Miles to go before I sleep....

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
― Robert Frost

The above quote is one of my favorites...to me, it refers to choices...and choosing to take risks.

It speaks of taking chances and being daring and courageous. How exciting!

I feel like I've been playing it safe for some time....choosing to stay with the familiar, rather than taking a risk to venture into the unknown.

That has changed.

I recently made a decision, after much thought and consideration, to make a major change. I moved on. As I've mentioned in previous posts, change is uncomfortable for me. I realize that it's inevitable, but that does not make me rush towards it any faster. I don't regret the decision, but it wasn't an easy one to make.

I did something completely decadent today...I booked my first TWO trips for 2013! I signed up for a yoga retreat in Puerto Rico in February and just decided to fly to NY after the holidays. I booked both flights tonight....felt very indulgent! 

PLUS....I started doing research for my upcoming trip to Rome in May!

Life is GOOD!!

This is not something I could have done even a few weeks ago. As the result of the decision I made, I get to live more spontaneously. 

Not too long ago, someone I know posted their travel schedule on Facebook...US to South America, and several places in between...just within the window of about 3 months! I have to admit, I was a bit envious. My work schedule is not that flexible and I don't possess the resources to travel in that way....or so I thought.

It's amazing what can happen when you say YES to life!

Can't wait to see what's next....

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls.”
― Joseph Campbell

Distractions...

 Life has a gap in it... It just does. You don't go crazy trying to fill it. 

(Take This Waltz)

This was a perfect movie weekend...cold & rainy. I took advantage of my time off and saw two great ones. I won't ruin either with too many details, but suffice it to say that both involved challenging relationships and handsome men. I recommend both.

- Take This Waltz (on Netflix) with Michelle Williams & Seth Rogen

- Silver Linings Playbook (in theaters) with Bradley Cooper (*sigh*) and Jennifer Lawrence

Happy Viewing!

Perspective

It's been over a year since my last post...lots of changes in that time. It's been quite a ride....and it's not over quite yet. I have made decisions that were not always easy and am now starting a new phase of my life on my own.

Some of the changes are relatively new and take some getting used to...it will take some time to adjust. Change is stressful and scary and can be full of uncertainty....but it can also be exciting, as there are no limits to what's possible. I can stay or I can go as I wish. I can try new things or I can revisit interests that I put aside.

I felt compelled to start writing again, as a way of gaining some clarity around the various thoughts swirling around my head of late. I find serenity and clarity on my yoga mat, but I can't stay on my mat all day, right? So I need another outlet to work through this stage of transition...

I am so very grateful for the network of support that I have and the graciousness of the friends who have listened to me as I process the emotions that are part of this journey. It's been interesting to see the similarities as I share my story with others....I take comfort in knowing that I am not alone on my journey. In fact, I joked to a friend recently that, one day, we would look back on this challenging time and have a good laugh...just not today!

I look forward to that day, but in the meantime, I will embrace the process...and enjoy the ride. The view isn't half bad from here...

Onward and Upward

 "After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb." ~~~Nelson Mandela

 

So it's been quite a summer so far...full of changes, periods of transition, and uncertainty. 

I often find that during times like these, just when I start to feel like I have reached a point where I can rest and catch my breath, that's when I'm faced with another challenging situation.I've had enough experience to know that change is not a bad thing, but it is usually stressful. Change is one of those things that, by it's very nature, is designed to keep me on my toes.

It's frustrating to be presented with something that I thought had been dealt with, particularly when the situation is painful; I would much rather deal with it once, rather than having to revisit it at a later date.

One of those areas is what some may call "character defects"...those quirky, pesky little ways of reacting to a situation in a less than optimal way. 

For example, one of mine is taking things personally...things that, in reality, don't have anything to do with me. While I have gotten MUCH better in this area, every once in awhile, this little monster comes back unexpectedly to bite me...today was one of those days.

Several years ago, I would have used a situation like the one I found myself in today to berate myself; today I know that it was a crappy day and tomorrow will be better. I don't have to feel like a victim and instead, I can instead focus on all the things I have to be grateful for. Tomorrow is another day and I have another chance to do things differently. For now, I can remind myself that, fundamentally, all is well.

I think that this might be one of those lessons that will be revisited from time to time for many years to come...

just.keep.going!

Reborn...

"Every second chance begins with a first step." ~~~ Unknown

5.20.01...

...the day that I started my journey... although I didn't know it at the time. It's funny how one decision can change your life in unimaginable ways. I was sick and tired of the burden that my life had become and was desperate enough to try something new...to take  a step in a new direction...to shed the baggage that had been suffocating me.

As I have shared before, up until this point, I would have rather done just about anything other than make a change, but sometimes it's more painful to stay than to go and you become willing to try something different...to venture off the familiar path into the unknown...to step away from what you've always done.

5.19.01 was the day that I reached that point...and so, I took a chance and took the first step into the unknown. 

I have never regretted that decision.

Tomorrow, it will be ten years since I took that first tentative step. The last ten years have been...a ride unlike any I could have ever imagined. I am so very grateful to all the people who have guided and supported me along the way...I could never have made it to this day without you.

To all of my fellow travelers....THANK YOU!

5.20.11

Changes

"If you want your life to be a magnificent story 

Then begin by realizing that you are the author 

And everyday you have the opportunity to write a new page" 

— Mark Houlahan

It's been awhile....how are things in your world?

There are lots of (good) changes happening in my neck of the woods... sometimes when it rains, it pours. This is one of those times.

Not too long ago, I was incredibly resistant to change of any kind...even when I was in an uncomfortable or painful situation, my preference was to stay with what was familiar. In some odd way, it felt safer to me at the time.

That is no longer true.

While I can't say that I am a big fan of change now, I am willing to take the necessary steps to make improvements when I need to. What I have learned is that the sooner I become willing to release my grip on whatever I'm clinging to (job, relationship, behavior, belief) and make space for something new to enter my life, change becomes a much easier concept to embrace. That slight shift, however small it may be, is often enough to allow me to view my situation from a different perspective. It allows me to be flexible and flexibility usually leads to movement, which can often lead to change. 

At least that's how it has worked in my life.

The journey thus far has not always been smooth...in fact, it has been pretty rocky at times. But, it's remarkable what lies in store when you are willing to take risks and say "Yes!" to life...I had no idea how good it could be.

 

Dream a little dream...

"You'll see it when you believe it."
— Wayne W. Dyer

Remember when you were a child and someone asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up? What did you say?

An astronaut?

A ballerina?

A football star?

The President?

Doctor, lawyer, scientist?

There were no limits to what you could imagine for yourself.

But childhood ends and with it, the gift of limitless possibility. We grow older, become more jaded, experience the pains of heartbreak and disappointment, and close off that lushly creative part of ourselves. We become "practical", "realistic" adults. What a shame...

Now, I'm not saying that blind innocence and naivete is a better option. What I am saying, however, is that we can miss an amazing opportunity to give ourselves permission to dream again, as we did when we were kids. How can you know if something is impossible if you don't try? How can you know what dream is "too big" if you don't go to your edge? How many times have you heard of someone who, against all odds, has done something that no one else believed was possible?

Here are just a few examples:

the Wright Brothers

Thomas Edison

Rosa Parks

Michelangelo Buonarroti

Leonardo da Vinci

Coco Chanel

Mahatma Gandhi

Madonna

Nelson Mandela

Louise Hay

Close your eyes...imagine your deepest desire...your wildest dream....got it?

Now, what's stopping you from making it come true?