Hi All!This post is going to be short and perhaps a bit sporadic because I just returned from the most random NYC trip ever!!! I think the whole trip was healing and therefore a huge form of pampering myself. Great finale for this week's theme!My friend and I hopped in the car and traveled 5 hours to New York City this weekend even though the conference we were planning to attend no longer had tickets available. We sent a Couchsurfing request out, signed up for two random workshops in the city, threw random items in a suitcase and hopped in the car.The first thing we did when we arrived was BUY THE CAMERA I'VE WANTED FOR YEARS!!!!! Mainly because one of the workshops I signed up for the next day was a Digital Photography 101 course at a Farmer's Market in Manhattan!Earlier in the day I had received a message from Laura (an amazing woman I met in my online program) that she was going to be in NYC for a dance conference. So the second thing we did was meet her (first live meeting!) and her amazing world traveling friends for the best pizza I've ever had. They kindly offered us a place to stay for the night after the Couchsurfing request fell through. After watching a lively, heart felt African band (Sing Sing Rhythm) we went back to her friends place. He is a Photojournalist and his entire apartment is filled with inspiring, full of heart photos as well as travel books.Saturday we woke early and attended a Natural Makeup Workshop. Yay essential oils! Later in the afternoon I learned how to use my new camera and took pictures of the vibrant colors, people and patterns at the Farmer's Market!I am so refreshed and excited for life after spending the weekend talking, traveling and brainstorming with my friend Irene <3
Receiving Opportunities
This week is both liberating and terrifying because the universe has handed me an insane amount of opportunity and people. I am loving every second of it but recently found myself in a state of overwhelm - awesome overwhelm - but really not knowing where to focus my energy. In the past I would let this drag me down into negativity and I wouldn't accomplish much. Now that I have a better connection to my higher power I am able to let go and release my worries. When I feel the state of overwhelm, I can meditate and put the problem in a bubble and let it float away. Because I am focused on the present moment I am able to receive opportunities presented to me.I recently attended the Society of Women Engineers Region E Conference in Delaware and I mentioned to a woman in the Generational Communication seminar that I've been looking for a mentor. I did not mention to her the reason I wanted a mentor and to be honest I'm not sure if I had a clear picture of what I needed from a mentor (now I know it is to clarify my goals and to receive advice from someone who has walked the path to meet similar goals). She had to leave the session early, but she slipped me a note that said "I would love to be your mentor." She quickly followed up with me via email and we set up our first call last week! The best part of this story is that after she emailed me I found her on LinkedIn and realized she is an award winning author and has recently created a documentary (both things that I want to do in my life!). I was so excited because it felt as if I was meant to meet this woman and learn from her. The whole experience seemed serendipitous.I also recently met several vibrant women that either own their own business or are in the process of starting a business that are taking the same online business program as me. We have weekly accountability calls to discuss our goals and progress with the program homework. After just two accountability phone calls with them I see the world in a different way. They are supportive, caring, fun and love life! I occasionally forget that there are other like-minded women in the world and it has been beyond lovely to connect with these ladies!I am so excited about all of the happy, loving energy I am receiving and I truly believe it is because I am open to receiving and I actively communicate my intentions, thoughts and worries to my higher power.
My Identity - Communication and Connection
Good Evening Lovlies!A huge part of my identity is that I love to to communicate and connect to other people. I occasionally forget this part of me and turn inward but I have made a conscious effort to reach out to new people around me. I want to share a story that occurred at my usual coffee shop recently.--Frozen and windblown I walked in the back door of the Soul Full Cup with work on my mind and bags of work on my shoulders. I was unexpectedly greeted by a room full of college students and a live performer from Philly. Taken aback and aware that I wasn't going to accomplish any work related tasks, I almost turned around and walked out, but then I remembered I need to take time to enjoy life and interact with people!I squeezed through the masses, was able to score a free chamomile tea and a table right next to the singer. He had a messy guitar style, a smooth, distinct voice and a sense of humor. He played a great set and afterward I got up the nerve to ask if he’d let me buy him dinner. He said that would be great but he’s vegan so it might be difficult (I live in a small town).As he talked to the last stragglers leaving the coffee house, I frantically searched my smartphone for a vegan restaurant nearby. Luckily for me Orian was using Couchsurfing (a site where you can connect with kind souls who offer their couch to you during your travels) and his couch for the night knew of a nearby vegan restaurant – a quite fancy one at that. I spent the evening eating delicious vegan food and listening to local artists sing and play guitar on the couchsurfing’s host’s living room floor (which also happened to be a dance studio!). I had an amazing time and I am so glad that I didn't walk out of the coffee house without connecting with the great people I met that night.You can listen to Orion play "Where We're Going" below!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA0bzgv-Ado
Farmer's Market Fun
Last week at the Farmer’s Market, I groggily walked in and stood awkwardly in the doorway because I was a little early. I wasn’t feeling quite like my happy, bubbly self – until a little old woman cheerfully shouted “Come over here darling and try this lotion!”. She wasn’t selling the lotion – she was a customer, along with her doting husband.She took my hand and inspected it closely and agreed that they were quite dry and somewhat scaly (yes, I suffer from extremely, dry winter skin). She immediately applied a dollop of homemade lotion and instructed me to rub it in. While I was soothing my hands with the oil based lotion she patted my back and with a soulful grin said “We girls need to stick together! Even though I could be your grandma, we are soul sisters!”I was filled with warmth, a genuine happiness, and a feeling of true connection to this woman. Amazing things can happen when you put down technology and open yourself up to the people of the world.