2020, Vision & Clarity: Defining a New Decade by its Named Definition

On the last day of the year and decade, I’ve reflected and resonated upon a lot that I’ve learned:

- I have dry skin.

- It is never selfish to love yourself enough, & it is never enough to love others just enough.

- You have to love yourself in order to love others the best.

- Sometimes you have to heal before you can help others heal.

- Don’t focus on getting the negative energy out and replacing it. Rather: focus on allowing yourself to absorb and be filled with all of the goodness and grace. The bad energy leaves naturally.

- Patience is a virtue that’s a paradox by name.

- Once you’re fully willing to forget about what people think and truly follow your passions, your drive and deviation is more admired than any doubts or judgement you assumed they’d have

- People appreciate you being very honest about how you feel far more than a half-genuine pleasantry. It’s refreshing.

- I really love yoga and have gotten skilled in it - found my happy place in my ujjayi breath. I really like dancing and still can’t shake it like Beyoncé, but that’s okay.

- It’s okay not to live up to others’ expectations. And you have to have grace with those who don’t live up to your expectations. Common ground is the foundation that’s essential and very worth solidifying for every meaningful relationship.

- I like shoes with heels. And don’t care that they add more height. What’s a few more inches to a 6’1” woman?

- The greatest gift you can give someone isn’t listening. It’s being attentive and engaged when they mumble discretely or directly muse anything. Being observed and fondly remembered is one of the finest flatteries anyone is ever fortuned

- I talk a lot. I also talk like an antiquated poet circa 19th century Europe. Probably because I power-walk while reading French historical fiction for fun. You are what you love.

- I’m hilarious. Most of the time people don’t get my humor. Only a small percentage of the quality content I put out lands. A majority of my jokes fly right over everyone’s head. Again, maybe due to the fact that I’m 6’1” with the humorous mix of an archaic philosopher and acetic fashion fanatic.

- It’s penultimate to be present and make the most in every moment. Sometimes that’s maximizing time and making color coded calendars, sometimes that’s minimizing schedules and enjoying the independence in idleness, accepting it with content indifference instead of sense of insufficiency.

- Life is all a question of balance. But balancing isn’t an act. It’s a visceral and vital art. And the greatest of art has to be appreciated and contemplated before it’s re-created and resonated.

and with every lesson, I probably thought about it in yoga. I was granted a proverbial quote in one class: “I have learned Silence from the talkative, Toleration from the intolerant, & Kindness from the unkind, Yet, Strange, I am ungrateful to those Teachers.”

Thank you to each person in every experience and interaction in my path that has taught me vast value and infused life with immense beauty. All of my gratitude and All of my love.