Choosing to Stop Traveling (For Now)

This year I made a BIG decision. I decided to give up my successful 10 year career in banking to go travel the world. I was lucky, I found two other girls willing to do the same, willing to give up everything to go on this journey together. This type opportunity was once in a lifetime, and was one I could NOT refuse.

So off we go. Thailand for a month. Vietnam for three weeks. Cambodia for a few days. Bali for a month. My life is just SO awesome, right?! I just have it so good, right? I am just SOOOO lucky!!

Don't be so quick to judge. It's quite easy to assume other's situations are amazing, great, terrible, etc. But looking from the outside in, it's merely your illusion of how you assume their life is based on your reality. Just because someone is traveling the world doesn't mean they're the happiest person in the world and have it the best, and just because someone is poor and has dirty clothes doesn't mean they're unhappy or have it the worst, either.  I think studies have been done that have proven those with less are actually, happier.

Don't get me wrong, I am very blessed, and am very lucky to have traveled to all the places I have traveled to. But as of now, I think I'm over it. For the longest time I think I was searching. For what I didn't know exactly, but I just knew going to these exotic places would help round out, or fill in rather, all the gaps I was feeling inside, right?  That these places had the answer!  Little did I know these places helped ME find the answer.

The answer is not anywhere "out there."  I had to learn that I had the power, for everything.  For success, happiness, for love, strength, courage, all of this lies within me, within you, too.  Sometimes you have to get to a point of total confusion and delusion to realize that YOU are the only one who has the power to change your life.  

If you are unhappy about something, change it, or change your perspective on it. If something or someone stresses you out, stop doing it or stop hanging around them. If you hate your job, stop complaining about it and get anther one, or change your perspective on it.

Changing your perspective, challenging yourself, and stepping outside your box breaks down barriers allowing new energies to form and grow.  And that's what changes your life!  

We all have this capability within us, and the answer is not far, not in a far away land or in a new designer purse or new pair of boots.  The answer is not even a foot away, the answer is YOU.

Will I ever travel again?  Damn right!  But my intention will be different.  Sharing life with my family and friends is what I've learned brings value and happiness to me in my life.  And traveling with them will only be the icing on the cake!  :)

Intuitive Palm Reading

"Those that don't believe in magic will never find it."

I believe in magic. I believe in many things, as I believe we are not aware of the unlimited possibilities that lie within us, on this planet, and beyond.

This week in Bali I went to visit an intuitive palm reader named Angus Sihman.



When I first walked in I was blown away by the serenity, sweet smells and sound of running water. Describing this place as beautiful is an understatement.



We signed in and waited patiently in his small waiting area. His daughter was running around with her stuffed animals throwing them behind our couches, enticing us to play with her, which worked. She was full of light. Unsure when the session would start I quickly ran to the restroom. Have you ever seen a restroom so cool?? It was basically outside! :)



After returning soon enough here comes Angus with his blue Aladdin like headband and SUPER long fingernails! I'd never seen fingernails like this in person, only on TV. His presence was strong.

There were actually four of us who set up appointments to meet with him. When he came over he asked us who wanted to go first. I looked at my friend who initially found Angus to set up the appointments and asked if she wanted to, and she casually said no it doesn't matter. The other girls looked around and hesitated so I said SURE, I WILL!

He led me down the side of his beautiful entrance terrace to an open room with two day-bed type beds on either side of the room. The floor in between the beds was with outlined with flowers in a rectangular shape with incense burning on the right side of the room. He told me to put my stuff on that bed and to "turn off my mobile phone." He invited me over to sit with him on his bed. He first asked me if I wanted this to be a palm reading or energy session. I said, "umm a little both?"

As I sat on his right side, he asked for my left hand and he pressed one of his hands into mine for a good 20 seconds with his eyes closed. I closed mine too in an attempt to feel the energy he was channeling. Then of course I stopped to look at him to watch what he was doing. The way he worked was so cute. He asked if I had any questions, which I did. He would look at my palm with a magnifying glass, then put it down and grab my hand and hold it while we talked. We interacted, chatted and held hands, and the messages he gave me were very interesting and special. I will keep them to myself in attempt not to jinx anything, as I was pretty happy with my reading.  :)

I know some may not "believe" in this, but I do. I do not take everything they say to heart, or as the absolute truth, more so a check and balance on things. Also, every choice you make can also redirect your future, so depending on the next choices you make you could be redirecting your future and what you just heard could essentially be void. Makes sense right?

Anyway, I highly encourage you to Google "Energy Healing" or "Intuitives" in your home town. Go see one. See what they have to say. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the positive energy you'll experience with them and the information you could discover, and be surprised that they knew. :)

My 1st Buddhist Temple Experience

Ever since first stepping foot in Thailand in 2011 I knew it was a special place.  It touched me to the core and ever since it's been a place I've never wanted to or have been able to forget.  Buddhism has a special place in my heart, soul and mind, and today I had my first real Buddhist Temple experience - in Thailand.  I was blown away.  

Before we entered the temple we walked on the outskirts of the grounds being able to view this giant Buddha from afar. As we got to the main entrance of the temple we took off our shoes and listened carefully to the directions on what we needed to do. In the front there was an alter where we needed to stop and make our blessings. There were candles, incense and flowers. The first thing we needed to do was light our candle and place it on the rack with the other burning candles. We then lit our incense and placed that with the other incense and the same with the flowers. We then kneeled down in front of the alter and privately said a blessing. We also blessed the Buddha, the teachings and the Monks by placing our hands near our third eye and bowing our head to the floor three times. Also included in our "entry packet" was a small stack of thin gold sheet stickers. Once our blessings were finished we put a gold "sticker" on each of the five Buddha statues in the background.

After this we were off walking around the temple. Little did I know I was about to get to see this big gold beauty up close and personal!

If you look closely you will see it is made up of many small golden tiles.

In no way did I expect to see a Buddha of this size, beauty or stature. I was captivated. I had a couple moments of my emotions almost starting to pour out, but I held it together. At this point anyway. We continued walking around the temple and slowly made our way out after in depth discussions on the history of Buddha. In all of my readings I did not realize that the Thai people and the Chinese viewed Buddha differently. I thought they all thought of Buddha as the same man. In short I think they do - it's more so the history that's different. Wow - doesn't that sound like all types of religion...

When I left that temple my soul felt SO full. A piece of my puzzle was finally found which now put me one step further in my journey of life.  

I hope each and every one of you are able to experience something as beautiful as I did today.  Namaste.  :)

Sensory Overload

Over the past couple of months that I've been preparing for my backpacking adventure, I've noticed all my senses have been heightened. The same walk to work over the past four+ years has suddenly become more alarming, sensory wise. 

I'm noticing every sound, site and smell around me. All of the sudden the same sounds I was use became overbearing. It's actually been a beautiful experience, but also very jolting. I've almost found myself ducking and dodging all the chaos around me. Cars whizzing past slamming on their horns, loud truck and bus exhaust, police sirens....were suddenly more abrasive. 

It's amazing that I've become so in tune with myself and things around me.  Really, how beautiful is that?!  How could I have all of the sudden noticed so many different things on the same path I've taken for almost five years?  I am opening up.  I have cracked my soul open to the universe.  I have requested it's guidance and assistance to help me on this journey - and I think it's doing its job. I am receiving new feelings to help place me in the direction I need to be going.

Fast forward to today - I'm in NYC for work.  Talk about sensory overload. 

As if what I was experiencing in my day to day walks at home wasn't alarming enough, I can barely keep my head on straight here.  SO many people walking in EVERY direction bumping into you, smells, sights, sounds, construction.... UGH.  I've been to NYC before - but as my senses are much more sensitive these days - I'm really able to conclude how ready I am for this next chapter of my life.  It really solidifies my thoughts and feelings on the direction I want to go, and the surroundings my soul is craving - which is more like the below.  I took this picture when I was in Thailand in 2011.  :) 

 

It's amazing the new things you can discover when you think you aren't making progress.  Really, we are slowly evolving in the direction we need to be going.  Sometimes these realizations take time, and can abruptly be realized, but they've really been in progress for quite some time. 

Listen to yourself, to that little voice inside you.  Maybe you've been at the same job for 10 years - do you feel the same as you did when you started?  We are all evolving and it is part of our own responsibility to listen to our hearts - and take charge of our lives. 

I will not suffer anymore.  I will follow my heart, that little birdy singing inside me.  It's sure as hell risky but I will no longer sit at my desk and wonder "what will I eventually do with my life?"  I am now taking charge, risk and all, and regardless of the outcome I know it will be worth it!

Are you happy?  Don't let money or bills take over your power.  You can downsize your home, reduce your expenses.  It can be done based off where YOU place the importance.  ;)

Namaste.
 

The Power of Kindness

What a beautiful Saturday it was. 82° and barely a cloud in the sky. A local food truck competition was right down the street. What a perfect day! I prepared myself for the weather, and the experience, and we were on our way. 

As much as I hate to admit it, I've never tried the food trucks here before. This experience was new and interesting, but honestly I was a little nervous to eat the food as I passed the foggy exhaust pumping from behind the trucks.  Ummmmmmmmmm. Turns out this was a huge event. You pay $35 and get to sample something from each of the 10+ food trucks! Damn at least 10 tacos? That's too much food and I had a Katt Williams concert to attend in a few hours. I attempted to go by an individual taco from one of the food trucks and they said, "SORRY, you have to have the band, the complete food truck package." Again, I wasn't up for a feast so we decided to go grab some food down the street. We decided on world famous Price's Chicken Coop! 

 

If you know anything about this place, it's always packed and crazy with a multitude of lines happening at the same time! We slithered to the far left and waited patiently. This place is famous for fried chicken, but I was craving chicken tenders I couldn't wait to ask the attendant if they had any. We encountered an older white lady, with such a sweet face. I curiously asked if they had chicken tenders, and she gave me this look and said, "No honey we only have chicken on the BONE." She said this was such a sweet sincere tone, but gave me this look like GIRL DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, you should have known better than to ask that question!! :) We were hungry and weren't sure what to order so we asked her advice. Over and over again she recommended the hush puppies - and dark meat chicken package. I told her I loved the "Bo-rounds" that I had one time before. (They are similar to small round fried hash browns.)  Oh no, she gave me ANOTHER look, like GIRLFRIEND NO YOU DIDN'T CALL OUR FRIED POTATOES BO-ROUNDS!!! Oh sweet lady "I'm so sorry" I said! She knew I was asking ridiculous questions, and we were both recognizing and enjoying the banter we were exchanging. It was such a sweet little thing we had going back-and-forth with each other, over hush puppies, fried potatoes and chicken. :) We ended up with a great rapport and took the recommendation on the dark meat package with hush puppies - and POTATO ROUNDS.

 

There were probably 10 active lines in this place with over 20 people in the building.  But we were talking like we were sipping sweet lemonade on a sunny country day.  No worries in the world, no pressure, and no where to be. I was impressed with her calm.

I couldn't help but I have a connection with the sweet older woman, her kindness was so heavenly, open, and free, you couldn't miss it. She was so engaging and I was captured by her sincerity. She then turned and looked to me and said, "Do you know why I love my job? Because I get to talk to people, like you. I love being around people and making conversation. Make sure you do what you love, because if you do what you love you will always be happy. I sat behind a desk for 30 years, and I quit my job to do this. I make a third of what I used to make, and I'm so happy." My heart was over flowing with emotion, , shock, joy, happiness, and amazement as I felt like this lady was placed into my life, at this moment, for a reason. If she only knew the exact situation I'm currently in. I turned to her and I said, "Guess what? I've been sitting behind a desk for 10 years and me and a couple of my friends on the verge of making a life changing decision, very similar to yours!" And she gave me that look again and said "YOU GO GIRL" and we gave each other a high-five! Our food was suddenly ready and we were on our way.  We were both blown away by this woman.  I wish I would've asked what her name was. But that sweet moment that her and I exchanged will never be forgotten. 

Sometimes in life the most random things happen. The timing is so bizarre you can't help but think it happened for a reason. We yearn for these type moments. It's in these moments that you are truly living in the present. Time stops and you are fully and completely engaged in the now.  It strikes you to the core, to the bone, and your heart is touched. 

Never under estimate the power of a smile, a sincere heart, and a genuine person. Kindness can change the world. I truly believe that, and that is now my mission. To prove how the power of love, the power of being kind, can make a bigger impact on the world than anyone realizes.  

Be the change you want to see in the world.  -Gandhi
 

Frequencies.

"...but for me this remote house, this island, was the best place to be. It's a place to break off the antennas on top of buildings, to break away from those frequencies, to break away from everybody's hustle and negativity. A place to reconnect with your own strength. I advise everyone to find an island in this life. Find a place where this culture can't take energy from you, sap your will and originality. Since anything physical can be mental, that island can be your home. Turn off the electromagnetic waves being forced upon you, the countless invisible forces coming at you all the time."

-RZA, The Tao of Wu

The TAO of WU. The Rza.

I started a new book today, "The Tao of Wu" by The Rza. I am on page 6 and my mind is already blown. I wanted to share a awesome excerpt I just read.

"We are all Wu-Tang. You are Wu-Tang. If you ever stood on a mountain or by an ocean and felt a deep connection, a vast infinite presence inside you, you felt it: what Taoists call Oneness, Muslims call Allah, others called God. That's what I felt on Wu-Tang Mountain, but it's also what I fell in Staten Island and even Dumont Avenue in Brooklyn – only dimmer, quieter.  Allah's truth is within us all, all the time – a seed waiting for light to help it grow. Wisdom is the light."

Lite Headed - Disconnected & Loving It

Have you ever had those days where you feel light headed, but not in a bad way?  I sometimes wonder if on these days am I close to accessing other planes, other ways of seeing, thinking and feeling?!

It's so interesting.  On these days when I'm walking around I feel as if I'm floating.  My thoughts are no longer on the ground, they are in the sky.  I feel so happy, disconnected to all the trivial stresses of life.  Should I meditate on these days?  Am I almost THERE?  It's as if I am walking around smiling with clouds in my head.

The feeling is almost indescribable, so beautiful that it's almost scary!  Maybe I am about to pass out?  Did I drink too much wine last night?  ;)

What this tells me is we should always be mindful to what we are FEELING.  Take EVERY opportunity you can to open your mind, your thoughts and heart.  You could discover something amazing!

 

Connections & Leave Behind?

Time evolves.  Connections are made.  What will you leave behind?

Today I saw the most amazing movie, The Words.  A movie about an ambitious writer that could never catch a break, until he made a decision that would change his life forever.  The emotions that started to pour out of me shook me to the core.  I immediately reflected on all the amazing moments and connections I've made in my life.  The story line was so real, so relatable.  It created one of those moments where I FELT my outlook on life, and REALITY, change.  A couple hours later I had to watch it again.  

Have you ever met someone and you felt like you've known them forever?  Have you had that friendship or romance that blossomed out of nowhere, took you to places you've never been, then quickly dissipated into thin air?  Where do these people go?  Where do these situations go?  Why were they so short lived?  Why did it end?  How and why did I meet them in the first place? 

These moments ARE amazing.  Some are lucky to have them last longer than others. These "moments" are forever sacred and can never be taken away.  No matter how long or short, each second of ecstasy, of pure bliss, is a blessing.  We must cherish those feelings forever.  Understand that our lives are better for having experienced something so beautiful, even if only for a second. 

I grew up hearing stories that ended with "happily ever after."  I've longed and planned on being married, having that story book life that everyone knows about.  Well, it's not the 1920's anymore.  Think about how people "connect" these days.  Texting.  Emailing.  Snapchatting.  Dancing.  Talking.  Skyping.  Facebooking.  There are more ways to "connect" with others than ever before.  Since the opportunity to connect is so plentiful, do we cherish and appreciate our connections the same way as we did years ago?  Think about it, in the 1920's there was no internet, no texting.  True connections, authentic and long lasting, forever bonded those in that era.  Divorce didn't happen.  Families stayed together.  Why?  Fast forward to today, people rarely talk on the phone anymore.  The US Postal Service could potentially go out of business because people don't write letters or use standard mail as much.  Everything is digital and expedited.  You can book a flight and schedule a dinner reservation by the click of a button.  The divorce rate is also above 50%.  Is there a weird correlation here?  Do exponential opportunities to connect reduce the authenticity and appreciation we have for those associated with these connections?

With all that, we all do our best.  Life is scary, life is beautiful, and life is worth it. 

I never considered myself much of a writer, but this movie inspired me to write this.  What lasts through generations?  What can be passed on forever?  Stories.  Books.  Teachings.  Writing.  My outlook on life is constantly evolving, and I often cant make sense of all the thoughts swirling around in my head.  This blog has been a fun outlet to share MY view of the world and my thoughts.  I do know something that is constant, and what is universal, and that is LOVE.  We all feel it.  We all need it.  Feelings and connections with other people - that is what's real and that's what makes the world go round.  Every interaction, no matter how small or short lived, changes everything.  

Embrace every moment.  Be kind.  Write about it.  How will you change the world for the better?  What will you leave behind?  

I hope to inspire you, challenge you, and put at least one smile on your face.  Never underestimate the power of a smile.    

Life is short

Wow - I just read an article in the newspaper that a local executive died unexpectedly.  When I opened the article and saw the picture I was stunned.  I know this woman, she lives in my building.  Actually, I just saw her a couple days ago in our lobby.  She supposedly died while on a business trip and it appears to be of natural causes.

To see someone so close to the time they pass, especially when you KNOW them - is a very eerie feeling.  Was death really staring me in the face days ago and I didn't know it?  Thousands of thoughts it creates in your mind.... 

Why does it take times of strife, grief and sadness to incorporate change in our lives?  Why do you not know what you have until its gone?  It boggles my mind that so much of life can pass you by before you actually start LIVING. 

Take those chances.  Say I LOVE YOU.  Feed your soul what it's asking for.  Life is too short.  Don't delay.  Start now.  <3

Laugh at the sky

 

How many times throughout the day do you find yourself wishing you were somewhere else, or wanting this, or wishing you had that?  Probably often, right!?

We are all guilty of this. For some reason it seems more common to loathe and long for what you don't have, versus reflecting on your current situation and appreciating what we do have. 

I see this all the time with friends and family, and even catch myself doing this. We are only deploying negative energies into our subconscious the more and more we long and loathe for things. Our subconscious tracks all thoughts and feelings, positive and negative, and truly creates our emotional DNA of how we are each day.  We should all do ourselves a favor and create a strong foundation of positivity versus negativity. :)

Things could always be better, right?  Things could also be a lot worse. 

I dare you to try to spend a day not wanting for a thing, but truly appreciating what you do have. I bet if we all could make this a habit we would be living in a more upbeat positive environment. Try it. 

Embrace your radiance

CHANGE

Challenge spawns growth.  But does challenge always mean change?  Yes and no.  Depends on how you define change.  Change of perception?  Change in location in where you live? 

For the past few months I've been forced to contemplate change.  STRAIGHT FORCED, AKA LAID OFF FORCED.  My whole life defines change actually.  Parents divorcing, remarrying, moving, moving out, moving in, college, moving out of state, and back home.  Change is what I'm use to, and I thought I would always be OK with change, location change that is.  Until now. 

Being an ambitious and responsible individual, I've always been able to land on my feet.  So naturally when getting laid off, I jump on my resume and get the job search rolling.  And what do you know, after a month I have TWO AWESOME job offers...out of state.  I've lived in this place before, so naturally I'm like YEAH, LETS GO!!  However when I started to get moving quotes and communicating with a property manager to rent out my FIRST HOME that I absolutely love, something hit me.  It could be a combination of things hitting me at this time in my life actually.  That, and at 30, a lot is happening with you AND your friends and family around you.  People are getting married, having kids, divorcing, buying homes, slowing down.  Around this age you start to think more strategically, and about what's really important in life.  How many times do you just want to up and move and start over?!  If you ask me I've done it too many fucking times. 

WHY is this change being forced upon me at this time?  WHY am I being presented with great jobs out of state?!  Am I supposed to go there?  WHY is my life trying to make a hard left turn right now?!  I do feel the universe tries to guide you, to put you in certain places at certain times.  But I also feel the universe challenges you, so you will take the courage to challenge yourself, to challenge THEIR want.  Follow me?? 

The past couple of months have been extremely fun and extremely stressful.  But I finally feel like I've felt what it feels like to LIVE.  That might sound crazy if you know me, because I've had the wonderful opportunity to visit beautiful places such as Thailand and Bora Bora.  However, living in the moment, of day to day not knowing what will happen, is such an interesting feeling.  A feeling that I have learned to love and desire more of. 

So you know what I choose?  CHANGE.  Not in location, but in state of mind.  I am changing the way I live, the way I look at this world.  And you know what, it feels amazing and is a lot of damn fun!!!  

I challenge you, to look at your life.  Are you happy?  Are you living the LIFE you want to live and be remembered for?

Happiness, here, now, REALLY!?

Yes, happiness is here, NOW!  All you have to do is open your eyes and CHOOSE to see it!

Too often we surround ourselves with negativity.  Think about it, when you go out with your friends, how often do you talk about what awesome things your friends are doing?  Or do you normally talk about people?  What's wrong with this person, this situation, etc?!  Can you believe what happened to HER!  Negative energy is so bad, we need to push less of that around! 

All you have to do is CHOOSE to look for the positive.  CHOOSE to look at what's going great in your life, versus not.  CHOOSE to be grateful.  Because I promise you, you will be surprised how many awesome things you will see surround you, if you just take the chance to look. 

Smile.  :)

Feel Fear and Leap Anyway

Via Soulseeds.com
 
We spend sway too much time waiting for the right conditions to take steps. When the spring comes, I’ll start running again. When the kids are old enough, I’ll start my dream business. When my finances are secure, I’ll travel. When the work stress ends, I’ll give up smoking. When, when, when….. a constant search for certainty and perfect conditions. Perfection is nowhere and certainty is an illusion, fueled by fear.

To be fearless is to live without certainty. It is to dip at least one toe into the future without knowing how it will feel (how potentially good it will feel) or where exactly it will lead you (potentially some incredibly exciting place) or who will join you (potentially some phenomenal people). In other words every step is a leap of faith, opening up incredible potential. But not even one step offers certainty.

Take steps NOW. Feel the fear and leap anyway. Re frame fear in your mind. Instead of fearing fear, and submitting to it like a school yard bully, stand up to it. Maybe even think of it as your friend. Pema Chodron said, “Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.”

 
WHAT DO YOU FEAR??  WHAT COULD YOU BE MOVING CLOSER TO, VERSUS AWAY FROM?  


Read the full article here:  http://www.soulseeds.com/grapevine/2013/01/feel-the-fear-and-do-it-anyway/


 

You Are Beautiful

Excerpt from a BEAUTIFUL article on Soulseeds, Jaycee Lee Dugard - Her Inspiration and Example.

...As you are liberated from your own fear, your presence automatically liberates others....
 

Like millions of others I was captivated by the Jaycee Lee Dugard interview with Diane Sawyer. After 18 years of isolation, abuse and outright torment that started when she was kidnapped at age 11, she could be forgiven for being bitter and broken spirited. In the interview, Jaycee was unbelievably composed and at ease with her situation. She displayed a sense of inner peace that most of us, who have suffered far less, only wish we could experience.
No doubt Jaycee has her difficult moments. However I was incredibly inspired by this woman and offer her as an example of so much of what we describe as spiritual qualities; inner peace, poise, forgiveness, kindness and wisdom.

Maybe the feature that stood out most for me was her authenticity. She seems at ease with herself. Her book is called A Stolen Life and the mind boggles at the things that were stolen from her; her innocence, her childhood, her family, her development, her sexuality, her freedom…Yet in the interview she said something that stayed with me. When asked if she was angry, she said

"I don’t feel like I have this rage inside me that is building… I refuse to let him have that. He can’t have me… [if I felt rage] it means that he won..….he didn’t get all of me."

We could all take this last phrase to heart. People and circumstances can steal things from us; our possessions, our ideals, our opportunities. However there is a part of us that no one can touch, a spirit that no circumstance can dampen.

This is the true self, which so often gets buried under the dramas of life. For most of us these dramas are minor, like career setbacks or injuries. For others like Jaycee, the dramas are substantial, like abuse or major illness. The lesson of Jaycee is that no matter what happens TO us, there is a part of us that can’t be taken FROM us or damaged. It is always there, and the journey to authenticity is to recover that true self. It is the most important part of you, and it’s not at all egotistical because it doesn’t desire anything other than acceptance for yourself and others. It doesn’t compete or compare, judge or divide. It wants only peace for everyone.

This true self doesn’t seek vengeance. It wants wholeness, for everyone. It understands that hatred eats at YOU more than the person you hate. It recognizes that anger is only one letter short of danger. Your authentic self lets all resentment go, surrenders all hostility and enjoys the freedom of a light spirit.

Jaycee Lee Dugard is a truly great human being, an inspiration to all of us to be at ease with who we are, no matter what happens. It’s easy to spend time trying to fulfill an impossible image of greatness, when all you need to do is be more yourself. To paraphrase a famous Jewish proverb, when you reach the next world, God will not ask you, “Why were you not like Moses?” Instead the question will be, “Why were you not more yourself?”

You, right now, not after some spiritual makeover or earth shattering enlightenment; you as you truly are, without any pretence and with the layers of drama put in their rightful place. This is your true greatness.

In the words of Marianne Williamson,

Who are you not to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. You are meant to shine, as children do. You were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within you. It’s not just in some; it’s in everyone. And as you let your own light shine, you unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As you are liberated from your own fear, your presence automatically liberates others. (Marianne Williamson, A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles)

Just as Jaycee Lee Dugard’s example has liberated many, so your authentic essence is a gift to the world. Dare to be yourself today. Shine! You are beautiful, or if you break the word beautiful down it reveals authenticity’s mantra- BE YOU TO THE FULL!

http://www.soulseeds.com/grapevine/2011/07/jaycee-lee-dugard-her-inspiration-and-example/