Finally took a stand!

So I never read the books, and I have heard that they are better than the movies- but after seeing the movies I cannot bring myself to read the books.

Who can guess what series I am talking about?

Anyone guess Twilight? You would be correct.

I watched the first movie, way after it was released on video because I was not really interested in it to begin with. Then obviously I watched the second because it was primarily focused on Jacob... And then I just had to keep watching to know what happened, even though I had already made my girlfriends tell me the entire plot.

The movies were not very good, that's actually kind of an understatement, but let's be fair and just go with not very good as a description. I could not stand Bella in the first three movies and part one of Breaking Dawn for that matter. She was so......... what's the word I'm looking for......... wimpy? annoying? painful? irritating? I'm sure there are more that would be just as accurate but let's stick with those ones.

Bella was obsessed with becoming what Edward (the vampire- for those of you who have no idea what I am talking about) wanted. She just wanted to be his. There was no sense of who the hell she was as an individual. She defined herself by whether or not Edward loved her. It drove me NUTS!!! She had no personality or gumption or spunk (kind of the same thing as gumption) or backbone, well you get the idea.

Then I watched the final installment of the Twilight Saga and I was pleasantly surprised. Suddenly she had a fire and spirit to her; she yelled, she fought, she showed sadness and determination. Bella became a living character, even though she was technically dead because she had been turned into a vampire when she almost died giving birth to her half vampire, half human daughter. Now Bella had something to fight for.

I actually enjoyed watching this last movie because they all had something to fight for. They were finally standing for something worth while and it showed their strength of character and their bonds for each other. Whether you like the series or not this last movie at least moved me into wanting to stand with them.

Moral of the story? If you are going to be on this planet then figure out what you stand for and stand for it whole hardheartedly or else you will continue to be a lost soul like the ridiculously annoying Bella Swan.

I'm just saying...

Creation

I have always loved being creative; whether it's through painting, dancing, writing, collage'ing (I LOVE mod podge), or bead work. Writing is the one form that I use the most consistently. It is the easiest way for me to stay connected to source because I find a way to loose myself when I write, sort of like what happens to me when I do yoga or go swimming.

Last weekend we painted at Mission Development Camp, an event that I was part of. Our objective was to paint our vision of the world when our mission is being fulfilled. I began painting with NO idea of what I wanted to create. I know what I want the world to be like, and feel like- and for such a visual person, I thought I knew what I wanted it to look like... I had nothing. I just started. I trusted that the vision would create itself through me, that I was to just be the person with the brush and that some higher power was going to be the one actually painting.

In the end I LOVE my piece. I had fun just going with whatever happened and I am really happy with my end result. I was so happy in fact that when I returned home I was still buzzing and I knew I had to paint something else. I was not really sure what that was going to be, I just knew I had to do it and trust.

I messaged the artist who facilitated our art last weekend and asked him to come up with some boundaries or an objective for me. I have realized that I strive when I have lines I am meant to stay within. THEN I can bust through them however I want. Whereas when I have a fully blank canvas I have no idea where to start.

He said: "Emergence comes to mind first. Spring equinox inspiring some new changes, seeds into flowers"

I went to the art store with one idea of what canvas sizes I wanted. I allowed myself to be called to something different.

Here's what I created.

  They can hang side by side or separately. I love them and I am very proud of the way I just had fun creating these and how they have turned out! 

Presence

What does it mean? What the heck is the definition of presence?

Well according to dictionary.com, I scrolled down to the bottom and decided to use what they have under the World English Dictionary:

— n
1.	the state or fact of being present
2.	the immediate proximity of a person or thing
3.	personal appearance or bearing, esp of a dignified nature
4.	an imposing or dignified personality
5.	an invisible spirit felt to be nearby

Last year I was dating someone. We had been together for about three months. We worked an event together and it was the last straw, so to speak, for me. I am extremely fortunate that I work with some of my closest and most amazing friends who tell me what they think without sugar coating it. One of them said to me that it was hard to imagine us together. When I asked him why? His response went something like this, "Well I always pictured you with something different. Like someone with.... you know... Presence." I feel like it's important to note that when he spoke the word presence he stood really tall and powerfully. At that moment I understood that "Presence" is exactly what I wanted. 

Last week while at an event I was immediately pulled to one of the guys there. He had presence. I payed attention to how I felt around him throughout the weekend and discovered, that sure enough when he was less confident or not in his power, he was less present and I was then less attracted. This process was really fascinating for me because now not only did I understand it but I felt the difference. 

Presence for me is about standing in your power. It does not mean that you are the life of the party, or that you are the quite observer or that you are that one who always has the answers. It simply means that you own exactly who you are at any given moment and you show up as fully as possible. 

As a woman it takes about 3 seconds to know if the man she desires is present or not. Men, take note that when you are not present shit may come flying at you and you won't have the good sense to duck! 

I have said this a few times over the course of the last few days; I want a man who can stand in the fire of the chaos that is me, and that I can be playful with. Which translates to, a man who is present to me and all that I bring AND is will of laugh at my quirkiness AND more importantly call it out of me. 

Presence has now become the one word to encompass it all. The Universe and I have an understanding as to what that word holds in full :-)
 
 

Possibility

When you have an incredible team of people behind you, supporting you at 100%, what could you possibly accomplish?!

This past weekend I was part of a team like this. I got to facilitate, participate, coach and assist throughout the weekend. Really I did whatever was called out for me or needed of me and I had the most phenomenally supportive team I could possibly ask for.

Ideas From The Heart is a company with a new way of doing personal development. Want to know the secret? It's personal!!! Do they want to affect major change in the world? Yes. Are they playing a big game? Yes. Are they taking it one step at a time and making sure they build strong relationships? YES!

This last piece is crazy important to me. I love being part of massive events and yet my heart sings more when there are fewer people in the room and the connections that get created are more intimate and therefore both memorable and supportive.

I had such a marvelous experience this past weekend with everyone single one of the everyday heroes that showed up! I am so extremely grateful to my beautiful friends Ben Patwa and Anthony Lee who are not only spear heading this company, they are also providing a magical space for people to show up exactly as they are, in their gifts and empowering them to UNLEASH THEIR HEROIC VOICE!!! BAM!

Changes

We have a saying at my job, "pain is inevitable, suffering is optional". Sometimes I think we need another that says something like, "change is inevitable, movement is optional".

No matter what happens in your life it is guaranteed to change. Nothing ever stays the same. Every second of your life you are changing and evolving. The question then becomes will you move with the change or stay where you are like the cliffs that the waves continue to crash into...

The one thing that I can always be certain of with the company that I work for is that things are constantly changing. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not so much but always for a reason that we may or may not see.

There is one more thing that I know for certain about this company and it's that every single person that is a part of it currently is a part of it at this time for a reason. There is a major change or shift coming and we are the ones to hold the load and move it forwards, or sideways; really we will move it in the direction it needs to go.

One of our management team member is moving on in a week and although I am sad I am also very happy for her. Admittedly I am also anxious to see what her departure will mean for the movement of the company... Ultimately I know that things are coming to a head and that there is an incredible team poised to lift and shift the company wherever it needs to go. Please just trust the people who are on this team for we are all part of the greater mission.

Ironically the company I have written about posted this to their Facebook page last night. I saw it after I wrote this post.

Fun Love

This past Saturday my gorgeous friend Erin married her best friend Marc and I could not possibly be any happier for them.

I do not normally hang out with the happy couple together so watching them interact throughout the day of their nuptials was a thrill! As a matter of fact watching several young couples together was wonderful. I got to bear witness into what their relationships look like and I really enjoyed it.

These four couples have very different and yet similar interactions. Erin & Marc both have very unique senses of humor, Erin can be very demanding and Marc manages to hold his ground and sway her when needed... Actually funny enough that's probably what I would say for each of these pairs.

Each and every person in these pictures has a unique personality that is highlighted by the person with their arm wrapped around them. They are goofy and serious at the same time. They understand each other, make fun of each other and stand by each other.

Saturday I got to witness the kind of relationship I want to create through these four adorable couples. I am grateful for the inspiration! Love you guys xoxox