As I write this, today marks 11 years that I’ve made my health a priority. On October 20, 2008, I decided to start taking better care of myself after being disgusted with myself at a staggering 100+ pounds overweight and morbidly obese. If I hadn’t made that decision, I wouldn’t have been able to get…
“He who climbs upon the highest mountains laughs at all tragedies, real or imaginary.” ― Friedrich Neitszche There’s a moment when I was climbing Mt. Sniktau while visiting Colorado in July, that I realized that I’m capable of more than I think. As my best friend and I hiked up, there were so many times we…
“Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life.” ― Seneca If someone had told me that I’d be rafting in one of the most dangerous rivers in Pennsylvania in January, I don’t know that I would’ve believed them. I created a vision board at the beginning of this year with…
I went out for a walk this evening and met my neighbor, a lovely polish woman who just announced that she can finally walk without a cane, only five weeks after her hip replacement surgery. As we walked she told me about her place, she’s new to the neighborhood, just as I am. She moved…
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve returned from my trip to Colorado and the Rocky Mountains but I’m just getting around to writing about the experiences and wanted to share the story of the time I fearlessly approached a bison and survived. My best friend Christina arrived later than expected in Colorado on Sunday, July…
“You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful.” ― Amy Bloom Hanging upsidedown with my feet wrapped around fabric hanging from the ceiling and I’m about as vulnerable as I can possibly be when I see the yoga instructor taking my photo. I fidget and realize that the more I fidget, the more…
My feet on the edge of the plane 17,500 feet up and after leaping, I was flying in the air. The air pushed me down, my breath wasn’t noticeable. I felt like a lump was in my throat and all I could do was look down. I started panicking. I thought that I was going to…
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A day trip to Annapolis, Maryland offered awareness about the history, exciting challenges of captaining a ship at sea and enjoying delicious food and local beer. Maryland’s capital, Annapolis is located on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, 25 miles south of Baltimore and about 30 miles east of Washington D.C….
This experience has helped me to relax, calm down, and just breath. Because there’s nothing like floating along and seeing waves as fun. The first few times I looked at those waves, I was terrified. I thought I’d surely fall out of this kayak and then never get back in and have to ask for help. But that didn’t happen. In fact, I was surprised at how forgiving the kayak was, and at myself, for doing this. I was kayaking in whitewater!
“If there’s happiness tucked away in my tragedies, I’ll find it no matter what. If the blind can find joy in music, and the deaf can discover it with colors, I will do my best to always find the sun in the darkness because my life isn’t one sad ending – it’s a series of…
“Let me be that I am and seek not to alter me.” ― William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing The best thing about the official kickoff of summer, in my opinion, is Shakespeare in the Park. The 26th Annual Free Shakespeare in the Park kicked off May 31st. This year Gamut Theatre presents Much Ado About Nothing. Enjoy…
“If not now, when? If not you, who?” ― Hillel the Elder I’ve always loved being near water. I can remember long summer days by the creek. My sister and I would see how far we could go and where we would end up just by following the Quitty. I never had thought about actually swimming…
“What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you remember and how you remember it.” ― Gabriel Garcia Marquez Memories are made, and I can choose how to create them When I was in Mexico, I made memories with friends, using a coloring book and pencils I brought, which now remind me…
“I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows, Quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine, With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.” ― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream A Saturday stroll at Longwood Gardens had me stopping to smell the roses and learn about some history for a few hours. This…
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.” ― Henry David Thoreau As sweat collected on my brow and my breathing deepened, my…
“Change one thing, Change everything.” – The Butterfly Effect Rising early Thursday morning in my flat in Mexico, I was excited about the day ahead. One of my fellow travelers in our mastermind group titled “Lionesses” (A group founded following the DenEx trip with Location Indie) booked a handful of us a driver to transport…
To be honest, I had these thoughts and strived for most of these things in the past. I pursued relationships that were unhealthy just to see if I could get the right “box” checked, I tried to be someone who wanted kids or someone who should be running marathons. But that’s tiring, trying to be someone else when I’m just me. It’s better to just be me.
My brain stopped working I guess, and I felt stuck like I didn’t know how to explain to her. I started to “mime” what I thought made sense, the word “flow” by sweeping my arms from my head to my feet and saying the word “flow” like she understood any of it, it was the most obscure thing I’ve ever done. Just after that, I noticed that the tampons were behind her, and started to point to them, and finally, she understood me, pulled them off the shelf, and rung me up for them. I felt like an idiot. I mean, I “mimed” the word “flow” and I still can’t get over it. Every time I tell the story to people I’m laughing at myself. So the lesson here kids, learn some words in the language of the country you are visiting, and at least use the phone, that has a translator!
“Spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm.” — John Muir The beating of the drums began and the sun shined bright. Even though it was only 50 degrees, it was feeling like spring. The aroma of blossoming plants, the crisp air, and the need for sunscreen all means that it’s finally a new season. I…
“Minimalism is a tool to help you say ‘yes’ to that which is most important and meaningful.”—The Minimalists Two years ago I was introduced to the concept of Minimalism more intimately after taking a road trip to Pittsburgh with a friend to meet The Minimalists. Following that adventure, I discovered so many ideas, concepts, and…
“Oh the places you’ll go” – Dr. Seuss This past weekend I took a trip to New Jersey to visit my aunt. While we were there, we decided to explore the area and found some amazing places. Our first stop was to Seaside Heights. Best Burgers in town! Along the Seaside Heights Boardwalk, we discovered Spicy Cantina….
Standing on a rock that is 65 Million years old, and at an elevation of 8,235 feet above sea level, I felt that I had defied not only gravity, but all the limiting believes I’ve ever had about myself. It was real. I was here, with people who inspired me to be a better person, and challenged my limiting beliefs.
“The immediate expression of our truth releases light and warmth, that influences the life we are part of, this is the way our spirit shines!” – Mark Nepo I like being productive, having energy, and being focused on purpose, doing the work I love that inspires me. The kind of work that doesn’t feel like…
“You are just as worthy, deserving, and capable of creating and sustaining extraordinary health, wealth, happiness, love, and success in your life, as any other person on earth. It is absolutely crucial … that you start living in alignment with that truth.” – Hal Elrod, The Miracle Morning My first Mexico Motivational Morning I first…
“Friendship … is born at the moment when one man says to another “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .” ― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves Travels to colonial Querétaro, Mexico Exactly one month ago today, I arrived in Querétaro, Mexico for a life-changing experience that would alter my mindset and set me…
Driving down the highway, towards the Baltimore-Washington International Airport, I watched the sunrise while feeling a mix of emotions as I headed to catch my flight on my first trip ever out of the United States (Officially- I’m not counting the time I went to Canada for an hour). The day would be long, but…
“As a little kid, blues meant hope, excitement, pure emotion. Blues were about feelings. They seem to bring out the feelings of the artist and they brought out my feelings as a kid. They made me wanna move, or sing, or pick up Reverend’s guitar and figure out how to make those wonderful sounds.” ― B.B….
