Making Waves

Full transparency: I was miserable and very unhappy when this year began.  I was disappointed with a handful of things. Not being where I wanted to be personally, professionally, and creatively. Not seeing growth or reaping the fruits and benefits in areas where I’ve worked hard, was patient, faithful, and committed, for years, while watching other people move forward in some of the same areas I’ve anticipated moving forward in as well. There was even a point when I spiritually shut down and didn’t care how anything turned out anymore because I got tired of working, waiting, and praying for progression and not seeing it. I was doing everything I could to get where I wanted to go and seemingly getting nowhere. I’m a tenacious person, so I typically don’t give up easily, but during different times this year, I wrestled with discouragement and frustration when things weren’t working out, while at the same time, battling silent storms that came in the form of petty workplace cha...

Put on a fresh pot of coffee and dress it up however you want to. Or have some eggnog or tea or hot chocolate with a ton of marshmallows on top. And enjoy it.  Go out (or stay in…) for an amazing breakfast filled with whatever you want to eat. I recommend mimosas, waffles, bacon, eggs, hash browns, pancakes, flaky and buttery croissants, or anything else that sounds good. I also recommend savoring every bite. And enjoying it. After you eat, put on the most comfy robe or pair of sweats you own, get back in bed, cuddle with your significant other, or your fur baby if you have one, and stream that movie or show you’ve had sitting on your Hulu or Netflix account for months and never had the chance to watch because you’ve been working hard all year. And enjoy it.  After you’ve binged on Hulu or Netflix, fall asleep. Take a nap. And wake up whenever you want. And enjoy it. Then go through any books or magazines or articles you’ve saved and have wanted to read ...

As 2019 is coming to an end, it’s important to get moving on some important things I believe are great to take care of before 2020 arrives. Some of you might already be on top of these things and took care of them throughout the year, but I encourage you to take a break from some of your holiday fun and set aside some time this week to go through the following: 1. Schedule Your Annual Physical.  Your health is very important. So make sure you schedule your annual physical for the upcoming year. I know different people who don’t like visiting their doctor’s office, however, it’s smart to know what’s going on with your body and staying up to date with your physical will inform you and your primary care practitioner of anything you should be aware of or working to improve.  2. Declutter.  If you have a regular practice of getting rid of stuff that you don’t want or need, then you’re probably fine, but I encourage you to go through your clothes, old and/or obsolete...

About a year ago, I watched a movie called  The Star . It’s a film about the birth of Jesus told from the perspective of animals trying to protect Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus from King Herod. When a donkey named Bo learns that Jesus and his parents are at risk, he sets off on an adventure, with sidekicks included, to make sure Jesus and his family stay safe. I’m typically not a fan of cartoon-like films, but this one was a tearjerker for me. This is a film that might make you cry, but in a good way though. That is the beauty of  The Star. Jesus is indeed the reason for the season. Not gifts, not Santa Claus, or even The Grinch (granted, the Jim Carrey version of  How the Grinch Stole Christmas  is absolutely hilarious. I think The Grinch was kind, just really misunderstood 😄. But I highly recommend watching  The Star  this holiday season. It’s one of the greatest stories ever told and the way it’s shared through cinematic storytelling is we...

I don’t want or need many material things .  I prefer being gifted with experiences over anything I can unwrap. For the past few years, I’ve wanted much less  stuff  for Christmas and have craved more experiences and quality time with people I care about. Awhile back when I heard about minimalism and read more about The Minimalists (Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus) and their book,  Essential,  some of their essays resonated with me and were refreshing reminders that material items don’t matter as much as we think they do. While I don’t knock having nice things, I believe having nice experiences mean more.  Think about it. If and when you go get a massage, a manicure/pedicure, go to a concert, take a cooking class, go on a planned trip, attend a professional sporting event, have a wine and paint night, ride around with your family to see the holiday lights, go ice skating, go out for a cup of tea or coffee or cider or hot chocolat...