Your Next Chapter

Life IS sort of like a dance, isn’t it?

There are slow parts …. when we maybe wonder what’s next or feel sort of stuck in the moment. We’re still moving but the music and our movements are slow and steady.

Then there are the crazy, exciting parts when we are riding high and have no idea how or when our joy will end. We’re pumping our arms, hopping from move to move, and leaping around the room.

There are some dances when we have a partner. Dancing with another person changes everything. To be in sync, we often must conform our moves to that other person, so we are compatible, and the dance is smooth.

It’s funny though because as we reflect back, we always remember the BIG changes in our lives! Those changes that in a moment shifted our lives in an entirely new direction. The birth of our first child, a divorce, a death, a new love, a move to another city or even country. These are the changes we remember but what about the little changes we made when we adjusted to life on almost on a daily or weekly basis?

In many coaching programs, you create a 90-day or even a one-year plan. Oh, ladies, I love big picture plans. I love vision boards! Yes, it is so fun to close your eyes and imagine yourself as though you’ve achieved all your listed goals for the year!

Yet, if you’re like me, most of the time those BIG goals aren’t accomplished because there are no little changes made to ever get to those big goals.

A Realista is … A woman who shows up in this crazy world, as her real and true self ALWAYS!

She’s a woman who loves who she truly is and no longer wishes to pretend anything!

Doesn’t this sound like you?

This magazine will be just like your best friend. You’ll enjoy your time together, you’ll feel the comfort that you’re not alone in your quest to be the real you, and you’ll get all kinds of ideas of way to support yourself as you throw open the curtains and say, “look out world, here I am!”

Memorial Day is about remembering and hopefully, I’ve inspired you to think about not just those who you remember, but also how you want to be remembered. I encourage you to ask yourself, what is the legacy YOU want to create?

This is what BE THE REAL YOU is all about. When we are our real and true selves, we naturally take the time to smile at someone regardless of their position. We want to show up as our best self all the time because doing so, creates reciprocal happiness.

Today, I am starting this new, next chapter of food in my life. I am ready to end one chapter and start this new chapter. Honestly, though, it’s darn scary.

Leaving an old chapter and starting a new, next chapter can feel sad. The old chapter is like a dear old friend, no matter how dysfunctional it has been in your life. It’s familiar and comfortable. I’m sure all this talk of creating new and next chapters has brought up similar feelings for you.

As women, we especially seem to have many, many next chapters in our lives. The chapters of our lives, are to a great extent, in our control. We are the authors of our chapters.

Some chapters are long, and others are short. Some are happy and some are sad. Starting the next chapter is almost always an option at any age.

Staying Grounded When Going Through Change! Last Friday, I sort of freaked out when I stood in my new apartment and remembered all those boxes that will be coming from my large home into a much smaller apartment. I was totally confused and wondered what is inside all those boxes? I was feeling very low that night and seriously wondered if I should have stretched myself and purchased a larger apartment. Remember my distractibility comment? 

I found myself scrolling on YouTube and a commencement speech given by Denzel Washington popped up. I didn’t pay much attention to what Denzel was saying, until he started to discuss our stuff. He said, quote ….There is never a U-Haul truck driving behind a hearse. The Egyptian’s tried to take their stuff with them, and we all know how that turned out.”

Journaling has only positive benefits because when you journal, you are connecting to your true and real self. You don’t pretend in your journals because you have no reason to put up a false façade. When you journal, you don’t have to listen to what those around you say or judge you to be.

You’re in conversation with yourself and no one else. All those curtains and protections aren’t needed. Journaling assists you in seeing the whole person that you are including your mistakes and helps you connect with your dreams.

How does my heart’s desire fit with me living as my real and true self?

“Your Heart’s Desire” is all about identifying what you truly desire. YOU! Not the desires that someone else has for you or what we used to say, the cool kids are doing, it’s what YOU want and that is the foundation of Being the Real You.