My husband has an old stereo that is set up in the library. It is one of the ones with a box tuner and speakers that are two and a half feet tall. It works but I have never seen him use it and I had only used it a handful of times until my daughter came along.

My daughter loves music. At ten months, with limited words, she has already learned how to request some of her favorite songs. After the tenth or eleventh time singing Old MacDonald's Farm, ABC's, and the handful of other children's songs I know (each) it is time to turn to the radio. 

She loves standing next to the giant speakers and bobbing along to whatever is playing. There doesn't seem to be any type of music she doesn't like, at least of what I am willing to try. I especially enjoy dancing around together.

I'm grateful my daughter loves music as much as I do. I'm grateful to have this old stereo. I'm grateful to have the reminder to use the stereo and fill the house with music. I'm grateful for the look of joy on her face when the speakers begin to sing. I'm grateful for these moments together as she is growing up so quickly. I'm grateful to pause the morning to spend time dancing together.

What do you enjoy? What types of music do you listen to during the day? Music is a great way to create the mood of your day. What mood are you creating?

May today remind us that we have the power to create. May we take the time to dance and enjoy life. Have a beautiful day!

My dogs have never been fond of thunder. One has been terrified as long as I've had her and the other has developed a fear just over the last year or so. Perhaps it is age or maybe the pressure change is uncomfortable. 

Whatever the reason it leads to wonderful snuggly mornings when a storm moves in. This morning the thunder rumbles as the rain pelts the deck just outside the window. It is a perfect morning for thunder snuggles as I was not quite ready to get up when the alarm went off either.

I'm grateful for slow start mornings. I'm very grateful for thunder snuggles with my dogs as my daughter explores the room bravely. I'm grateful that she does not fear the rain and thunder. I'm grateful for the warm bodies of my nervous pups. I'm grateful to start the morning slow, just snuggling on the floor. I'm grateful to see what this day will bring.

What gives you pause and allows you to take the morning slow? What is your favorite way to start the day?

​May today give us opportunity to pause. May we reconnect with our four-legged friends and just take some time to snuggle. Have a beautiful day!

Over the last several months I have struggled with my anxiety. Six years ago I was labeled to have Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome with a bonus of high anxiety. I have kept it in check with meditation and self-care practices. 

Since my daughter was born my self-care practices have struggled and my anxiety and chest pains have returned. I have been making a conscious effort to bring yoga back into my day and even incorporated it into my daughter's morning nap routine so that it can't be pushed to "later". I feel like my meditations most days are back to square one as I try to maintain the space without my mind darting back and forth. 

The one thing I am finding that can bring my back down from anxiety and stress is pausing to listen to the bird choir. It plays all morning, and some days all day, in my backyard. There are Robins and Cardinals and Bluejays and a number of little bitty birds that I have not identified. 

They are always in tune. Unlike the radio, they are always playing the exact song I want to hear. There is no tuning or station changes necessary, only the need to be still and listen. This choir is the most gracious of performers and do not mind if I need to get up to go get the baby or get something done. They sing on.

I'm grateful for these quiet mornings where I can sit and listen to the melody of my favorite choir. I'm grateful to get to catch glimpses of the performers as they come to eat berries or get drinks of water during intermission. I'm grateful for the way nature can bring me back to center. I'm grateful for the ability to quiet my mind and ease my anxiety in such a simple way. I'm grateful for the performers that sing day after day.

What sound calms you? What sound can bring you back from the stress of a monkey-mind?

May today provide ample opportunity to unwind. May we recognize the importance of our self-care and take steps to incorporate it into our daily routine. Have a beautiful day!

My ten month old daughter has never been a good sleeper. All but a couple weeks of her life she has woken up every one to two hours during the night. Last weekend was particularly rough as she also began fighting going down for sleep for nearly two hours each night.

Yesterday during Project Joy, a monthly goal setting and vision boarding group I lead, we decided to make a vision board for Lydia. I joked that I would hang it above her crib so she could remember our goal of sleeping. When we got home I left it on the counter with my own.

Last night, for the first time in her life, my daughter slept seven straight hours! It was the most wonderful experience. I doubt it had anything to do with the vision board we created for her. More likely she slept because she was exhausted from the lack of sleep over the weekend. Either way this is one happy mama!

I'm grateful, so grateful, for a good nights sleep. I'm grateful for my daughter's cheerful, rested face this morning. I'm grateful for the hope of more nights like this. I'm grateful for my bed and pillow that have been there for me through this whole experience. I'm grateful how no matter how many times I have to leave they always welcome me back. I'm grateful for the energy I have waking after sleep though I know there is much more to catch up. I'm grateful for a sunny day to reflect my daughter and my sunny mood.

What do you want to envision for your life this month? How can you help create the success of this vision?

May the universe remind us we are supported in what we are trying to create. Have a beautiful day!

Each day offers us invitations to reconnect with the world, take an opportunity, or recenter. Sometimes those invitations are subtle and other times they are unmistakable and persistent. This week I had just such an invitation from one of my feathered friends.

Cardinals have held a strong connection for me since my grandma passed away several years ago. The passing of my grandpa last summer strengthened that connection and I have been very blessed to have them as frequent visitors ever since. 

For three days this young cardinal came and sat on the grill outside my kitchen window while I made breakfast. The first time he hopped back and forth along the lid of the grill as I watched. I said, "Happy Father's Day, Grandpa. We grilled as always. We missed you." He cocked his head at me and flew back up into the trees.

The second day he again hopped back and forth across the top of the grill and chirped a couple of times. I paused in making breakfast and just watched him sending love to my grandpa's spirit. He persisted for a while as I watched but then the baby woke and when I returned he was gone.

The third day this beautiful cardinal was more persistent. He chirped loudly as he hopped back and forth. He made grand fluttering gestures at the front of the grill that made me actually wonder if somehow there was a nest or something in it. Then he started flapping his wings and acting like he was charging the window. He could not be ignored. I went outside to check what could be wrong and he fluttered up to a nearby branch watching me.

There was nothing wrong with the grill. The gas was off and there was no nest or food trapped inside. I started to walk back inside but he called out from the tree, starring me right in the eye. I slowly walked over to the bench nearest him on our deck. He, of course, flew to a branch slightly farther away. 

I sat there wondering what was the message. This was a clear and un-ignorable invitation but to what? I sat back and took a few breaths. I listened to the breeze rustling the leaves and all the bird songs going on around me. Then I picked out his call again and just listened to the trill of it. 

Then all at once I heard some of the wisdom Grandpa had told me while he was still alive. Like a whisper his words returned to my mind and I felt like I was being held in a warm embrace. I realized everything around me had gone silent and tears splashed on my cheeks. The cardinal started his song, just a steady tune, no longer urgent.  

I'm so grateful for these invitations. I'm grateful for this persistent call to come outside to listen. I'm grateful for the comfort it brought me and the opportunity to reconnect. I'm grateful for this cardinal's beauty and stubbornness, not unlike my grandpa. I'm grateful for the songs of the birds in my yard and most thankful for the family of cardinals that bring my heart joy. I'm grateful for these connections that remind me I am never alone and always surrounded by love.

What invitations are waiting for you today? Will you choose to accept them?

May today remind us that we do have a few minutes to give. May we take the opportunities that speak to our hearts. Have a beautiful day!

You may be wondering why the title says "People Who Inspire" and yet there is a photo of my dog. Today I would like to give a shout out to one of the people in my life that inspires me as an entrepreneur. She owns her own dog training business and after years of hard work is opening in a new, beautiful space to also offer dog daycare.

While I have many friends that inspire me, few inspire me in work ethic and modeling how successful small business can be like my friend Emily. Over the years I have known her I have watched her go through many changes. She became a wife and mother and somehow still manages to grow her business! Her focus and determination is matched only by her passion for what she does. I don't know anyone who knows dogs and dog behavior better. She is a source of information when I am needing advice for my dogs but also an inspiration as a small business owner and mother.

I will admit that I have not seen as much of my friends as I would like over the last year. I am trying to get a bit more balance back into my life in that area as my daughter grows. Yet even with the stretches of not hanging out I know that we have each other's back if anything came up. To me that is what true friendship is about.

I'm grateful for my friend Emily. I'm grateful for all the transitions we have witnessed in each other. I'm grateful for her willingness to always be a friend even when I have been absent. I'm grateful for her amazing knowledge about dogs and about being a mom. I'm grateful for a real live "supermom" to inspire and motivate me to keep striving for excellence. I'm grateful to see her opening her own place and to see all her hard work pay off. I'm grateful for her passion to help animals and advocate against breed discrimination. 

Who in your life inspires you to do better, try harder, or take a risk? Who is your source of knowledge as you try something new?

May today remind us that life is full of everyday heroes. May we acknowledge each others' strengths and celebrate each others' passions. Have a beautiful day!

Summer Solstice is here! This is one of my favorite days of the year as it is our longest day of sunshine. I went to bed last night with the sun still giving off some light and woke to sunshine of a risen sun this morning.

Sunlight provides so many benefits from helping my body with Vitamin D to energizing my mind. It cheers my spirit. It warms my skin. It is a beautiful gift from Mother Nature.

I'm grateful for the cycles of the sun and the benefits each stage has on life. I'm grateful for the light of the sun and warmth on my skin. I'm grateful for Summer which provides many opportunities to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. I'm grateful for the benefits the sun provides, not only for myself but for Earth. I'm grateful for this day of extra sunlight. I'm grateful to celebrate the solstice.

What is your favorite things about the sun? What do you love about Summer?

May today light us up. May we feel uplifted and sunnier as we go about our day. Have a beautiful day!

Last night on my way to work I decided to renew my commitment to Laughter Yoga while I drive. I used to practice laughing when I drove as a quick pick-me-up. Since my daughter was born it is one of the practices that has kind of fallen to the wayside, mostly because I am either talking or singing to her or because I am tired and focused on driving.

As I made my way down the familiar roads yesterday, laughing, I noticed two things. The first was that I felt more energized and uplifted. This was not a surprise as it is one of the many benefits of Laughter Yoga. The second thing I noticed, as I pulled into the parking lot at work, was that it had not taken me as long to get to work. 

At first I thought it was just my perception; the ride had gone faster because I was enjoying it. When I looked at my clock I realized I had, in fact, made it to work five minutes quicker than usual. Was it possible that my energy and laughter put me in the flow so well that even the traffic lights changed for me? I had only stopped at two red lights the whole way!

I'm grateful to be in the flow. I'm grateful to renew my commitment to laughing. I'm grateful for the quick drive last night and even more grateful for it being enjoyable. I'm grateful for a source of energy when I am tired. I'm grateful for the silliness that Laughter Yoga allows and I'm even grateful for the funny looks I get from the cars around me as it helps me keep laughing. I'm grateful for this renewal and the renewal it will provide for my body, mind, and spirit as I continue the practice. 

What makes you laugh? Have you ever just laughed for no reason? What helps you feel in the flow?

May today guide us to be in the flow. May we enjoy the journey and find plenty of opportunities to laugh. Have a beautiful day!

There is a unique and amazing transformation that occurs when a man becomes a dad. Watching my husband change and grow into the amazing father he has become in a matter of months has been a wonderful thing to witness. He can change a diaper, soothe tears, and play silly games with a variety of facial expressions and accents all while researching what tail lightbulb my car needs. It is a special form of super-human.

As a daughter I know I hold my dad up on a special pedestal. He is James Bond in cowboy boots and can do or fix anything. He is my hero and my source of strength in many ways. 

Now watching my husband step into that role, I appreciate it in a whole new way. There are sacrifices and learning curves and yet it is well worth it. I definitely chose a good dad for our daughter. He is one amazing guy.

I'm grateful to witness the transformation as my husband became a dad. I'm grateful to witness him growing within that role every day. I'm grateful to see the birth of these special super-human qualities. I'm grateful to watch my daughter's face light up when she sees her daddy. And I'm grateful for my own dad and all that he has done for me and with me over the years. I'm grateful to have such wonderful men in my life. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate Father's Day with them yesterday as it is such a well deserved holiday.

Who is your real superman? What male figure in your life has been there for you and helped you become the person you are today?

May we take time today to acknowledge the role of others in the person we have become. May we celebrate the people who helped us get where we are today. And may all the dads out there know how appreciated they are every day. Have a beautiful day!