Pinnacles of 2010 12:15 PM

(2007)

(2008)

(2009)

2010

JANUARY:

I swear I feel some magic in the air

New Years with Aussies

Goodbye Dude

Hello Bali

FEBRUARY:

that lights up the beauty existing everywhere

Singapore

New Delhi

Varanasi

the Dalai Lama in Los Angeles

MARCH:

it's all, it's all around me

Started life coaching

Santa Barbara

Home

APRIL:

let it break down the walls already

Moved to Redondo Beach

Started teaching yoga

Ben Gibbard @ the Largo

A hug from Jason Mraz

MAY:

to let this go, let it go, let it go

Hawaii

Baby Taylor

JUNE:

I'm gonna let this go free

Berkley

Santa Cruz

Monterey

San Louis Obispo

JULY:

I want so bad to feel inspired and alive

Inspired Arts & Wellness officially started up

Best Buy and Alvas gigs

AUGUST:

that I will wait for the absolute right time

Juicing with Maryam

Live summer music @ Hermosa Pier

the Talking Stick gig in Venice

Rachael Yamagata @ Hotel Cafe

SEPTEMBER:

and surrender what I'm holding

Whales and dolphins in Redondo Beach

Cafe Gratitude workshop in Topanga

Started at Thelma McMillan

OCTOBER:

and know that it will be amazing

Regressions with Dr. Weiss

Seattle

Launched ifeelinspiredtoday.com

NOVEMBER:

to let this go, let it go, let it go

Leaders Causing Leaders

Rainn Wilson @ Borders

Multiple celebrations of 31

Pancake Thanksgiving Weekend

DECEMBER:

i'm gonna let this go free

Meteor shower from Frasier Mountain

A week with Rory

Holy 35th

Hawaii

This twelve line song of mine fit perfectly into the annual recap. This was a magnificent year full of growth, experience, change, and love. Sometimes in ways that were not always so easy and fun. My mind and body took on some challenges of mourning, disappointment, hurt, doubt, uncertainty, and I can recall a few specific days where I reached a state of total exhaustion. And there were those lovely intestinal parasites in India. Now that I can sit comfortably and look back I can see the good it in all... cause it got me here.

To a place where I can say that I have never felt such a deep affection for my life, myself, and the place where I live.

Some lifestyle changes that happened this year were that I significantly decreased my dairy consumption, became more mindful of the amount of trash I make, started drinking green smoothies for breakfast, sungazed as often as I could, developed a regular mediation practice, started a monthly juice cleanse, and I became a business owner!

A million thoughts of appreciation for every single soul that was a part of 2010. Thank you.

Holy December! 12:14 AM

It’s that time of year. I’m not talking about Christmas, or the holidays, or new years, or gift exchanges, or the change in weather. Rather, everything in between. It’s that enjoyable space between us that exists or those moments of relaxation where all is right. All you have to do is breathe. It is....... the last week of the year.

Every Christmas of my life has been enjoyable. And every day after Christmas has been even better. There is a a great feeling about December 26 that comes with some kind of relief and peacefulness that lasts until the morning of December 31st. I have been fortunate to have always had this week off. A week to enjoy the the closing of a year and a festive season but without the obligation. A time to reflect on the year and resolve for the year that is about to come. A time to surrender to time itself knowing that once my mind awakens on New Years Eve a set of experiences will be set in motion. I suppose it is all part of a collective mindset as all the residents of planet earth enter a new year together. Some of of us ready to take on another year, others nostalgic about the year that has past, and many of us in the in between.

I will do my end of the year recap in a couple days but for right now I want to take some time to acknowledge the greatness of December 2010. I have felt so alive this month. One of the biggest events was reuniting with Rory. There are a chosen few people in my life whose presence makes my soul feel at peace. He is one of them. It’s been almost two years since we’ve seen each other. We got a precious week together and my favorite part of it was a spontaneous trip to the mountain to watch a meteor shower. I also played a Sunday afternoon gig at the Bean Counter in Redondo with Matt, Hugh, and Sara. So good to be playing live music again. And everything else that was a part of this month from a holy 35th birthday party, eating indian food, a kiss on the hand during a music therapy session, crying on a drive back from Barstow, signing Brett Dennen’s It Could Make You Cry over and over, watching John Lennon videos with red wine, and today swimming in the waters of my favorite beach in Hawaii.

I feel as though I keep blogging about the same thing- gratitude. And this is is again. I was born on Thanksgiving, I can’t help it. I wake up every morning thanking the day. And if it is even possible sometimes it’s too much. This Christmas in particular I felt so appreciative that I ended up feeling guilty. To think that earlier this year I was in Indonesia and India that exposed me to things I cannot deny...... and then ended up feasting in Hawaii months later. This makes no sense to me, how this world can be so imbalanced. It makes me feel a thousand things at once, and with an open heart I appreciate that too.

Efficiency 10:38 PM

I would like to acknowledge myself for a productive day all while maintaining a positive attitude.

I haven't had a full day off since my birthday. Since I had this morning free I used it to catch up on life. I was wanting organization so bad that I powered through and before lunch I had already cleaned my room, bathroom, kitchen, fridge, paid bills, evaluated my November financial data, called three potential new clients, worked on my schedule for December, and did two weeks worth of laundry. After a beautiful hummus/zucchini/red pepper/avocado sandwich I put in internet time and replied to neglected emails, ran errands, and then met with a client. Somewhere in there I also managed to get my hair cut and watched a brilliant sunset. Ended the day at the Riviera Village Holliday Stroll with Hugh where we drank some free boxed wine from the shops amongst children misbehaving, carolers caroling, and dogs dressed up as reindeer in the Redondo crowd. Crowded it was, though with a nice sense of community and holiday anticipation. Or maybe not even anticipation. It's here. It's December!

Benny and I have been having great email conversations while he is currently in Agonda Beach in Goa. Part of what came up recently is one thing that is so appealing about travel is not having to deal with what seems like mundane chores or errands. No driving, no cooking, limited responsibility. This is especially nice when traveling without a cell phone and limited internet access. Then the daily life becomes more about the flow, and DOING. However, as we correspond to each other I realize that with a certain amount of shifting of perspective the everyday stuff doesn't have to be so restricting. There is no rule that says that's the way it is. It only is if I allow it to be. I went through the day thinking of what I was doing as activities that maintain a great life, and being grateful that I was able to do it, and then the flow was there. Needs and wants became the same thing.

I saw this quote engraved on a necklace tonight:

"Time is too slow for those who wait

too swift to those who fear

too long for those who grieve

too short for those who rejoice

but for those who love, time is eternity."