Animal Love

Today I wanted to honor our animal friends and recognize them as piers we share this beautiful world with.  The first video may be a bit confrontational to some. (the other videos will make you smile) Veggie eaters VS Meat Eaters is commonly a hot topic. I don't think there is anything wrong with eating meat. It's perfectly natural to hunt in the animal kingdom. The difference is how we have become desensitized to the moral treatment of our fellow friends. If we reconnect we have the opportunity to learn and grow from them. 

Sensitize ourselves to the injustice. Animals cannot speak for themselves

We are all interconnected. Every mother is the same in how protect and care for our babies. This video is a perfect example of that and how we can honor and help one another in need.

We protect the innocent and so do they. This dog protects this mothers unborn baby from a big burly man.

Love knows no boundaries. A lot of us know the love and bond that happens when we have a pet. This video show the beauty of inter species friendships.  We are all a part of one love.

Happy Thursday friends. Namaste.

The Spontaneous Soul's Biggest Challenge

I recently read an article called 10 Regrets Spontaneous People Will Never Have. As I was reading I felt proud to admit I have met all 10 but it made me think...

http://elitedaily.com/life/never-say-never-10-regrets-spontaneous-people-dont/

Over the last year I have been living a beautiful life that I have created but even the greatest gifts come with challenges.

My challenge... the art of being still. For the first time in my life I feel responsible, stable and calm. I yearn to start a family with my beautiful husband but I wonder if my wandering spirit will be able to handle this lifestyle. Although I'm proud to call myself spontaneous, the itch for always wanting more can be my worst enemy.

Why do we constantly crave more even when what we have is enough?

I know the grass isn't greener. Ive been on the other side living day by day never knowing where the path will lead and though it was fun it was often lonely and confusing as I never set any roots.

I've always been one to to my face my fear in the eyes. Could settling down be the greatest fear of a spontaneous soul? And thinking back to that article could the one regret the spontaneous soul have is to "not commit" to something?

Contemplating on this, I realized being married, responsible, stable and having a family is the most spontaneous I have ever been. I took a leap  making a commitment to the greatest love I have ever felt for another human being.

I wont lie. Being married has challenged me, mostly because of the mourning of my single self and the freedom I felt being able to pick up and go wherever and whenever I choose. (The mourning of "me" into the birth of "we") But, as time progresses and I get to look into the eyes of the most beautiful man I know each day and enjoy the riches around me I realize that I created this from my spontaneity. I recognize this responsible, stable and calm lifestyle with the possibility of family as the boldest statement I have ever made in my life. I am staring straight into the eyes of my biggest fear. It's scary but magnificent.

They say the spontaneous soul lives life with "no regrets" in mind at all times. I can relate to that being the truth. Not living my life as a married woman and one day mother while still maintaining my sense of wonder would be my greatest regret.

Here's to spontaneity and having it all!

Dream it into Reality

In case you didn't know already I am "geeked" out on goals! So much so I make it my personal responsibility to share my wealth of knowledge from the lessons I've learned passed down to me from many great mentors.

Those in my life will tell you "when she declares it, it happens". Although the declaration of the goal is the most powerful there are added steps that make it probable.

Dream it
Be specific
Declare it
Take action
Enjoy the ride....

Daydreaming is fun but not always productive. I enjoy visual stimulation so when I create my goals I love to make a vision board. I use Brian Tracy's goal setting tools by creating my goals into 3 catagories.

Health
Career
Personal

Then I create 1-3 goals per year catagory

10 year
5 year 
1 year  

I write my goals as if they have already happened.
"My husband and I own 1 house in the USA and 1 house in Tuscany by June 2024"

This speaks to the universe as a powerful manifestation.

3 years ago I wrote on my vision board

"I have backpacked through Europe by Dec 2015"
"I have met the love of my life by Oct 2012"
 
I met my husband while backpacking in Italy in Oct 2012

Of course you don't have to make a vision board or write them down but it does help as to not lose sight of the things you want to accomplish. But if it's not your thing I suggest talking about what you want in life to everyone. Share... Share...Share...

August 2012 I had a profound realization that I  was ready to have it all. I declared I wanted to marry the love of my life, start a family, live near the ocean in a beautiful home and be financially stable  doing what I love to do... Sing! I repeated this inside my head daily and I shared with everyone I talked to. I had forgotten all about the vision board I made a year prior but I continued to put it into the universe until one day I opened my eyes and saw I had it all.

I traveled Italy, met my now husband, got a full time gig in a theater near the beach. Sometimes I still have to pinch myself. Sometimes I can't help but tear up at the magic I created with 1st a dream and then my words. I have many stories like this because I BELIEVE in making dreams reality.

If you could be, do and have anything in the world without fail...
Who would you be? What would you do? What would you have?

THINK BIG! BE BOLD!

 

Of course to see the change one must first be the change.. So, here are my goals/dreams for the next 10 years.

Health

10 Year I grow my own vegetables in the backyard of my home to feed my family with. By April 2024

5 Year I visit India and study meditation and yoga in an ashram for 30 days. By March 2019

1 Year  I am in the shape of my life and pick up choreography fast. By Jan 2015

1 Year I can do a handstand without a wall, do the splits and climb a rope by Jan 2015

Career

10 Year Lorenzo and I own and produce our own dinner theater. By June 2024

5 Year I play the role of Maureen in Rent on Broadway. By May 2019

1 Year I open for Jason Mraz with my own songs. By March 2015

1 Year I have a video of myself singing on youtube that goes viral in a positive way by Jan 2015

Personal

10 Year Lorenzo and I  own 2 houses. 1 in the US and 1 in Italy. By June 2024
10 Year I speak at a TED talk about turning dreams into reality and having it all. By May 2024

5 Year I write and release an inspirational book. By April 2019

5 Year Lorenzo and I are superhero parents of 1 with a healthy and happy baby. By May 2017

5 Year I speak and write fluent Italian By Jan 2019

1 Year I successfully coach and inspire young women in my community. By Jan 2015

1 Year I have 100 followers of my Blog. By Jan 2014

1 Year Lorenzo and I travel to 5 new cities on our time off

 To continue on the inspiration train it doesn't end here. After I have created my vision I make a board for my own personal visual stimulation. Then to take it one step further this year I will be breaking all of my goals down to daily tasks that will create measurable results to achieving that which I created. I made a chart in Exel with an already made template for daily chores. I havent done this before so I look forward to the powerful results I know it will have. If just the shear sharing and action of a goal can be magic this is with out a doubt going to be Alchemy and I look forward to the results.

Last but not least.. Remember to enjoy the ride. It's all a game that we've created. Have fun and love every moment of the journey.

When The Curtain Opens

Performing is in my blood. It was what I knew I wanted to do from the time I could speak/sing. Why? I'm not always sure. 

There have been many times in my life I've even tried to giving it up, convincing myself I should have a "grown up job" but it always finds me. Through the good the bad and the ugly I have always found my way back to the stage. Being there teaches me and heals me and makes people smile. It's what I love to do.

Last week we opened the show after a month of  long and grueling rehearsals. We were all ready. I love opening night as it creates the butterflies in the tummy and the thumping heart in my chest wanting to put on the best show we can for those that came to see us. Only on this day I was going through a really tough personal situation. Normally I would go into detail but in this case I would like to just put it behind me. However this situation took up most of my day and had me emotionally drained. I could have easily allowed it to ruin the moment my cast and I had all been waiting for.

Everyone was smiling with the jitters as we rouged our cheeks and lips and curled our hair prepping for the curtain to rise. I found myself annoyed. Then from the depths within I heard my consciousness.

 "Be present! Enjoy this moment! Enjoy these people."

 I was reminded that there is no other moment than right now and what an amazing moment it was. I get to do what I love every night. I also knew that I had to be present in each moment on stage to give the best performance I could. I chose right then and there to let my problems go and enjoy the smiling faces around me and allow the jitters to tickle my tummy again. 

The curtain opened to a full house with bright eyes filled with excitement to see us do what we do best. Entertain! And that we did! We had a wonderful opening show and I was able to translate all of my previous frustrations into love through music and dance. I was reminded of my blessings and reminded of the choice we always have to be happy even when things aren't going as planned.  Hearing and seeing the sound and sight of that beautiful crowd reminded me of why I do what I do. I make make people smile and forget about their problems. But what they don't know is that they do the same for me. 

Vulnurable

Vulnerability...

a. Susceptible to physical or emotional injury.

b. Susceptible to attack: "We are vulnerable both by water and land, without either fleet or army" (Alexander Hamilton).

c. Open to censure or criticism; assailable.

2.

a. Liable to succumb, as to persuasion or temptation.

b. Games In a position to receive greater penalties or bonuses in a hand of bridge. In a rubber, used of the pair of players who score 100 points toward game.

(definition by the free dictionary by farlax)

By definition this doesn't seem like the most appealing thing to do and yet it is the key to the connection with one another. It is the necessary tool in our kit to share whole heartedly.

There are times being vulnerable is easy. Times where all we want to do is share with another. I'm willing to bet in this case the other person was being vulnerable as well. It's a lot more challenging when the other party isn't open. "Why should I share with them?" you might ask.

Remember when we were little and we were told "sharing is caring"? When we allow ourselves to open up to others it gives others the opportunity to be open and it starts a trickle effect. I was once told by a life coach that there are no secrets. We are all connected whether we like it or not and if you are able to really be with a person all is known. Maybe that's why we avoid so very often really "being" with one another. We tend to talk about the weather instead.

Through my experience sharing is the most powerful tool we have because when we share we learn from each other, help each other and most of all know that we are not alone.

Now time for me to be vulnerable... Writing this blog is a challenge for me. Not because of the commitment it takes to write and post each week but the sheer vulnerability it takes to share with all of you. It's the fear of looking bad and the fear of others using my vulnerability against me and the fear that others know too much about me. Of course I am the creator of this blog and I can post whatever I choose. However, I know that the key to connect with all of you is to write honestly and from my heart. Of course this isn't just in my blog it's in my life. I hate being vulnerable even though I know the power of it. It's a continuous practice and requires one step forward at a time.

A lot of people may argue that my job as a performer requires me to be vulnerable as I get up on the stage every night to sing. To a degree they are correct. I continuously put myself and my talent on the judging panel. You'd be surprised at how easy it is to hide behind the character on stage. Singing my own songs though is another story.This is a practice that takes courage but being vulnerable with the people in my life takes even more courage.

I encourage you to take this step with me and allow yourself to open up to those around you. Sometimes that may be sharing with someone or asking for help, admitting that your wrong or even apologizing.

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