Blogging/Life Update

Whoa! It has certainly been a while! I'm just stopping in for a little update and to let you all know where I've been blogging, in case you didn't see the previous update. I've been putting my heart and soul into coaching and creating new packages that will help you and others start living life full out.

The majority of my time will be spent on my website, chelseadinen.com [and then click on the 'blog' link on the menu] so please go find me on Bloglovin' now so that you can follow along with all of my new posts. 

If you've been reading Life is a Sunset for a while, then you know all the ups and downs I've been through in the past three years. Between the end of a very serious relationship, the sudden death of my mom, and three cross-country moves, life hit pretty hard and changed the way I see and do everything.

Over time, my inbox has been flooded with emails from women in emotionally/mentally/physically abusive relationships who want to get out and seek guidance. I have also received a ton of emails about my Single Girls' Guide to Moving Cross Country from other totally awesome and courageous girls who are ready to hit the road and need a couple extra pointers and some added reassurance that what they're doing will be the greatest decision of their life! Lastly, I was touched by countless emails from other people who had lost a parent and were seeking support.

As I would sit, reading these emails, getting to know these beautiful souls, connecting with them through email and eventually through other forms of social media, I knew this is what I needed and wanted to do for life. There's something especially powerful about connecting with people on their journey forward. Their journey into wholeness, fulfillment, bliss, self-awareness, and purpose that just makes you come even more alive.

So, if working with someone to help you achieve your biggest dreams, or to find out your purpose, work on letting go, stop caring what everyone else things and instead define what YOU really want, etc. is something that's been on your mind, I invite you to head on over to my services page to check out all the different coaching packages I offer. I'm offering email coaching for a limited time too so be sure to jump on that!

The reason I coach is because I know all the sh*t life can hand us. I've been there. Multiple times. But I figured out how to turn every single one of those dark days into something so much bigger. I learned how to live on purpose. I learned what it meant to feel blissfully alive while living in alignment with my truth. And I want to be able to share that wisdom with others.

Head on over to chelseadinen.com and shoot me a quick email [ hello@chelseadinen.com ] to let me know what life looks like for you right now. What hang ups are you having? What are you overcoming? And also let me know if you want to work together! Much love to all of you and thank you so much for your continued support!

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So What IS a Life Coach?

When I talk to people about what I do, I often get the question: "So, what IS a life coach?" Let me start off first by telling you what a life coach is not.

A life coach is not a therapist.

Or a psychiatrist.

Or a parent.

As a life coach, I hold a sacred space for you. A place where there is no judgment, no critique, no worry that you're not doing something "right." The truth is, there is no "right" or "wrong" way, as long as you're doing what best serves you. As your coach, I help you dig deeper into who you are, who you were created to be, how to live a life in harmony with all the wonderful gifts and talents that were given to you. I help you break away from all the fears and limiting beliefs that have been programmed into all of us and make radical shifts toward a life of deep, true, unending fulfillment.

Our sessions together are relaxing, fluid, and deeply connected. It's a place for us to meet, by telephone, a few times a month to check in, check-up, reconnect with your true self, and make forward movement along this journey of life. After most sessions, you'll leave with an inquiry or commitment. This could be reading a few pages of a book that I think will really blow your mind, writing that chapter of your book you've been putting off, or maybe even ripping up your to-list (for all of my fellow over-doers out there :) It'll be something regarding what ever it is we're talking about during that session that will get you moving closer toward that goal.

The process of working with a life coach is truly life-changing. I can say that because I've had my life changed by my own coach! It's a meaningful, intimate, unique relationship. And there just aren't many better feelings than seeing your life change before your eyes! Even better than that... you feel the change. You feel it within your soul.

Through our time together, I'll remind you of your truth. The beautiful truth of who you are. I'll help bring you back in tune and in sync with your true self along with your gifts, talents, and life purpose. I'll help you cut the crap, release what is toxic, break through the blocks, and truly start living life full out.

If you've been thinking of working with a life coach, if you've been feeling the push, feeling the pull within your soul -- now is the time to act. I am here to help you blow your own damn mind, my friend. I've stumbled, fallen, gotten back up, fallen harder, and been at points of almost giving up for good. But here I am today. Happier, more fulfilled, and conquering all of my wildest dreams. I've seen a lot of life already. A lot of tragedies but also a lot of successes. And I want other people, like you, to know the abundance that this life holds for you. Don't settle. Don't settle for a career, a relationship, a city, a friendship, don't settle for anything. Value your dreams. Challenge yourself… everyday.

Take the initiative now to never settle for living a mediocre life. Get out of your comfort zone. Do the work today. Make the choice to stop avoiding your "shit" and instead, deal with it. Face up to it. There are so many wonderful, beautiful ways we can live an even more fulfilling life than we are today. What are you waiting for?

I am currently accepting a few more clients to work with! Send me an email today and let's not waste another precious day. Let's work together!

Shoot me an email at hello@chelseadinen.com or pop on over to my website chelseadinen.com if you want to explore further. You can check out my different coaching packages here. I am so ecstatic for those of you who are feeling that push. It's scary as hell, I know, but the tools you'll gain from our sessions will propel you into deep fulfillment for years to come. Imagine how empowering it's going to feel to one day look back and see how far you've come!

I believe in you. Stop putting yourself on the back burner. You've got this!

Let me know if you have any questions and I'll talk to you soon!

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Photography by J. Poling

Scenes from the Holidays | Thanksgiving

Life has been moving so quickly lately. I realized I never even wrote about the holiday season so today, let's take a step back in time. As much as I love the West Coast, it was definitely nice to be back on the East Coast with family for the holidays. My grandma lives up on the Jersey Shore where my dad was born and raised so we made plans to go visit her and my uncle on Thanksgiving. It was a beautiful, beautiful day.

While my uncle was getting everything ready for Thanksgiving dinner, my dad, my grandma, and I ventured over to the perfect looking out point where I used to go when I was younger. On the crisp, sunny Fall day, we looked out at Manhattan's new skyline. The new One World Trade Center (on the left) stands tall above the Big Apple and it was so lovely to be standing there, a couple weeks after returning back from California.

We drove around the Shore, taking a drive down the beach my dad frequented as a kid. It was so sad to see how destroyed the area still was after Hurricane Sandy. Gas stations were still wiped out. Houses sat abandoned, their siding torn apart, windows missing. Beach clubs were still being rebuilt. You could feel the effect as you drove along the beach. It was still there in the air as lives were forever changed along with so much history.

When we got back to my grandma's house, I had some time to sit with her and talk. My grandma just turned 91 in January so her memory can sometimes be a little in and out. I explained to her how I had just moved back to the East Coast and that my dad and I (and my cat, Stella) had come up to visit for the day. Although I had to remind her a couple times, she would smile that beautiful smile of hers that gave me so much comfort.

I talked with her as we went through her wedding album and I saw pictures of her and my grandpa (who passed away when I was in high school.) She told me stories about her five children and the trouble my dad and uncle would cause :)

It was so wonderful to have that time with her. Especially since I don't have that time with my mother anymore and never met my other grandmother. It was just the two of us girls. Talking about family and careers and life.

Then, my dad took me out to the garage where I knew I'd find his old surfboards. His surfboards that are now worth a heck of a lot of money but don't worry - he'll never sell these bad boys. I just want him to fix them up and put them on display. My dad and his love for surfing are the reason I have always loved all things surf-related too. It's in my blood.

Eventually, the four of us sat down for dinner and had a couple glasses of wine. It was such a special feeling to have a glass of wine with my 90-year-old grandmother.

My great-grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Poland so my grandma grew up in a Polish Catholic household. We sat and spoke some Polish for old times' sake and broke the bread.

I was sitting there in the dining room where I had dinner with both of my parents, my brother, and both of my grandparents when I was a little nine-year-old, on her way to New York for acting. The same dining room where I had spent Thanksgiving with my aunt and cousins when they were visiting from Australia. The same dining room where my father ate every meal growing up. And although it was a small meal, and there were only four of us around the table, I was just happy and blessed to be there.

It was a wonderful trip and a wonderful Thanksgiving. I look forward to going back again soon.

Investing in Your Dreams

I'm a big-time believer in investing in yourself. I've learned, especially at this time in my life, how vital it is for me to be spending my money on my mind, body, and soul rather than just what's in my closet. 

I'm an even bigger believer in investing in your dreams. And I think often times, money can be our biggest "excuse."

"I can't afford it."

But if you're not living your dreams, what are you doing? Now, of course, we're all at different phases of our life. Some of us have families, mortgages, and other various factors that we must take into account. But, chances are, there's still something you can be doing to get yourself closer to that dream.

Don't let your circumstances define you. Defy the odds. Surprise yourself. Surprise everyone else around you by taking those dreams of yours and bringing them to life, despite all that's on your plate. 

One of the greatest, most worthwhile ways to invest in yourself is through learning. Invest in classes, training programs, seminars, one-on-one sessions to expand yourself. There is always something else we can be learning, developing, and studying to enhance our wisdom in our own field of dreams.

For me, this past year has been ALL about going big or going home. I stopped waiting for the "perfect moment" after realizing there was no such thing. After distinguishing exactly what my passions and purpose were, I took action and enrolled in a certification program (wow, almost an entire year ago!) Recently, I kept feeling that push for another program. B-School.

You know when you just feel the push, the pull, the magnetic energy that's bringing you toward something? And you keep saying, "But..." "But..." And then you realize no excuse is good enough to put off your dreams, what pulls at your heart, what ignites your soul... so you do it. You take the plunge. You take the huge, giant, larger than life leap of faith. And the free fall is scary and beautiful all at the same time. That's how it was for me with Marie Forleo's B-School. It was a huge investment. It IS a huge investment. But less than 24 hours after I enrolled, I realized how it was one of the greatest decisions I've ever made. The value that's jam-packed into B-School is out of this world and JUST what I need to get my life coaching exactly where my heart wants it to be.

Yesterday was the first day of class. I was filled with excitement, curiosity, passion, and some serious nerves but as I took part in the B-School Facebook community and then finally sat down to start module one, it felt like Christmas morning. It really did. Knowing that I am starting something that I'm hugely invested in and committed to. I already have some ideas about new content that I'll be offering through my business in the form of fun vlogs, workshops, etc. which I can't wait to share with you later on.

So here is where you come in:

I want this little part of the Internet and my coaching website to be of value to you and others who stumble upon them. I want to know what topics and questions have been on your mind that you'd like me to talk about. What has been pulling at your heart? What are you curious about? What areas of your life would you like to work on and make better than ever before? Maybe it's letting go of toxic relationships. Finding your purpose. Loving yourself again after a break-up. Learning to let go of what others think and expect out of you. Dreams. Fulfillment. Deepening your spiritual connection. Getting out of your own way. Those are just some ideas! Let me know in the comments below or shoot me an email: hello@chelseadinen.com or connect with me through the social links below!

As always, I love hearing from you all and can't wait to see what's been on your hearts lately!

xo

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A Letter to Myself One Year Ago

"If you could go back just one year, what would you tell yourself? What advice would you offer about everything you've experienced?" - Journal prompt from Sometimes Sweet.

I'm a big-time reflector. I am constantly going back to "where I was one year ago." It keeps me in check. It helps me realize two things:

1. Life is short.
2. A lot can happen in a year.

One year ago, I was living in San Diego. I had recently started dating a man who was a real breath of fresh air. It was around this time last year when things started to change for me. I started letting go of the fear of falling. I was finally ready to put my heart back out there.

He challenged me. In a good way. And it was at this time that I really started to come into my own. I started saying "yes" to new opportunities and experiences and started saying "no" to people and things that didn't align with where I was in my life. And I was at peace with that. For the first time ever.

I started putting my foot down and started standing up for myself. For my dreams. For what I believed to be right. For my previous pains. For my spiritual practice. For my fears. For my body. For my mind.

It was a wonderful, scary, beautiful time of my life. So many transitions were taking place. I had no idea which things were going to stick and which would dissipate. I get this gut-wrenching feeling in my stomach when I visualize being there in those moments one year ago. Gut-wrenching in a positive way. It was all so pivotal for me. So exhilarating. Even with all the challenges that come from uprooting your life again and settling down in a new place with new people, I just felt so alive.

So, looking back... there are some things I'd want to tell my "one year ago" self:

California is for you. It's the place where you flourish most, where your spirit radiates. Think about the people who you connected with. When you leave San Diego in late October, those people will continue to be a part of you. Remember the lessons they taught you. You will think about them each day. You will miss your memories. Your bonding. Your laughter.

And my gosh, you will miss the weather. Stop complaining about it being sunny and warm all. the. time. In September, you will be faced with a tough decision. As you find your purpose and decide to take a new route with your career, know that you are making the right choice to leave. And this will continue to be proven to you through the following months. Though you have to trade the palm trees, Pacific Ocean, and wonderful new friends for this opportunity to start a new business, you'll see these people again. And they will be the most supportive, loving, encouraging people during the journey you embark on.

But, most importantly of all, just remember the way San Diego makes you feel. That feeling never changes. From the second you first visited, to the way you feel one year later just thinking about it. Remember that feeling and carry it with you everyday. That's the feeling of passion. That's the feeling of your soul belonging. That's the feeling that will continue to remind you what it feels like when you're aligned.

Continue to let that feeling guide you. Be around the people who ignite your spirit. Do the things that ignite your happiness. Serve the people who ignite your purpose. Live in the place that ignites your soul. Never settle. No matter how hard it can be sometimes, you know how your heart wants to live. Follow that.

My Life Coaching Launch!

When you find your true passion and purpose in life, it becomes something that radiates through you everyday as you wake up and each night as you shut your eyes. You feel a constant flow of vibrant energy move through your body and life makes a whole lot more sense. 

I'm here today to share something that's very near and dear to my heart. Something I've been planning for and working toward and praying about for days and weeks and months. I've learned that life is too short to keep waiting for "the perfect moment." There's no such thing. The time is now. If you believe in something and you're passionate about it, your heart and soul know the answer. They'll guide you. And as long as you listen, you can't go wrong.

Today is the day. I am officially launching my life coaching services online! I couldn't be more excited to not only share my passion with the world, but to be able to connect with all the beautiful souls that are out there.

For some of you reading this, you might be feeling that pull right now. The pull toward something bigger. Something different. Something that excites your soul and ignites your spirit.

I'd love to join forces with you to explore that pull that you're feeling. To find your purpose. To find yourself. To conquer your fears. To make your dreams a reality. To leave relationships/friendships that no longer serve you. To re-learn to love yourself. To start living life full out.

Join me over on my life coaching website to learn more about me, my coaching approach, and all the details on how to get started. I am so excited to connect with you! This life is so precious, there is so much we can be doing everyday to change our perspective and live an even fuller life, and I would be honored to lift, support, and give you that extra "you can do it!" along the way.

Also, I would LOVE for you to follow along on my Facebook page (and Twitter and Instagram if we're not already friends there!) If anything I post resonates with you (or if you think it may resonate with someone you know) I will be super appreciative if you spread the word! I am so grateful for the love and support I've received in these past months on my journey from you all. I look forward now to being a part of YOUR journey :)

xo,
Chelsea

Two Years Without Mom

Two years. I've often tried but always felt as though I cannot entirely convey the feeling in your soul when your mother has died.

It's true. A part of you dies as well.

An hour into tomorrow, February 22nd, will mark two years since my mom passed into the next life, as we sat by her side, hanging on to every last breath. Two years. I think about her constantly. But it's the hole buried deep within my heart that continues to remain empty that burns. Every second of silence or stillness and that physical burn within me is felt. The void never disappears.

And I've accepted that.

But it's hard never hearing "I love you!" It's hard never getting motherly advice, even when it's unsolicited. It's hard never getting a "mom hug" when I'm going through a rough time. Her voice is but a memory as are her hugs, her spaghetti, and all the little thoughtful gifts that came when you least expected them, reminding you that she cared. Always.

And without those things in life anymore, it changes.

I think we all grow up, knowing, as much as we don't like to admit or think about it... that our parents aren't always going to be with us. Some of us lose them younger in life and some of us even get the wonderful blessing of seeing our parents with their great-grandchildren. But life is so, so precious. I can't say this enough. And as dark and "hush hush" as it may be thought of by some, seeing your mother go from being full of life to struggling to take her final breath to laying there lifeless and cold in front of you... it wakes you up for the rest of your life.

So, wake up now. Stop living life unconsciously. Stop taking part in things like gossiping and lying and settling and waiting. Because one day, whether you want to believe it or not, you'll get the phone call or the prognosis as the doctor stands in front of your family that will alter your life forever. Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, go to that family dinner, mend broken relationships.

When my mom left for the emergency room that night, I had no idea that she would never be coming back. I had no idea it'd be the last time I'd help her put her jacket on and see her walk out that door. No idea at all. Life happens faster than we can comprehend.

I can't bring her back. Nothing can. But I can live my life now fuller and truer than ever before. In honor of her. In honor of the greatest gift that she could have given me - the precious gift of life.

I love you, Mom.

The Crossroads

Crossroads. I've had a lot of them. I thought going away to college would have been one of the most major, along with getting my first job in the "real world." However, I was wrong. Very wrong. The last time I took part in these Sometimes Sweet journal prompts, I was at the beginning of the greatest crossroad of my life.

Photography by J. Poling

I had no idea that six months later, my mom's life would come to an abrupt end, leaving my family devastated and leaving me without the one woman who had helped me through it all. The next couple months are all a blur. I continued going back to an unhealthy relationship. I was fragile, unsure, and unsteady. What the hell had just happened?

Eventually, I started to break away the chains that were holding me down. I was tired of being numb. I was tired of being hurt. I was tired of giving the power away. It was time to take that power back and live the life I was meant to live. Somehow, my mom's death propelled me into manifesting the life I had always wanted... the happiness I had always wanted.

In December of 2012, I moved to San Diego. Something that once had just been a dream, was a reality. It's in San Diego that life really started to take off for me. It's where I found peace, meaning, self-love, and inevitably, it's where I found my purpose. It's a huge landmark of my life that I will always look back on because it symbolizes so much of what life is all about to me.

I've since moved to the East Coast where I am pursuing my purpose and my passion as a life coach. So, I guess in a sense, this is another crossroad for me. It's another new pathway. One with challenges and speed bumps and a-ha moments. But the greatest thing about this new pathway, is the peace it brings. To know without a doubt that I'm on the path I'm meant to be on.

And I guess that is what the crossroads of our lives are for. We can't always control our circumstances. But we can control the way we react. We can control the meaning we assign to those circumstances. Eventually, they lead us to the exact path we are meant to be on. 

I'm the Kinda Girl Who…

I'M THE KINDA GIRL WHO...

Didn't know what kinda girl she really was until the past two years.

Has forming wrinkles and a deviated septum but loves herself more than when she was a youthful teen.

Listens to Incubus or Pearl Jam at work.

Enjoys doing things alone (shopping, going to the beach, gym, etc.)

Prefers to wear Vans over stilettos any day.

Believes in falling nine times and getting up ten.

Buys a planner and then hardly writes in it.

Hates making left-hand turns without a green arrow.

Thinks it's super awkward when a guy tries to push your chair in for you.

Stands up for animals.

Watches ABC Family instead of Bravo.

Quotes Dane Cook.

Enjoys the adventure of moving to new states alone. (I mean… duh.)

Is constantly learning to release her fears.

Loves cats.

Prays to St. Anthony every time she's desperately looking for something.

Is always cold.

Wants to empower other women.

Feels emotions deeply.

Misses her mom.

--
It's always interesting to make lists like these. Some facts end up being funny and just completely off-the-wall, while others are soulful, deep, and come straight from the heart. I guess I'm a mix of both of those. I'm the kind of girl who is quirky and goofy and marches to the beat of her own drum. But I'm also the kind of girl who is intuitive and deeply spiritual and always learning. I love this gift of life so much and all the beautiful souls that have been put along my path and for those I've yet to meet. 

I'm the kinda girl who has hope at hopeless times, even if it knocks the wind out of my sails (which it always seems to do.) I'm the kinda girl who wants so badly to be a mother one day and share the bond my own mother gave to me. I'm the kinda girl who is always yearning to learn more about the kinda girl I am.

Broken Wing

I am a woman with bruises and scars.

I fall down. A lot. The frequency of falls has slowed down. But I still fall and they still hurt just as badly.

I am human. I make mistakes. But I AM human.

But sometimes (all the time) I don't let myself off the hook. I dwell and over-analyze and beat myself up over those mistakes. Because they always seem to be mistakes that were easily avoidable, yes? But then I remember the magic of the Universe and how it's through our trip-ups, shortcomings, and falls that we learn. Whatever lesson is hidden in the tears and the bruises, it's there. I promise you. I promise myself.

I'm reserved until I get to know you. Until I trust you. And once that sense of comfort is established, I put my heart on the line. And it's at that point that anything goes. I take that leap.

But... I usually over jump. I don't land on my feet. And I spend the next bit of time waiting for my broken wing to heal from that failed flight.

The healing hurts. It's not graceful and it usually includes a lot of self-bullying to the tune of, "You idiot. What were you thinking?" Sometimes the hardest thing to do is forgive yourself.

I know that my heart is tender and that no matter how hard I try to pretend that it's made out of sturdy bricks, it's fragile. Always. It's my heart and I accept it. They say to be with people who love the way that you love. And maybe that's been my problem. Maybe I've looked for the people with the brick hearts. Maybe I've looked for them as a way to make me tell myself I'm not vulnerable. But I am. With this little fragile heart of mine that's seen a lot, felt a lot, been through a lot... I still have this heart. It's my heart and I accept it.

Looking back, I see a bit of a pattern in this thing called life. We're rolling along, making lots of forward progress and movement and feeling great and confident about life when, BAM... disaster strikes. But, we are not our circumstances. We can't allow ourselves to fall victim to those trip-ups and shortcomings. The truth is, if we never try, we'd never know. And we owe it to ourselves to be proud that we had the guts to even make that jump.

We may fall, time after time. We may have to wait as our broken wing heals. But one day, after one of those jumps, those wings will take us on our greatest flight yet.  We will soar. And our little, tender heart will continue to beat on.

Everything Has Changed

The other night, as I was getting ready for bed, reflecting on a lot of the big changes that are currently taking place and where I am in life right now, I started thinking about change. More specifically, about how much I have changed as a person. It kind of freaked me out for a second. Like, holy sh*t! I used to be that girl?

I looked back at my life three years ago. Three years. Not too long ago but still a significant amount of time has passed since then. And, well, everything about me has changed. Errrrythang.

The state that I live in.
My hair color.
My marital status.
My religion.
My diet.
My lifestyle.
My style.
My happiness.
My thought process.
My friends.
My family.
My career.
My hobbies.
My ability to handle uncertainty.
My confidence.
My self-image.
My life.

Yep, now you're understanding why I had a "holy sh*t" moment. Everything in my entire life has changed. And then I discovered why. It's not that I have changed, necessarily; that somehow I just became a magical new person and knew how to be happy and surround myself with awesome people and go after my dreams and not give a flying you-know-what what anybody else thinks. No.

Instead, I did something that sounds really simple but for those of you who've been through it too, you know it's easier said than done... I found myself. Really, truly. I stopped trying to impress "what's his face" and stopped comparing myself to "what's her name" and just took the time to get to know everything about myself. About my soul, my heart, my innate being.

Most importantly, I stopped trying to be what I thought I "should" be... whether by my mom's standards, my "friends'" standards, my former church's standards, society's standards, etc. and I just WAS. I AM. I can finally be. And by truthfully, authentically, organically BEING, life is constantly this exciting, amazing, captivating gift and puzzle and blast all at the same time.

This is the woman I was created to be.

Everything has changed. That's life. We wake up everyday with new opportunities and new choices to make. Those choices and shifts that we consciously make for ourselves and for our lives are what create the changes. And, little by little, on days like the one I just had, we look back and say, "holy sh*t!" Some of those changes are painful and some seem impossible to make, others are easy and natural. But, if those changes remain in harmony with our true self, we'll say that "holy sh*t" with a big grin ;)

Life Update: Onto State Number Four

Oh, hello. Forget about me? This is for sure the longest I've gone without consistently blogging. And this is the obligatory post where I update you/tell you what I've been up to while I have clearly not been blogging.

The biggest update is: I'm moving (as I mentioned in my last post over a week ago.)

What's even better is that I'm moving to (yet) another state! Moving from state-to-state is one of my favorite things to do, didn't ya know?! You're not going to believe me when I say that this time, I'm not moving across the United States as I've done every-flipping-other-time. Nope, I'm moving one state away!

[the best scene from Wedding Crashers]
And here's a little back-tracking for those of you who can't keep up with me. It happens. I forgive you. I moved to San Diego last year and then moved back to the East Coast in November where I did some hopping around for my life coaching business purposes. Yes, I moved all the way out to California with the intention of staying there forever. BUT, once I decided to start life coaching, and found THE most perfect certification program to become a part of (that is based out of Orlando, FL) I realized that the Universe was taking me on a different path!

So, back to the East Coast I went, dropped Stella off at my dad's in Northern VA, and ventured to Florida where I met my beautiful Orlando life coaching family. You can read a little about that lovely time of mine here. Class and coaching continue now from afar (gotta love technology, right?) so I was able to spend some time in NY/NJ before starting work in the DC area (Maryland, to be exact.)

As some of you may know by now, I have a love/hate relationship with my home state of Virginia (I almost typed "my home state of Northern Virginia" because, well, Northern VA is not Virginia ;) So, deep down, I knew settling down in Virginia just was not going to happen. Through work and new friends and a whole lot of real estate research, I decided on moving to a lovely up-and-coming city just 5 miles from D.C.

Apparently it's like a "thing" that if you're from Virginia, you don't cross the river and move into MD and if you're from Maryland, you don't cross the river and move into VA. State rivalry, I suppose. Welp, I tend to march to the beat of my own drum and have fallen in love with Maryland! So, I'm doing it!

I'll finally be moving into a hi-rise like I've dreamt of! I'll have Metro one block away, shops, town centers, (Trader Joe's AND Whole Foods) parks, restaurants, you name it, bam... right there! I'll have a new city (and state!) to explore, and a new place to make my own and call home!

So, this is where my energy has been focused lately. In buying new furniture and decor to make my place as "me" as possible! To getting all furniture ordered, deliveries set-up, and move-in arrangements made. I'll try to write periodically and, eventually, once everything is ready to go, I might do a home tour :) Here's to change, new opportunities, and moving to new states! Oh, and maybe some new shoes? ;)

[ShoesbyKat on Etsy!]

I've always been a sucker for that Maryland flag. I'm 100% ready to become a Marylander! Get ready for posts about my new journey, places I find and love, and some awesome Maryland traditions. Also, Marylanders, what are your recommendations for me? What are some must-sees and must-dos? :)

New Birthday, New Page

Another year older today. Having a birthday just after all of the holidays is pretty chaotic most years. You have gratitude in November, Christmas blessings in December, followed by a whole lot of reflecting back on what changes to make for the New Year. There's the baking and gifting and familying and friending. Then, bam, it's my birthday. It's never really the New Year that propels me forward. It's my birthday. Turning the page over into a new age is always a huge time of reflection for me. But even more so, it's a huge time of action for me.

photography by J. Poling

A lot of changes have happened in my life since my birthday last year. Last year was a really difficult birthday for me. I had just moved to California by myself, but it was the fact that it was my first birthday since my mom died that made it tough to get through. I spent the day in Laguna Beach which brought some lightheartedness to the day as well as a whole lot of sunshine.

That year of my life was the best yet. I accomplished so many life-long dreams and goals I had set for myself and checked many big things off of my bucket list. Through the loss of my mom and the journey of independence I took, I learned how precious life is. I learned to take ownership for the results that I see day-to-day. I learned that only I can know and create the life that fulfills me, serves me, and lifts me higher every single day. So, I continued taking action.

Today, as I turn another year older, I feel so blessed to be working toward my passion and life purpose, as a life coach. It makes me glow just to say that. I spend my days working a job that brings me joy and spend evenings going to class to do what, to me, is the greatest blessing - learning the tools of deep life transformation. And now, as I reach this birthday, I will be starting yet another new chapter...

I found myself the most perfect hi-rise condo for where I am right now in life. Or, maybe I should say that it somehow found me. It was one of those things I've had on my "list" and knew it would come about when the time was right. So, at the end of this exciting birthday month of mine, I'll be making that move and writing another new page in my book.

And that will be the beginning of my year that's full of so much potential. I have high hopes and big goals for this year. I'm in different surroundings with different people in a different line of work and I'm happy. So happy. And knowing that this happiness is only going to increase as the days continue… now that's pretty awesome.

I'm reminded that it's not in the New Year or on our birthday that we should celebrate or set new goals or hold ourselves to a certain standard. That should happen everyday. Make every second count. Don't give up. Don't settle. Don't sell yourself short. Take your wildest dreams and make them a reality. Come on, I dare you :)

What dreams are you making a reality this year?