The first week of 2021 has been quite eventful. I, myself, find that I need to stop, breathe, and once again, trust that everything will work out well in the end. So that is what I’m doing. I’m breathing. I’m using gratitude to remind myself that life is good. That most people are good. That life is a gift.

Wherever you are…take a moment. Start with a deep breath and begin thinking about all you’re grateful for. The list is far longer than the things that are troubling us.

Grateful for: my husband, children, friends, family.

Grateful for sunshine, rain, the ocean and beach.

Grateful for a job, a roof, food.

Grateful for good people, freedom, life.

Stop, breathe, and count your blessings. They far outweigh the troubles.

In life we come to so many crossroads. We encounter so many varied paths and it is up to us to make the choice of which way to go.

It can be so confusing. We want to make the right choice. The wrong one can lead to hardships, difficulties, and challenges. The right one will lead to happiness, peacefulness, and contentment.

Paths have curves, stairs, go up, go down. Some look easy. Some look hard. Some lead to dead ends. Some lead to light. So many varied paths and ways to go.

So with all the paths, how do you choose? Which way should you go?

Experience has taught me to wait.

Watch. Pray. Listen.

The answer will come. The right way will show itself. Choosing correctly takes time and patience. It is worth the wait. It is worth the energy.

So that’s what I’m doing right now. I’m watching. Praying. Listening. I’m waiting for the answer to reveal itself so I’ll know the right path to take.

We all can get caught up with feeling overwhelmed and feel we stand alone against the world. The truth is, we are never alone. So many others are going through similar situations, having similar feelings. The key, I have found, is to stop overthinking and start doing. Even one small step forward helps build our momentum so we can continue forward and help us build the confidence that “WE CAN” rather than “we can’t.”

Cheers to small steps forward. Cheers to recognizing that we are capable. Cheers to standing strong and recognizing that we can overcome.

All I can say about 2020 is I survived it.

May 2021 be gentle with us, be uneventful, and may we all heal emotionally and physically from 2020.

The start of a new year means the sky’s the limit. We get to begin anew. We get to start writing a new book with 365 pages in it. What will your book say? You are in charge of what it says. You determine how this story goes by the choices you make. What a beautiful gift. You can choose positiveness. You can choose kindness. You can choose forgiveness. You can choose love.

My friends, choose wisely.

I’m going forward into 2021 with hope, determination, love, faith, and the trust that in the end, I gave it my all. It is enough.

is always possible and it’s never too late.

Sometimes we realize later in life the mistakes we made when we were younger. Once you learn more about yourself and the “whys” of your choices you’re able to be better, do better.

That’s my goal now. To be better. To do better. To be the best I can be because now I know more. I am wiser.

Never stop learning or growing. It doesn’t matter how old you are.

Learning and growing are ageless.

Water is life giving. Without it we die. Life dies. It’s similar to love. Love is life giving. Without it we die. We shrivel up and stop living fully.

Even just a tiny drop can change a life. Have you ever received an unexpected hug or kindness? That was a drop of love. It made a difference. Think about how easy it would be to share a drop of love. It’s life giving. It gives hope. It changes lives.

Start today. Start passing out drops of love. You’ll make a difference.

The unknown is scary. It is an uncomfortable feeling.

The unknown can go sideways. It can be good or bad.

The unknown makes anxiety grow. Stress take over.

We will encounter a lot of unknowns in our lives.

The key is to breathe. Pray. To trust that whatever happens will be the right thing for you. It may mean some tough times. Yet, in the end, everything will be the way it should be.

It’s hard to trust the unknown. It’s scary. There is always a path through it.

Just believe.

Merry Christmas!

Be grateful for the gift of life, love, and the beauty that surrounds us daily.

If you’re blessed with family and friends, cherish them.

If you’re blessed to give and receive, be thankful.

Make memories with those you love. Memories are the gift that you get to keep forever. Memories are the true gift of life.

Merry Christmas!

Look closer.

Look inside yourself.

Examine.

Now breathe.

You are beautifully created.

You are on the planet for a purpose.

Go live it!

Belief. Trust. Faith.

These traits do not come easily to all people. However, they do come easily to me. I’ve encountered many difficult and challenging times and yet my constant, my go to, is faith. My heart believes. My soul trusts.

Every. Single. Time.

I’m so grateful too, because through all the hardships, once on the other side, I know that my faith, trust, and belief, never failed me. I made it. My heart may be scarred but it is whole and it continues to be filled with love. I live each day, go through each challenge, with faith, trust and the belief that somehow everything will be okay, in time.

Somewhere, in the last 26 years, I’ve lost myself. It was a slow progression. One I didn’t notice until now.

My children are mostly grown and out doing their own thing. My partner in life is doing his own thing. I’m left lost, finding myself sitting alone wondering…now what?

I’m no longer the strong, daring, half crazy, risk everything woman I was in my twenties. Instead, I’m a lost, tired, worn out woman in her mid fifties.

I find I’m asking myself…Who am I? What do I like? What do I like to do? What brings me joy? I’m not talking about the basics here…of course my children bring me joy. I’m talking about me. My core. Who am I now after being worn down by life? After years of putting everyone’s needs before my own?

I am on a new journey. I’m on a quest to find that strong, capable, daring, half crazy woman again and combine her to who I am today. I believe I will like this woman I find at the end of my journey.

Silence is powerful. When was the last time you sat in silence? No television, phone, music, noise?

Silence can be helpful. Silence can give you the time and space you need to find answers.

Silence can cure. Silence can provide you with the time necessary to take care of your heart and soul.

Silence can enlighten. When you’re silent, others have an opportunity to share and by listening you can be enlightened.

Silence can be magical. When you and a special someone can sit comfortably in silence and you look at them and realize there is no other place you’d rather be, that is magic.

Silence is important to the heart and soul. So the next time you go for a walk, hike, or even sit on the beach, don’t put those earbuds in. Instead, enjoy the silence. Listen. For silence is where the answers are.