Category Archives: Uncategorized

Transform

For the next 3 months I am sharing EVERY WEEK.

People ask me ALL THE TIME a) do I miss what I used to do and b) will I ever go back……..

I spent a LOT OF TIME prepping my life to DO WHAT I DID. I LOVED what I did. I was prepared in my head to spend all of my working days in an office surrounded by amazing teachers and out in the field with amazing kids. I enjoyed talking to parents. And working with teams. And hands down I am to the heart of the living core a life long learner. But No.

I will never go back.

Ever.

And not because I can’t or because I don’t have to or because I don’t want to……

I won’t go back because as much as we “plan” or think we know what is BEST for ourselves….. sometimes we don’t AND we have to let something else “take the wheel”. For me that’s HARD because I have always been the driver. The one in control. Or so I thought.

However- There really IS a MASTER plan. No matter what you believe in spiritually.

For example….do you really think people wake up each day and say “you know….. today I’m going to x,y,and z even though I’ve never EVER thought of doing this before IN MY LIFE?! I don’t think so!!! SOMETHING has conditioned OR has influenced them to get to that point of waking up- and to do something that may or may not reflect who they truly are.

I hands down believe that if you were to look back and REALLY analyze the path you’ve walked- it’s not a surprise or shouldn’t be a news flash of anything NEW.

There are hints.

There are signs.

Our past successes and of course our failures and/or experiences DO impact our future successes and/or experiences. It’s allllllllll about being that life long learner. That person that can reflect, analyze, be self-reflecting and GROW…….

…….transform. ?

We are in the second quarter of 2019. If the first quarter was rough.

Start again.

Make a change and

TRANSFORM.

If you are better than the person you were the day before…. you are WELL on your way TO the best version of yourself.

Because, Who doesn’t want that?

Xo

Amy

God Left a Thumbprint

God Left a Thumbprint

And yes, they are everywhere.  Everywhere I turn and look.  He left me a thumbprint.
After my parents died, I lost my “rocks” and I am living through my greatest fear EVER in LIFE… but it happened so incredibly fast.   My fear ever since a little girl has never been of me dying, but in my parents dying.  Unfortunately I thought about it way too much as I was growing up and I perseverated On it.  All the time.
Lucky for me, God gave me a pretty decent internal compass.  I appreciate everything I have.   I’ve never been one to point fingers.  But in the heat of a world that’s painted gray, I’ve always been more content with answers in black and white.  More on that later.
I know what my strengths are.
I know what my weaknesses are.
I’ve always embraced my weaknesses and I’ve used my crutches for a LONG TIME.
  But the truth is even the strongest people with perhaps the strongest “crutches” will fall.
 There is no crystal ball but THAT is a guarantee.  So then what?  What do you do then?  Blessed am I that in the last 5 years while my rocks were removed from my daily interaction in flesh, I’ve kept my eyes OPEN, my ears OPEN and most importantly my heart OPEN to where to go so my internal compass could follow.
         His thumbprints……
Coming from a girl who has done almost everything to beat the demons there is something so rich and powerful to be said for this, that I now fully understand the direction of where I’m going.
If you are scared, silently grieving, afraid to speak up, or lost- stay tuned for what’s to come because I want to make sure I’m able to share what I’ve learned and continue to learn.  I’ve had some wake up calls.
 You can hit snooze or get up and GO…..
If I can even help just one person….?
#onechance
#powertoempower
#notacoincidence
#youcanfalloryoucanwalk

Managing Peace

Today I had coffee with my mom.

For the last 18 months I slipped away from sharing this blog but I can tell you that I have learned MORE in the past 18th months than I ever could have imagined and its quite possibly the greatest blessing I could have ever received. I have decided that there is too much to share NOT to share…

Before kids I used to drive to my parents house on Saturday mornings and have coffee with my mom. I also showed up at their house all the time just to be near her.   I talked to her on the phone 3-4 times a day. It always started around 8:00 in the morning. Even Matt got so used to the calls that even he “knew” when it was Trudy calling ME on the other end.

4 years ago this day my dad called me at sunrise to tell me that she had passed. I remember that morning drive back to the hospital for the very last time like it was yesterday. I honestly thought I was going to have a few more days left with her. I even thought it was possible I would have a couple of weeks left with her. It was surreal to think that she really was no longer alive and I couldn’t begin to imagine what I was going to see for the very last time. As much as I raced to get there I remember walking in as if my feet were attached to the cement. As I walked closer to her room the staff had placed a blue butterfly on her doorframe to notify those around her of her passing.

When I walked in- she took my breath away.

There she was. She was still. She was asleep. She was gone.

As I cried out loud “ohhh mom……” I sat down next to her, I weeped and wrapped my arms around what was left of the warmth in her body for the very last time.

More often than not I feel like only a part of me is really present on this earth since her death because my world has continued to get jolted around. There is no other way to describe it other than being tossed around in the middle of the ocean. Fortunately I made the choice to swim towards the shoreline and when it was in sight, I was also able to realize that by trusting in God and by trusting the journey, I was provided with an anchor. This continually keeps me from getting swept back to sea and losing sight of the shoreline. Along the way, there have been at least a dozen people who inevitably were meant to cross my path during this time in my life. Each one of them has thrown me a life preserver when the waves got choppy and encouraged me to keep swimming. Some days the waters are rough and other days they are as smooth as glass.

Peaceful, calming and still.

Those are the days I can catch my breath and recapture my strength so I can continue to swim.

I plan on sharing more about what I’ve learned because I whole-heartedly believe in sharing with the universe much like it has shared with me. It has been nothing like I ever could have imagined. But, I continue to trust that this is exactly where I am supposed to be.

Today, I had coffee with my mom.

Finding Inner Peace

It seems most appropriate that I would be sitting down to blog this on Christmas night. With a candle, my moms favorite drink and the magic of the holiday season and peace on earth.
If it seems like you haven’t heard from me in a while, it’s because you haven’t.  I had to get through these holidays. Again. Only this time, with the reality of what my life has become.  Last year I was VERY pregnant and wondering how on earth I was going to give birth to my 4th baby on the same floor I lost my mom on.  I hadn’t been to that hospital, let alone THAT floor since the day I saw her pass. How could I feel any sense of peace? I couldn’t.  Last year was by far the hardest year.  The year before happened so quick that I was just in shock. Watching both my parents leave this earth in two very different circumstances 4 months apart left me having experienced what I can only hope and pray are the worst experiences of my life.  It left me at a heightened sense of inner turmoil.  Anyone who has been there can certainly relate.  And anyone who hasn’t, read on and make sure you take note.  Because the bottom line, is that IT IS LIFE. And everyone, at some point, will have their inner peace completely shaken.  More than likely it will happen again. Maybe even again.  But….
As you already know, this year has been a year of new beginnings for me. And it started with the birth of my baby boy, Brady on January 2. This year was a year of healing, acceptance, growth, renewal, and I believe I can say this now…. INNER PEACE.
Maybe I have found it.   MY Inner peace.  It wasn’t without God – my faith in God- or the countless numbers of friends and family who have supported me throughout my journey.
Inner peace is a strength everyone needs to make sure is in “check” at all times throughout their life.  If it isn’t one of your strengths, you need to make it one of your strengths. Now. Today. This year.  Maybe it can be your goal for 2016.
How? For starters- I believe that inner peace must start with happiness in oneself from within. You cannot rely on anyone- not ANYONE but YOURSELF- to make you happy.  If you aren’t happy, you have to find out what makes you happy. Don’t wait for it to come to you, go out there and get it. All the happiness you can find. Get it.
That sounds too rosy cheeky easy because the truth is that many people- too MANY people are in pain.  They are hurt. Broken. Run down.  Speaking from experience- don’t let that take you down.  Every DAY EVERYONE has a choice. It doesn’t take much to go out there into the real world and realize real quick the blessings you DO have in your life.  YOU HAVE A CHOICE.
But the secret, is acknowledging that what ails you is REAL. You cannot fight it. You cannot sweep it under the carpet.  You cannot push it away. In fact, if you try do to that, if you ignore it, it will only come back more fierce and knock you down even harder.
Acknowledge that pain.  That panic. Any uncertainty.  Any question. Any loss of hope. And put it in a place where you can attend to it and nurture it.  Then, count your blessings. Remind yourself and thank the Lord above for what you DO have.
Most importantly. Soothe your soul. Soothe.  Funny how the terminology that has moved me through this year comes from only my absolutely FAVORITE premium skincare products. ???
Seek to soothe your soul, strike balance and create inner peace-
It’s up to you to pursue it and give it everything you’ve got because tomorrow isn’t a guarantee —–but today is a GIFT.
Come to peace. Meditate. Pray. Smile. Spend time with people who make you feel loved. Who make you laugh. Who support you and help you grow.
Peace. Inner peace.  You owe it to yourself and EVERYONE around you- to find that peace so that your inner beauty and the best version of YOURSELF shines through daily.
 PEACE.
~Amy
You can follow me @myjourneyamy

Time For Change

Everybody NEEDS something.  Change needs change.  To accomplish anything, you need tools. And better yet, if you really want to have options and opportunities, it’s a good thing to have a tool box you can choose from.

In a year that I have committed myself to change, the metaphors and analogies that my new business venture has brought to my life has been crucial.  I’m a visual person and I like to SEE results.  One of the first things you can do; is look into the mirror, and using our solution tool, “decide today how tomorrow looks”.  Think this is only skin deep?  Guess again…. It goes FAR beyond just what others see on the outside and the image you reflect of yourself.

There is nothing to lose when you take the solution tool.  In fact, it has been an incredible reference for me in all areas.

You identify your TOP 2 concerns.  When you look in the mirror, what is it most that you would like to work on FIRST.  Then after targeted approach backed up by years of dermatological practice and study, a recommendation for you is provided by the doctors as your PRESCRIPTION FOR CHANGE.

I love it… And it works. (Remember you get 60 days to try it risk free)

Wouldn’t you love to apply this to all aspects of your life? Well…. You can.

Email me at [email protected] so we can do your solution together.

Step One: Identify Your Top Two

Before you can put your best self forward and be the best version of yourself that you can possibly be, it’s necessary to identify your Top 2. What is this?  Get ready for it….

Your Top 2….. CONCERNS.

Sound easy?   Well sure, many of us could probably identify at least 20 top concerns!! But we need to focus on our TOP 2.  Beyond that only gets overwhelming.  This actually can be more difficult than it initially appears.

Identify the TOP 2 things that hold you back, bring you down, or prevent you from being your #1 version of yourself.
Doing this NOW, October 1st of 2015, is going to help you establish some direction on how you can improve your 2016.   It’s going to help you put in place what it is that you should acknowledge in your life as being a consistent setback and use that as a catalyst for setting your OWN New Years Resolution…. 3 months from now!!
R+F5
So think about it…. Identify the Top 2 concerns in your life so you can stop wasting time letting them bring you down, and instead find a solution tool to help you identify them, learn from them and help you put them behind you.

You can do this.

Personally, I’m a work in progress. Aren’t we all? I did this in January…. And I have 3 more months to continue on my 2015 journey before I can reflect on my success.