So first, apologize to those readers who follow me! I was gone last weekend for a very good reason. My sister got engaged and we surprised her by being up in NY for it! So last Sunday we were driving all day to get back down to home. So excited for her and Bruce. And such fun to see their joy and enthusiasm for their future. Now….to my topic this week. I am realizing more and more, attitude and mood is a choice.  When we repeatedly do something, it is a habit.  And how you see the world can become a habit. What I mean by this is, some people are just overly negative to everything. Or focus so much on self-doubt or dark places, that it is a habit. It just their “go-to” attitude. Yet, it doesn’t have to be. I am all for being in tune with your emotions and allowing yourself to feel sad, happy, emotional, etc. for moments in time (just not forever). It is important to really feel and understand …

The power of a good book is pretty incredible. It is like an amazing dessert, a wonderful vacation, the great escape, and a total restorative move. It is such a lovely luxury amongst our busy lives. And can take you to places you never thought you’d go– you can travel the world or someone’s life through a good character and well written descriptions. It can be simply amazing and refuel you in all ways. There is nothing like when you can’t put it down and it is such a good page turner you are forcing yourself to stay up to the last page. And then so disappointed it is over. I believe in spending as much time as possible with your loved ones (I was lucky enough to do just that this weekend), with nature, and in the present. But there is also something to be said for refueling yourself by curling up with a great read. Even if it is just to get in a chapter or a few pages after the kids are …

As I wind down my Sunday evening and finish up my long weekend at Miraval (my annual refueling destination), I realize how important meditation is to my life. It allows me to free my mind of thoughts, wash the anxiety and stress away, and really be present in the moment. Afterwards, I just see and hear more of life around me. It allows me to truly feel alive vs in my thoughts. A my meditation expert here said “it provides a way to open your heart, release negativity, receive light, gain insights, and achieve a deeper sense of calm/peace.” I also am realizing how meditation can take many forms. The classic kind where you sit in silence, breathe, or walk through a guided meditation. But it can also be journaling, hiking, walking, walking a labyrinth (which I love doing here), cooking, and/or exercising. There are so many forms.  I did a drumming meditation today that was quite powerful. And tomorrow I’ll finish my stay with a morning meditation and sunrise yoga. Are you making time …

“Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that, but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing.”– William Butler Yeats I loved this quote because it is true, if we are growing, we are happy. We are moving forward. Progress in some way or moving in a direction wholeheartedly = Less regret and more self confidence/worth = happiness. Try to grow today or this week. Move in the direction you are aiming to go in some little way. Make a little change like I encouraged last week. With each step comes accomplishment and happiness! This week I worked on growing some of my relationships through communication and showing vulnerability. What are you going to try and grow?  

I was reading this week about doing a time management audit every 6 months. And I got excited. I love this idea. Consider which activities are impacting the quality of your life in a negative and positive way. Can you shed the negative ones or at least minimize? Can you increase the positive ones? What is causing you stress? Do you need to change up your wardrobe? Your house decorations? Do you need to move? Do you need to re-balance your work/life priorities? What have been your stressors? Do you need to change it up with a vacation somewhere you haven’t been? Have you made it to the restaurant or museum you’ve had on your list? Did you make enough time with friends, your partner, yourself? Are you watching too much TV? Spending too much time on your phone or technology? I just did my own self audit this week. I’m changing up my workouts (started this last Monday), doing a few wardrobe changes, starting using two new skin care products, and re-prioritizing time for myself …

This week, I’ve been exploring this idea of really knowing when we want something vs feeling programmed. We are programmed to want everything all the time. To want what we see on TV, on facebook, and what we were told since birth ….through movies, books, and our parents. The prince, the big house, making a lot of money, kids, a big wedding, a partner, happiness all the time, sex all the time, a great job or a partner that makes so much money you don’t work, a huge social circle, fabulous vacations, seamless days of no stress, perfect figure, perfect hair, no vices, etc.  We are programmed to crave these things. So much so, that when do you know when you really want them verses being programmed to want them? I started to talk to a few people about this and it turns out a lot of people second guess what they want vs what they think they want/been told they want.  Is it okay to be nervous about what we have been programmed to …

Often times we look at winter as the months we try to get through. January and February is unpleasant, dark, and cold. And it usually leaves us yearning for sunshine and brighter days. We are grumpy and a bit more depressed. I could go on and on. However, I am coming to appreciate these two months. They slow me down a bit. I find myself still going outside just as much….just with more clothes on. And the coziness of home, blankets, candles, fireplaces, and good books keeps me feeling so peaceful and happy. There is nothing like a hot chocolate or tea, a good book or movie (or marathon TV watching), and a blanket. There is no guilt to have those quieter, cozy moments in the winter. They are expected. So instead of wishing them to pass by, how do you embrace winter? Cooking? Baking? Winter hikes? Skiing? Fun new workout? What is your winter habits? As my journey to live in the moment continues, I am celebrating cold winter days today! Last weekend, I …