 It seems like such a simple action, but far too many moments pass in our lives when we stop ourselves in our steps silently. We conform to what is being asked of us. We conform to what is responsible and practical. What if we asked the question we are conditioned to not ask?
What do I want? Will the walls come tumbling down around you or will you find a light in the right direction in the previous tangled web that you call your life? Do you find yourself struggling in your path? Do you feel stuck? Are constantly circling back to places you already have been thinking you could fix it to feel right? Maybe, just maybe, something is trying to tell you that wasn't meant for you. Maybe, what is being asked of you needs you to pause and really hear the difference. So, today, I want you to pause, ask and listen. Three simple words. Don't make them complex. Don't analyze them. Don't doubt their power.
0 Comments
 I heard something recently that really hit home. I am paraphrasing, but it was a about hope. Hope at the end of the day is all we have on the road. Now, if you have been through these pages and writings of mine, you know I believe there is so much more; faith, love, determination, passion and so on. But, this simple idea caught my ear. What if we did fall asleep every night holding hope? What if we chose hope to be our guide alongside all the other things? What if we embraced hope the same way we allowed failure to encompass us? So, for this day, this night and every one after, I challenge you to sleep holding hope for what is to come. Don't be surprised by what will follow; take it and soar in all that you dream!  You have heard this before, but did you really listen?
It is human nature. The world around us is always shouting at us and our instinct is to offer an opinion, think we have the solution to everyone else's problem and put our body in others' journey. What would happen if you stayed in your own energy? What if we lived our life in a way that someone wanted to mirror it, instead of shouting at it, 'this is how you should live?' Understand the difference. Living as a mirror is living with no intended message other than your own story. Living as a way of 'showing' others how you should live is living with motive and ego. Our presence in this world says everything to anyone looking within. How do you want to leave this world and your footprint? Stay in your own energy and the right people will find you and the path that is meant for your steps.  Andrea's Post-It Affirmation Project I have written and talked endlessly about affirmations. There are so many different ways we can do so! Leave post-it affirmations, a personal favorite, to simply complimenting a stranger or friend for no other reason than to be kind. I guarantee it changes the lives of the receiver. It only takes one affirmation and one person to make difference.
Will you try it today?  I woke in the silence this morning to the sound of rain of falling. It was so peaceful and calming, I didn't want to move.
How often do you pause for beauty in the silence? How often do you allow yourself to be mindful as the day begins? It is not hard, but we make it hard. Our worlds seem to demand so much of us that pausing is the last thought on our mind. I took this photo last week while training for the Camino in the early hours before a soul has awoken. I often hike the trails in my own little world as the sun is coming up. But, right here? Right here, I stop every single morning. I greet my friends and marvel at the beauty that is being offered. It just doesn't seem right to walk by without doing so. What beauty are you missing?  It seems simple, dance freely. But have you ever tried to do so?
When we allow our bodies to move freely, we let go of endless programmed thoughts and emotions. When we move and breathe fully in our bodies, there is an acceptance and release allowing an energy to bring life to the moment. As a woman, I grew up conditioned in a way that only added to my insecurities. Today, I embrace my true inner self with love and by doing so, I have fallen in love with my body. Is it always easy? No. It is daily practice, a daily reminder. My peace is a constant learning lesson. Loving my body is a daily journey. Living true is a gift.  We are all having a human experience.
We all meet in this space on the journey. In a time when the world feels so divided, the truth is that we are all connected. There is no way around it; turning to the person to your right, turning to the person to your left, the reality is that our human experience connects us at our core. There isn't a single individual that will not find one thing that connects us; emotions, stories, journey. Do you want to be divided? Today, find the one thing in the person next to you that connects you. Then, remind someone else to do the same. Just maybe, we can create more peace and acceptance in the world, rather than division and hate.  So often we tend to miss the true call to our journey. The answers are more about what we think we need or feel rather than see things for what they truly are to us.
How can you listen more deeply?  I have found that every decade has brought me something different.
I have embraced and let go of so much along the way. This sentiment hits at a time of unique awareness. I am known for saying, life is a journey not a destination...in all things. When you accept this, what comes to you, stays with you and when you allow yourself to release that which doesn’t serve you, it can make all the difference. I believe, when we ongoingly shift our perspective, our outcomes fall into the place they are meant for us. I love this idea that I can begin again as many times as I need or want to. I love this truth. Who is to say that my path is wrong? Who is to tell me that I can't walk the steps that I am choosing just because they look different from yours? Then you have the powerful word, 'crisis.' When did aging become a crisis? When did making choices that don't look like yours become a crisis? When did midlife become a bad word? This is our problem. We are putting unrealistic definitions and demands on people that we have no right to do. Your voice is the only one that matters on your journey. Your choices for your life are yours and no one else's. What do you want from this one wild and amazing life today? Don't wait until time steals all that you would have wanted for yourself. Today is the best day. Today is the day you choose to live the journey in your own voice and your own steps. There is no crisis. There are unravelling preconceived notions that someone else wrote one day long ago that do not apply to you. Take back your journey! Saturday, I had an incredible opportunity, thanks to Dragonfly Book Bar to be a part of an Author Showcase. It was such a wonderful experience to gather with other amazing writers to hear how their stories came to life within their books. I love how each of our stories weave us all together in this amazing one life we walk! Thank you to all who attended and asked more into my journey of writing. It meant more than you know and I can't wait to get out on the road speaking more about these awesome books!  Who are you at your core?
Does your life reflect the core of your beliefs? Do you live out this truth in all that you do daily? We are grounded in our roots; it is our responsibility to reflect our passion and story outward for the better of others and ourselves. When we live in this truth, our soul is balanced and peace encompasses our journey thus surrounding others. Our soul breathes our spiritual essence and emotional foundation. How do you find yourself among these thoughts?  Are you paying attention?
The moment is right in front of you. If you do not pause, you will miss it. Life moves quickly, and distractions are daily. If you wait for the calm, you will miss the gift in the moment that is in front of you! Today, center the storm around you. Listen to your breathing. Feel your heartbeat. Find your center. It is there you will find yourself. In this moment, for what are you grateful?  Consider this for a moment.
Do you apologize for your presence? Do you question the space you take up in a room? Do you consider at times your depth isn't valuable? When walking through life, what do you want to add to the steps you are walking? What does your voice want to speak to others and the situation around you? When we take up space and show up in the world firmly grounded and confident in what we want to share, it is then we are owning our journey and empowering our voice to reach those around us. I do not apologize for who I am or what I speak; I pause and consider my words to offer with meaning and depth, never to wound another. When I do this, the space is filled with value, and people walk away feeling lifted up more than anything else. How are you taking up space in your life today?  ROOT noun: the part of a plant which attaches it to the ground or to a support, typically underground carrying nourishment to the rest of the plant via numerous branches and fibers; the basic cause, source, or origin of something. (Core. Sow/Plant/Establish deeply and firmly.) This word holds a lot of weight. Our story can be so diverse. When we try and take steps without fully embracing it, our self-worth or the soul connection to our rootedness, we are destined to fail. It is human nature. I have found over years of recovery that foundation is everything. When I jump into any situation without first grounding myself with an understanding of self and what I want to receive from the end result; I simply am setting myself up for failure. When I pause first to reflect, I walk grounded and with empowerment that allows the story to unfold as it is meant to be. How are you grounded within your journey? A little reflection about walking your path… I recorded this last August and never posted, but came back to its sentiment this week realizing it was worth posting. A little longer than others, but I think there are lots of gems inside.
I am honored to be asked to join these amazing local authors in this showcase coming in July! Join me as I share how this journey all started! Dragonfly Book Bar 625 State Street, Bristol, VA, United States, Virginia 24201 AMAZON REVIEWS
Rich with vulnerability MJ Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2026 “Andrea’s writing is approachable but lifts the reader into a lovely state of introspection. She shares personal experiences and ties them with thought provoking questions to bring readers into their own personal journeys. I particularly liked that these are essays- easy to read and then sit with separately.” A book on coming home to being emotionally sober RK Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2026 “Soul Homecomings is such a beautiful and deeply grounding book. One of the things that stood out to me most was the concept of emotional sobriety — learning to notice your emotions, sit with them, and be present without immediately judging, avoiding, or reacting to them. The book feels gentle, wise, and authentic, like a conversation that brings you back home to yourself. Truly a meaningful and healing read.” |
Current
|
RSS Feed
