it is time to begin

The summer is quickly ending
And September feels like the time to begin

I have so many things I want to start
Projects put on the back burner
Thoughts never written down

It feels like the new year to me
I am ready

Ready to
~ Get into action, and start working out again
~ Carve out a space for me to create
~ Create healthy enjoyable meals
~ Get that book going
~ Connect more deeply with creative souls
~ Learn spanish
~ Create more tradtions
~ Start the projects I say I am going to start
~ Then follow those projects through to completion

What are you ready to begin?
Want to do it together?
Hold each other accountable, check in along the way?

I could use a partner in crime, how about you?
Lets take flight together

moments unfolding

Reflecting on the memories
Sharing stories about our camera adventures
The rain falling
Ducking into a little bar to chat
A warm glass of brandy warming our chilled bones
The streets of Brooklyn guiding us
Train after train, after train to get home
Lost in thoughts
Happiness abounding
Grateful for my ability to take a risk
Step outside of my comfort zone
Let the world unfold in front of me

being present

Navigating my way between two jobs
Finding my path on my creative journey
All the while nourishing my relationships
And finding some time to soak in alone

Trying to balance each of these things
And appreciate them when I am deep in them
Not wanting to be anywhere else
Except exactly where I am

Trying to stay present

Love Notes Post Card Project

At times it can feel like a chore going to pick up the mail because you know exactly what is in there.  But what if that changed?  What if a hand written post card sat nestled in between the bills?  Words written down on paper for you to hold in your hands and soak in.  A little sliver of sunshine arriving unexpectedly, just for you. 

What if you had the opportunity to bring this sunshine to someone else's mailbox?  Picking up a pen and writing your own words down.  Sharing pieces of your story and words from your heart for them to soak in.  Would you want to be a part of it? 

Social media is great for staying in touch and easily communicating with friends, but there is something so lovely about holding a real piece of paper in your hands.  Seeing someone else's handwriting and feasting on what they h ave shared brings the story to a different level. 

These thoughts are what sparked the idea of for the Love Notes Post Card Project.  Words shared on a post card, mailed to someone you may or may not know.  Hearts opening, sunshine arriving, connections unfolding. 

This three week project brings the opportunity for sunshine to be sent through the mail by responding to a simple writing prompt.  Head on over to here to find out more about it and to sign up.  I hope you will join in. The project begins August 19th. 

the moments

Life is about the moments
The unexpected things that happen between the plans you make
The small pockets of time that lead you down a new path
Connecting with individuals you just met
Laughing over a shared experience
Creating something from a few minutes spent together

Riding your bike to the lighthouse than jumping into the sea for a swim
Sitting along the Hudson, talking about life and all that you hope it will be
Finding a lake when you decide to take the long way home
Sitting along the waters edge sharing cookies and stories
Going out for drinks with friends and meeting the love of your life

The moments you did not plan for
Become the memories that you will never forget
Keeping an open mind and an open heart allows these moments to happen
Each one created in it's own time unfolding as it is meant to
A life time of moments filling us up and weaving us together

beauty

The rain my pour
But there is always beauty to be found

What beauty surounds you today

beauty is within us

We can quickly look at others lives and think they are so perfect, so right, so organized
But we are only getting a glimpse at their stories
We do not know what is underneath
The scars and heartache 
Wounds that haven't healed and struggles that can feel like quicksand 
It can be easy to see only the good things 
To wish for the perceived perfection 
But their is no such thing as perfection
There is only perception and our inablitiy
To accept and appreciate the divine beauty that lives withn each of us

because

Because we are all struggling in some way
Unsure of the next step to take
Questioning the one we just took
Looking forward with hope and fear

Because we all do not do it as quickly as we planned
Good intentions set
Life flying by
Guilt building up over the delay

Because none of us are perfect
All we can do is try each day
Sometimes we do not try as hard, and that is ok
Other days we push forward, full force

Because sometimes we do not get it right
We may do it again
We may never even think about trying
Or we may accept it turned out as it should

Because the world didn't give up on you
So don't give up on the world
Hold on tight and reach out slightly
Feel the gentle nudge to move

beauty

You must seek out the beauty in the every day moments
Things change quickly
Stay present
Stay true
Keep moving forward

see you soon

What you should know
Is that I am terrible at saying goodbye
Especially when a good friend is leaving
I usually avoid it, quietly slipping away
Unsure of what to say in those last few moments

It feels to permanent to me
It is tough to see it all change
Here one day, gone the next
Daily routines altered
Life moving on at a quick pace

My life has recently changed
A good friend from work is going on a new adventure
I am proud of him for making the leap
Excited to see what doors will be opening up for him
But I am sad to see him go

We had great conversations
We kept each other in check and grounded
And he talked me down form the ledge a couple of times
We got coffee together every morning
And shared more than a few lunches

He was a part of my daily routine
A constant in the ever changing dynamic at work
We would talk, and listen
Dig deep, and laugh
We became good friends

It is going to be different tomorrow morning
When I walk down the hallway seeing his empty desk
Knowing he is off learning, growing, becoming
I am proud of him, and excited for him
And wish him the best of luck on his new adventure

Life moves by quickly
Constantly changing
It is important to appreciate the moments
Right when you are in them, stop and soak them in
Because one day it will be different

And as you know
I am terrible at saying goodbye
So we didn't say it
Instead we said
See you soon