and listened to what they expected from me. I look at this 8 year old from my current Loving Wise Adult and imagine scooping her up to whisper “don’t ever let anyone tell you to dim your light”.

As I moved i...

There are so many signals throughout my life that were trying to let me know that I was slowly losing myself. The hurt and pain was a big signal. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the words or understand what exactly the hurt was trying to tell me. I only knew I felt empty and lost. I only knew that I was trying to soothe myself with any way possible and I was leaving a path of destruction in my wake. I felt horrible and shameful for all of the devastation throughout my life. It is very true that “hurt people hurt people”. I could see what I was doing in the moment, and couldn’t stop it. The need to feel comfort was more overwhelming than suffering the consequences. I was caught in a shame spiral.

I always turned to poetry and music for my inner expressions. At 16 years of age, my favorite poet was Edgar Allen Poe and my favorite bands included Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails. I was bulimic and self-harming almost every single day. I was cutting classes to go use alcohol or drugs. I was...