Let go...

“When people ask us how long does it take for something to manifest, we say, It takes as long as it takes you to release the RESISTANCE. Could be 30 years, could be 40 years, could be 50 years, could be a week. Could be tomorrow afternoon.”

- Abraham-Hicks

Fear exists in the absence of love. I have learned that I have a choice today: I can have faith in the power of love or I can choose to remain in the chaos of fear. 

The world is a scary place...things are happening that just make NO SENSE. It would be easy (& understandable) to hide behind a wall of fear...there's an element of safety, in some twisted way. I lived like that for years, unaware that it was a survival tool that I picked up along the way...I was merely trying to protect myself in the best way I knew how. I remember my mom telling me that I had a "hard" demeanor...at the time, I was damn proud of my "don't mess with me" attitude. I had no idea then that behind that mask was a scared girl. It served me well...until it stopped working.

I had to find another way.

Over the last 10+ years, I have been on a journey to find another way & what I found was love, in all its forms: compassion, forgiveness, joy, acceptance, gratitude, peace...

It's a choice that I must make every day...sometimes several times a day. It's not always easy.

What I have learned, though, is that the more I choose love, the easier it gets, the better I feel, and the more love I see 

manifested in my life.

I needed to be reminded to let go of fear...and to choose love today.

I hope you'll do the same.

xo

What makes your heart sing?

Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.

Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

This has been quite an eventful week. I am rediscovering what makes me happy, what feeds my soul, what makes my heart sing....AND I am doing more of THAT!!

I am choosing to take Liz Gilbert's advice and "...participate relentlessly in the manifestation...(of my)own blessings."

Here is a list of the ways that I have done just that:

* confirmed travel plans for the new year

* bought a Christmas tree for me & Daisy

* baked cookies

* resumed writing this blog

* signed up for a yoga workshop

* donated unused clothing & other items to the church

* finished my out of town Christmas shopping...Santa's on his way!

* enjoyed holiday dinner with girlfriends
* looking forward to annual holiday brunch with more girlfriends!
* had a long overdue phone conversation with a friend in NY


At dinner last night (great restaurant in Lincoln Square called Selmarie's...check it out next time you're in town!), one of my friends shared that she made a list of all the blessings that have come into her life since she got laid off a few years ago...a new take on a gratitude list! I was amazed and incredibly inspired by the things she shared: everything from people she has been able to spend more time with, to interests that she has been able to persue, to ways that she has been able to push herself beyond her comfort zone and challenge herself to be "courageous"!

Just amazing!

What I learned: it's all about perspective. There is a silver lining in every situation...it all depends on whether you/I choose to look at the obstacle or the opportunity. Focusing on the obstacle usually keeps us stuck, stagnant, and frozen in (what we perceive to be) the "problem". Focusing on the opportunity gets us/me moving, trying to find the tiny opening for the light to come through. 

I once heard someone say that "Depression can't hit a moving target"...it's kinda like that!

So, I challenge you to go on a little scavenger hunt....find out what inspires you, brings you joy, makes your heart sing...then find ways to incorporate more of THAT into your life! Particularly during the holidays, we are all so busy that we often neglect ourselves...consider it a gift to yourself!
You SOOOOO deserve it!

Buon viaggio!

“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.”
― Oprah Winfrey

What an exciting week!

I just booked my 3rd trip of 2013....can you guess where I'm heading this Spring?

See the photo above for a hint.... (it will require a passport and an overnight flight)

This will be my first solo trip abroad...I'm a bit nervous, but SUPER excited!!!

Spoke to my hostess this evening...I can see the Brunelleschi designed basilica from my window!

Phase 2 is still in the  works, but there will be more to come....

I will keep you posted!

Dream BIG!!

“I think I deserve something beautiful.”
― Elizabeth Gilbert

Guess where I'm going....??!!

more later...

:-)

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...