Current Mantra: Do less. Be more.

Growing up I was involved in everything under the sun. I played softball, basketball and volleyball, I was an alter server at church, played piano, volunteered, and raised sheep in 4-H. I always got good grades, even while taking a variety of AP classes, (AP Drawing being my favorite of course) and I participated in the Napa Valley Junior Miss Pageant! 👀

It was a wonderful way to meet people, stay active and push me outside of my comfort zone. Being busy began to feel like my natural state of being. It’s not until I started experimenting with drugs and alcohol towards the beginning of college that I started experimenting with slowing down and chilling more. And at that point I trained myself to think that in order to chill out I’d need a substance to help. 

Fast forward to me at 27 years old. I had gotten sober a year prior and now I was on my way to LA to work my dream job for the international art book publisher TASCHEN. I was working from the office in Hollywood so I’d be gone every weekday from my house from 8:30am to 7pm. I’d travel for work, up and down the west coast selling books, visiting museums and meeting up with friends in my new road warrior position.

I was going to AA meetings, meeting with my sponsor, online dating, going to workout and meditation classes, farmers markets, and volunteering with Mini Therapy Horses (if you haven’t heard of them, click the link and be prepared for cuteness overload).

I wanted my life to feel full, but all it felt was busy.  And the worst part is, when I didn’t have something planned and I decided to stay home for the weekend, I didn’t know how to relax because all I felt was FOMO and guilt that I wasn’t pushing myself hard enough.

There’s no surprise that all this busyness left me feeling burnt out. I felt like a shift needed to be made and after I started coaching and dating my beloved Mike, I really put the brakes on all the extra activities. My body just couldn’t take it anymore.

Falling in love has a way of slowing you down, and examining/prioritizing what is important in your life. I hadn’t just fallen in love with him, I had to fall in love with myself first. I had to start putting myself first. Seeing that my health and wellness needed to come before anything else, so that I could show up as the best version of my highest self.

Now I’m at this point in my life where things have slowed wayyyy down. But believe me, it has NOT been easy! After getting super clear on what is important to me, I’ve intentionally created this space for the first time in my life so that I can build my life back up and chose activities that are more in alignment with my core embodiment values. (More on this in another share)

I don’t want to just have a busy life, I want to have a full life. I want to be present for each moment of it instead of running from task to task because I’m too afraid to slow down or get quiet or be alone. I’m ready to do less and feel great so that I can show up and be more.

What are some things on your to do list that you can let go of to make space for prioritizing your health and well being?