The year was 2008.  I was living on my own in an adorable studio apartment.  This sacred space held my heart as I began an epic search to unearth who I was and what I stood for.  Like so many times in my life, I felt lost in this great big world. The eternal question “why am I here and what is my purpose?” played on repeat in my head.  

Since losing my mom four years ago Mother’s Day has become a reminder that time with our loved ones is finite.  We never know when the day will come that we have to say your final goodbye to someone we adore. Either you will have to say goodbye to someone you love or they to you.  It is inevitable.

I hear it all the time.  People talking about how snail mail is a thing of the past. How they don’t send letters anymore.  How they don’t even check their mail because they pay all of their bills online and don’t receive anything worth looking at in their mailbox.

On the East Coast, the clocks jumped ahead one hour.  This shift in time signifies the end of the dark days of winter and the beginning of more daylight hours after work.  It makes my heart smile and breathes life into my tired body.

It’s been a long day.  I feel the weight of my interactions on my shoulders.  Tension has built. Conversations have gone south. Blame has been cast.  It’s been a doozy.

Dear Brave Heart,

Thank you for being with me on this journey called life.  I know it hasn’t always been easy. I have put you through the wringer.  Together we have traversed deep loss, heartbreak, uncertainty, fear. We rode the waves of emotions and even when we didn’t think we would make it through; we did.

Dear Radiant Heart,

What a beautiful moment you are standing in right now.  A brand new day. Another chance to try again. The opportunity to choose what your heart desires.  Do not take this tiny moment for granted.

Taking time to notice and appreciate all the beauty this world serves up has become a life-changing practice for me.  It pushes me to slow down, be present, and observe how the ordinary moments create something magical.

I never thought that one single jar and little slips of paper would bring me so much joy.  But it does.

In 2009 I ditched making resolutions that I wouldn’t keep and began the tradition of choosing one word to carry with me for the entire year. One single word that called to me and one that I wanted to dive deep into.

What I love most about this tradition is that I never know how it will unfold.

It doesn’t happen often but there are some moments that completely change your life. They tend to be unexpected and something you never could have planned for. They may knock you to the ground, push you out of your comfort zone, and possibly make you recognize some very real truths about yourself.

You don’t have to have it all figured out
You can make it up as you go along
Change the story
Switch lanes
Even shift characters and personalities

I invite you to come and sit beside me. Together let’s navigate everything that is unfolding in your heart. The happiness, the pain, the deep unknowing. There is no need to cast judgment. Let’s simply recognize what is there.

In Northeast NJ the leaves are turning brilliant colors of red, yellow, and orange. Rather than cling on to their branches and hope that nothing changes they feel the shift inside and choose to let go. They do not worry about the journey ahead. They simply trust their intuition, follow what feels right and release.

Recently in northern New Jersey there had been a lot of rainy days that kept me within the four walls of my home. I didn’t have the motivation to head out the door to my favorite stomping grounds to work; the local coffee shop, the library, and the park. I ended up staying hunkered inside and quickly fell down the rabbit hole of darkness.

What makes being human beautiful is that we are all uniquely different. There are things that come naturally to you. You show up and do them exceptionally well without even having to think about it. These are your strengths and make up your divine spirit.