Once again ... I am laughing!  Today is Monday and I have been away from my studio for four days.  No cell phone, no email, no facebook, no nada ... and when I opened my journal to see today's writing ... I burst out laughing!  How does this work?  I wrote these words in December!  Thank you Universe for showing me how funny you can be in my life ... my assignment is "today I am list making" ... too funny!

After answering emails and facebook notes I moved into the cell phone message bank ... uh-oh ... a call from the contractor ... why was he calling me?  Build-out dates ... what is he talking about?  So we talk ... I panic ... I need to make a list quick!  Why?  Because the new studio was framed in one day, the electricians and HVAC crew needed questions answered and I have to hurry to order flooring, lights, and more!  See what happens when I leave town?!?!?

Seriously, I left on Thursday with dirt floor and I return on Sunday to a completely framed-in new studio!  I am so laughing because my clients don't even know I am building a new studio in the area ... surprise! ... we are moving in April!

And, yes, I am making a long list today ... floors, lights, equipment, paint colors, carpet, tile, ceiling fans, and so much more ... can this be any funnier?  From four days of dreaming on the beach in quiet mode to entering warp speed of construction and schedules.

I love making lists because all those random thoughts swirling in my head now have a home ... the paper.  Once I write a list ... I am done.  No worrying about the list or checking the items on the list or having to do everything on the list ... I simply create a list to de-clutter my brain.  Too much clutter in my brain keeps my life cluttered ... thoughts and words cluttered ... ideas pass over my cluttered brain ... and keep me stuck in the routine of the day.

What if your list making day was just a task of writing down your cluttered brain onto paper without the worry of having to really DO anything on the list ... simply create the list ... breathe ... go for a walk ... give yourself the opportunity to feel the space in your mind and body ... and when you return to the list simply (and honestly) review the list ... you will be surprised!

My list is about two pages long and I plan to check-in on my list tomorrow ... tonight I am having dinner with my family, braiding my daughter's hair and snuggling ... my list can wait ... my family is first.

Today we are leaving the ocean ... I am sad.  I will miss the ocean ... her crashing waves, hidden treasures and hypnotic motion.  I will miss the sisterhood of living with ten other women in one house sharing kitchens, bathrooms, late night stories, laughter and tears. 

I woke up at 5:00am to see the moon shining across the ocean waters and clapped my hands in joy ... a few of us had planned an early morning dip in the ocean .... and i was so excited ... but ohhhhhh brrrrrrr!

As we headed to the ocean for our skinny-dipping-laughing-shivering-glorious-joyful farewell, the others slept cozy and warm in their beds ... I began to wonder what I had agreed upon last night!

My feet hit the cold, sandy beach ... and I knew ... LIFE.

Today I am living life!  I watched the moon settle over the horizon as the eastern sky woke up in a colorful, glorious red sunrise ... the waves greeting my toes ... welcoming me to the water to jump, squeal, and laugh at the absolute wildness of me skinny dipping in the coastal waters of Oregon in February!  A moment in life I will treasure.

Living today is filled with ocean dipping, rock hunting, hot coffee, breakfast, cleaning, packing, brunch, road trip to the airport, moss covered trees, shopping, sunshine, and coming home to warm hugs and holding my daughter's hand ... and falling asleep close to my family.  Life is good.

Live today in the experience of each moment ... a treasure to embrace. 

Perhaps over time we have lost the ability to dream ... to live in the wonderment and magic of life itself ... to walk awake and noticing the simple moments of magic ... the sunrise and sunset ... the full moon shining over the ocean waters ... starfish and sand dollars scattered along the shore ... the seagulls swooping ... the air filled with adventure ... magical days.

I sit by the ocean and dream of a retreat house nestled deep into the mountain overlooking the wild ocean waters ... music, art, yoga, dance, rest ... a full wall of books ... a fireplace to warm your body after a brisk dip in the ocean ... large windows to watch the moon rise and raindrops fall ... tranquil and turbulent like the ocean.

Dreaming by the ocean is beautiful.  I have decided to create a dream space in my home ... to dream the magic into my reality ... I dream of my new studio back home to inspire and create ... mind body fitness is my dream studio that is coming true ... soon ... patience ... and more dreaming! 

Now is the time to dream, create, and educate!  You can do this ... really you can!  I am here to nourish you, encourage you, and sustain you through the journey ... I LOVE being a part of the dream ... our dreams transform one another and ultimately transform our world.

Dream to transform life ... transform YOU! 

For the next four days I will be writing in my journal as I sit by the ocean waters ... no cell phone, no computer, no technology ... just the wild ocean, rock hunting, prayer, meditation, and being mindful of life.

Thursday evening we sat around the dining table, listening to the crashing waves of the Pacfic Ocean and spoke of the spirals of consciousness ... an amazing tool to bring awareness, focus, and plenty of animated conversation!  The dining room filled with each of our quirks of control, power struggles, being right, wanting to be heard, wanting to defend, negotiate, and organize ... the crashing waves brought energy to the crashing egos and soon to the celebration of unity! 

Mindful conversations gave us an amazing statement ... woman choose to nourish, encourage, and sustain life.

Think about that ... choose to nourish, encourage, and sustain life!  Imagine how your life can transform with this simple statement ... nourish your body, mind, and spirit ... encourage your body, mind, and spirit ... sustain your body, mind, and spirit.  Life becomes powerful, courageous, present, and awakened.

Be mindful of how you nourish, encourage, and sustain your life with food, beverages, water, relationships, thoughts ...  what impact are you making upon those in your circle of influence? Are they listening?  Ignoring? Egos conflicting?

Remember, standing on your soap box may not be the best way to nourish, encourage, or sustain others ... be mindful of your personal actions and desire of results ... today may be the best day to simply be mindful of how you ebb and flow within yourself and your community.