Dance with Me

“Let em come, the storms, the rain. Let them blow and shake, rattle and flash. These feet will not move, I will lean into the fray and dance in the chaos. I am built for enduring all that can be thrown at me. See me here, still, and listen to the sky tremble.” // Tyler Knott

I’m dancing in the rain. This has been, to put it lightly, a whirlwind of a week, month, year. So here I am on the road again, endlessly discovering myself and my purpose. Refocused and ready to find clarify through this mayhem.

I have always said that time is merely a concept and for reasons that I cannot explain, life will turn to us at any given moment and say “time to put this chapter to rest, lets write an even better one.” So that is what we do, because at the end of the day I think it is safe to say we all know and understand that pain in never permanent.

One day, one decision, one brave moment; that is all it took. I sincerely believe that we have to take risks in order to learn hard life lessons. It isn’t always easy and I promise you that no matter how much you try, you will never be prepared for whatever the outcome is. I tried to protect and prepare myself for all possibilities: it was not enough. There are some things that we just cannot feel until we are in the moment as it is unraveling. Bittersweet and coated with anxiety. When it happened I thought the answer was to gulp the pain and avoid making others suffer. I put myself in a position that I perceived as weak. Thank-you to my friend who reminded me that taking a chance is brave and I should be proud – no matter the aftermath.

There is no growth in comfort. We grow most as a result of the painful and challenging times. This life is not a matter of win or lose – it is a matter of learning. If there is one lesson I encourage people to embrace in their own hardships, it is that you should never reject your instinct. Trust it. Look within and follow your gut – it is leading you somewhere. Be mindful of yourself. What is meant to be will be. I truly believe that some things are meant to stay while others are destined to leave. It is dangerous to count on someone else with your heart and soul. However it’s a risk we take and I’ll tell you one thing – it’s always worth it. People do not want that pressure; it scares them but we do it anyways; often times surprising ourselves with how much we are capable of. So be your own foundation and seek support from friends and family. They are your home team; they are your #1.

When you are facing times in your lives where you are hurt by circumstances you cannot control, take the chance that life is giving you to heal. When one door closes, many doors open.

So until then, dance with me in the rain.

 

Head up, heart strong.

 

Expressions of Gratitude

My words, written and spoken, come from a place deeply rooted in my heart and soul. A great deal of my work is about understanding the aching, demanding, chaotic and confusing moments that we endure; viewing them in a favorable manner. I try to make sense of my  world, and share it with all of you because there’s a little bit of sunshine, even on the rainiest days.  

I am passionate about life. I wholeheartedly believe that love can heal all. That is why my mission is to spread as much love as I can.

As a human, I am so flawed. But my soul, man. My soul is so genuine and whole that it could light up the darkest room. That is why I am here. I want to help light up the darkest parts of your lives.

It is easy to talk about the bad things. The things that make us hurt, angry or frustrated. But today I want to talk about gratitude. Expressing our gratitude is vital to our well-being and joy.

Grat·i·tude : the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Yesterday, when I was experiencing some anxiety, my gracious friend Natalie stood in front of me and told me to list 10 things that I was grateful for. In my hazy mindset I started to think. I did not want to list just any 10 things; I wanted them to count. As I began telling her the things I was grateful for, I felt more grounded. The haze lifted and I smiled. I am thankful that Natalie invited me to take a moment to reflect upon the things that make my heart full. Her approach inspired me and I wanted to share it with all of you because I think it will inspire you too.

I encourage you to take 30, 60, or 90 seconds out of your day to list 10 things that you are grateful for. Share them with someone. It will spread a positive light. It is a small act of kindness to yourself and to others. Let’s say thank-you and cultivate full hearts. It’ll be worth it, I promise.

Thank you for reading my words and for adding passion and purpose into my life.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” // Melody Beattie

Head up, heart strong.

 

Soul Mantra

To have a positive mind and a hopeful heart. That is how I am choosing each day to build my life rather than just merely living.


A soul mantra is simply a word or phrase that sets our intention for each day. A soul mantra is a compilation of various components:

  • Knowing Yourself
  • Mind, Body, Spirit
  • Knowing Others

Knowing Yourself

Here is my advice to you: Choose to immerse yourself in your own world and get into your head. Do not live in fear of the future or in the pain of the past. Get comfortable with yourself. Enjoy your own company and solitude. Be confident. Be proud of who you are. Be humble. Understand your strengths and your weaknesses.

When you make the decision to set your dreams and goals in motion you place yourself on the path to becoming the person you most want to be. You allow yourself to seek new experiences as well as good vibes and idiosyncratic thoughts all of which encourage you to grow. When you understand yourself, you learn to better understand others.

In the words of my friend Aaron Patterson, “I’m more comfortable with the fact that the moves I make are bringing me closer to my purpose.”

Mind, Body, Spirit

Life is about making conscious decisions to nourish both your body and soul with the right elements to help you stay strong and healthy. Your heart and soul is the very essence of your being.

Start by stepping back and gaining some perspective. Sometimes when we are too close to something or someone, we are unable to maintain a healthy perspective. Take the time to seek clarity. Many times we know that there are toxic habits or people in our lives and they can be all consuming so we think that they are contributing to our lives – we’re wrong.

Work on replacing bad habits with good ones. Remove people. You do not need to explain yourself. Accept that these people or habits have been a significant part of your life but that they may be hindering your growth. You will be in awe at the things that come to you when you open space for healthier things; sometimes things you didn’t even imagine possible.

Knowing Others

Aforementioned, seek new experiences as well as good vibes and idiosyncratic thoughts. Take the time to connect with like-minded peers but also subject yourself to individuals who have different perspectives and ways of thinking – you could learn something invaluable.

Open up conversation. Be an intellectual. Share your outlooks. Engage in the conversation and observe. You don’t always need to be the one talking; “listen with the intent to understand, not solely with the intent to reply.” Be genuine. We are in a generation where people are driven by money, status and especially ego. So open up a little bit, talk about passion and purpose, art and sports, likes and dislikes.

Discuss what inspires you on your best days and what motivates you on your hardest ones. 

Soul Mantra

Give out what you most want to come back because beauty and truth surrounds us. Be conscious of the energy you emit and connect with. 

Be with people whose company you enjoy as much or more than your solitude. Whether it’s grabbing a drink, relaxing at a coffee shop, exploring a new city or sitting on the couch at home. Make connections to souls aligned with yours. You will find that encouragement, inspiration and happiness come easy with these people. These are the ones that will contribute to the quality of your life. 

Sending positivity and peace to you all.

Expression

I strive to be a woman of eloquence. A woman full of soul and of meaning. Through my writing, I achieve a sense of such eloquence. I write to hold on. I write to let go. I write because I am a firm believer that we do not have to go through things alone – the good and the bad. We have the ability to connect with each other by sharing and expressing how we feel about our experiences. It is liberating to be able to convey emotions through the arts. Writing, singing, dancing, drawing, painting & photographing. All of these talents allow us to expose ourselves with ease. My ability to express myself through words helps make sense of my views on this world. I do not write to speak. I write to inspire. I write with the desire to brighten the day of someone reading my post. I want the words that people read to be simple yet powerful. I want people to feel something when they read what I compose.

Our lives are like a puzzle, and everyday we are adding new pieces to complete what our life will be made up of. That moves me. I find comfort in the fact that we have passion and purpose.

Edward Lewis said,

“We define ourselves by the best that is in us, not the worst that has been done to us.”

This blog, my posts & these words that you read are me. My writing is how I define myself. I am sharing with all of you, what I feel is the best in me.