Conversation Hearts
I have always loved the Valentine’s conversation hearts. What’s not to love- the pretty pastels, off centered type, hard, soft, chalky, crunch- even the fact that they get stuck on your teeth. Some things just remind you of all of the wonderful years and all the childhood Valentines memories. I always anxiously waited for the day as a child. Classmates would reach out and give you something special- no matter what…a card, candy, glittery stickers…whatever. I remember shoebox mailboxes on the desks, cupcakes and red hots.
And then we grew up- and aside from the red roses from my husband, (which I do love) the whimsy of the holiday was kind of left behind with my youth.
Interestingly enough, I noticed today that Valentine’s day entered my adult life in a way that it hadn’t before. It came to life again for me. Why? I believe it is because we are all much more connected than we were – even a few short years ago. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest…my social media “go to” hubs all brought me closer to those I care about. I received wishes, got ideas, saw recipes and lovely pictures, articles and other Valentines related inspiration. I also received paperless post valentines from a few pals. I realized that it put me in the spirit and I felt a renewed sense of enthusiasm and just a little lift. I ran out to get cupcakes and cards for my husband and son. Having love and kindness on my mind had an impact on myself, and those around me.
Social Media, as we call it -can really indeed connect us…change our moods, make us feel a part of something bigger. As I reflect back upon my day, I do notice how important the little things are that keep us connected, inspired and a part of the conversation….
Re-learning the basics…
A few weeks ago I joined a group of 7 other extaordinary women entrepreneurs at a retreat at a beautiful hotel in Westlake CA. We worked on our businesses and gained clarity about what we wanted to create in the upcoming year. In addition to lots of movement and shifts I recognize 6 personal takeaways that have stuck with me from the time we spent together. These are things I have to re-learn all the time but they are important.
1. Don’t compare yourself to those around you. This goes for biz and life. Period.
2. Stay out of judging people and sizing people up with first impressions. Every time I slip and do this, I then learn the story and realize why I was wrong to do this.
3. Everyone has a story and everyone is dealing with something. It may be different than your something but it is just as important.
4. Unplugging from real life is where the creativity and magic can happen.
5. Women together are a powerful force and connecting with like minded women keeps you moving in the direction you want to go and you can stay inspired!
6. We all need a tribe. Who’s yours?
In my own backyard
So Halloween is over – and Christmas is right around the corner. Although it’s a little busy, November actually does offer us a natural pause. I like to try to look at it this way. In California, the weather still allows for outdoor time and I have been taking the opportunity to get plenty of fresh air while I still can. I have been enjoying beautiful hikes in my own neighborhood- the redwood parks nearby. It takes an extra 10 minutes to drive there but the mind shift I receive from doing so takes me a world away. I honestly get my best inspiration and ideas from those redwood trees- seriously- it does wonders for the creativity to completely change my perspective. What better way to do that than to physically “DO IT.” I can’t believe there are such amazing outdoor spaces right in my own “backyard.” I truly feel like I am in complete wilderness (and I mean that in the best possible way) There are winding creeks, towering redwoods, winding oak trees and lush carpets of greenery. If you are lucky enough to live somewhere that has it’s own slice of nature, use it to fuel your creativity and bring you fresh ideas. It could be a body of water, mountains, meadows or a park. 
It’s an amazing natural world out there. I highly recommend that you find the pause in your day or week that feeds your soul in this way. Often found in nature, “the pause” can be a touchstone for grounding me and connecting me to what I most need to hear from within at a given time. I would love to hear from some of you about how you push the pause button and get this time to connect with yourself.
Nine Things I learned from a Rockstar…
Nine things I learned from a Rock Star that helped me understand the modern day woman
1. We all have a song inside of us
2. We all want to be seen and heard
3. We want to share our gifts with the world
4. We want to be resonant, current, relevant with a message
5. We want to be a part of something bigger
6. We want to feel inspired and daring
7. We want to work our edge. Whatever that looks like for each of us…
8. Staying connected and in touch keeps you youthful. Communications/social media are an important part of staying connected and in many ways…young
9. We all want to sing our song to the world and have the world sing it back to us and reflect what it is that we stand for
Famous Last Words…(or first)
I am a quote collector and I want to share a few of my recent favorites here. Great for everyday inspiration!
“Every choice in life either makes you feel better or worse about yourself” – unknown
“The world is your runway, never stop modeling”. – Charleston Pierce
“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” -Bill Cosby
“Our job in this lifetime is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it.” – Steven Pressfield
Luck is preparation meeting opportunity – Oprah
All of your relationships are a reflection of who you are and who you could be. So, if you want to improve the relationship you have or find great love, you must take a close look in the mirror.” -Colette Baron-Reid
Women Who Shine Like Stars
In Their World…
Layne Gray
This month’s Celebrity Spotlight features San Francisco’s Layne Gray. Owner of Vivanista, a business that helps nonprofit organizations improve their fundraising through a spectrum of downloadable tools and fundraisers-in-a-box.
To learn more about my interview with Layne Gray, visit my Blog!
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