What the heck is a Fitness Coach?

Happy Thursday! I hope you are having a wonderful week! So very excited and nervous (I'll be honest) to share my newest video with you. In light of my recent blog post about my friend and fellow coach, I wanted to create a video to share my coaching story: what inspired me to become a fitness coach, why I was scared as hell in the beginning and how I will continue to help others and grow a team of fit and fabulous people wanting to do the same! Lots of love heart emoticon 

Beachbody coaching and health coaching isn’t 100% my life. My life is mine and mine alone to define, through many other things. But Beachbody coaching helps instill my life with purpose, direction and gives me an incredible way to inspire and help others live a happy and healthy life...and earn an income while doing it. 

When I became a coach...

What I expected:

1. Discount on Shakeology and Beachbody programs

2. Ability to run challenge groups to help people get fit and reach their ideal weight

3. Earn enough money to pay for my Shakeology every month

What I actually got...
1. An opportunity to inspire and motivate others to be the healthiest and happiest versions of themselves
2. My team: an amazing community of coaches and friends who inspire and mentor me every day.
3. The incredible honor to watch people's life change beyond fitness and nutrition. The motivation, energy, confidence gained in the challenge group spills over into your life!
4. Easily pay for my shakeology order, and then some, every month.
5. A second source of income. I didn't expect to grow a business, but my business and income grew through HELPING people, so it just sort of happened naturally.
6. Confidence to be a mentor and leader.
7. A sense of fulfillment and purpose.
8. TRAVEL to Nashville in July 2015 for Coach Summit and fucking JAMAICA in spring of 2016 for the Beachbody cruise. I mean, WTF.
9. Oh yeah, the bomb-ass discount on my Shakeology and programs ;)

So yeah, you can imagine it was sort of like Christmas morning when I realized everything that I was blessed with when I took a chance and leap of faith to become a coach. 

Think you'd be a good fit? Questions? Interest? Want more details? Email me at: theglowstickdiaries(at)gmail.com. 

Healthy Treats for the Holidays (thank me later)

I have to admit, this post is a bit selfish.

I wanted to compile all the healthy, tasty, "holy shit I just found this on Pinterest" kind of treats in ONE place so that I, uh, I mean, we could all have these resources in one place. You know, make it easier for baking/creating/entertaining.

Here are some fabulous, crowd pleasing desserts that you can/should bring to your holiday parties or provide at a family gathering. And they are secretly healthy too. Win-win. (Almost wrote "wine" instead of "win." Good grief.)

1. Apple Cookies. I mean, how cute are these?!?

If you have an apple corer, I would suggest cutting out the core of the apple, so you can slice it into medallions easier. If not, slice it into medallions and then just cut out the center seeds and such. Top with you favorite kind of nut butter (look for ones that have the least ingredients as possible! Ie: no added sugars/cane syrup/hydrogenated oils/palm oil crap in it. Unnecessary. Nut butter should be (roasted) nuts and maybe a little salt. Period.), add some dark chocolate chips, coconut flakes, cranberries, cherries, goji berries, a little sea salt...basically anything that sounds good to you.


2. Chocolate bark
This is my absolute go-to when I need to bring food or dessert to a party. I also give fancy chocolate bark out as gifts sometimes. I buy 3-4 bars of dark chocolate, 72% or higher. Some of my favorites are Ghirardelli (72% or 85%) and the Belgian Dark Chocolate from Trader Joe's. Melt the chocolate, spread it over wax paper on a baking sheet and top with your favorite things. In the past, I've topped

chocolate with pistachios, dried cranberries or cherries, coconut, crushed peppermint stick, peanuts/almonds...the list goes on! Enjoy creating. Remember though, when it comes to toppings, the simpler combinations, the better. Cover 1/2 your chocolate in pistachios and cranberries and the other half in coconut and almonds. Here are some good "how to make chocolate bark" recipes: Aquí y aquí.

3. Cookies!!! Well, 48 Healthier Holiday Cookie Recipes, to be exact. Written by my website crush, Greatist.

4. Raw Brownies. Say what?! No, really. I've made these countless times, even for people who are suspicious of anything healthy and they are an absolute hit. They are a little more labor intensive, as they require either a food processor or Nutribullet/Vitamix kind of weaponry, but they are worth. every. ounce. of. effort. Raw cacao powder is sort of pricey. But again, worth it for this recipe. And you can use it in your green smoothies to give them a superfood boost! :)

5. Pumpkin bread. If you are a fan of pumpkin bread, especially the Trader Joe's pumpkin bread mix, these will knock your socks off! I love the package mix at TJ's, but this is even better. And it's Paleo, which means it's gluten-free and has no refined sugars. #winning

Hope these recipes provide some inspiration for any dessert-bringing you may have to do over the next few weeks!

Sending merry thoughts!

How to Rock Your Goals and Be More Productive

I'll never forget watching a video lecture called "Big Rocks" during my training at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. The video focused on time management and prioritizing our tasks throughout the day.

The idea was that we tend to fill up our day (represented by an empty mason jar) with getting all the little, piddly-ass things done on our to-do list. Insignificant tasks (little rocks) that keep us busy, but don't move us closer to our goals and dreams (big rocks). But those larger goals seem like monstrous tasks, ones we can't even begin to think about until we get all those little things out of the way...

For example: I have been wanting to write a blog post for a week and a half now. Have I? Nope. Not until tonight. I wanted to get all the other little things out of the way first, so that I could focus entirely on writing a good blog post.

A week and a half later, the "little things" keep making their way to the top of my to-do list, despite their true insignificance and my desire to sit down and write. I let things like cleaning the apartment, food preparation, doing my nails, grocery shopping, setting up social media outreach for the week, catching up on emails, etc., rise to the top of my list and get ahead of the things I really want to be doing. The tasks that will actually propel me closer (ok, I'm talking like "baby steps" closer) to my goals and dreams.

Which are, by-the-way, to be a writer/self-empowerment guru. I'll be honest.


Back to the video lecture. The instructor filled up the mason jar with a whole bunch of pebbles (the small, busy-work tasks). The jar was full and there was no space for the big rocks (larger tasks and goals). #storyofmylife

But then he emptied the jar and began again. This time he started by placing three big rocks in the jar. They fit fine. He then poured all the little rocks into the jar, which fit snugly in the spaces not filled by the big rocks.

To someone (me) who is blazingly awful at all-things spacial/mathematic/scientific, that visual was amazeballs.

Think about it: So often we prioritize busy-work tasks and small to-do's over the "big stuff" because we assume they are easier to finish and accomplish. But they are never-ending and have a way of continuously filling up our mind...like the way popcorn fills up the bag while being cooked in the microwave. Our bigger tasks, the ones that seem too beastly or "time-consuming" to finish, are pushed further and further down our to-do list.

After a while though, we begin to tread water. We're going no where. If we don't tackle those bigger tasks, they'll just sit there and collect dust. No one likes dusty goals.

Here's the take-away:

\

1) The sky won't fall if we don't get allllllll of those little tasks done in one day.
2) We can still do those little things after we finish a big rock.
3) Sometimes after a larger task is finished, you will feel so relieved and accomplished that the little things don't seem as important any more.

I find it helpful to write down everything (big and small) on a list. Then categorize the tasks by "big rocks" and "little rocks." Choose one big rock and two or three little rocks to accomplish each day. For me this was writing a blog post (huzzah!), exercising, laundry and food prep for the rest of the week. My clothes still got washed even though I was bound and determined to finish the "big rock" of writing a post.

Because in the end, we tend to spend more time thinking about those big tasks for longer than it actually takes to do them. I spent a week and a half thinking about writing and here I did it in a 26-minute wash cycle.

Why it is Important to Disconnect from Technology Once in a While...

Thought for the evening! Enjoy :)

Doing It: The Magic Behind Turning Your Thoughts Into Action

Taking chances. Just doing it. 

This usually requires taking a step outside our comfort zone. 

Buuuut, wouldn't it be easier if we could just tip-toe around what we really want in hopes that we get there anyways without having to take a leap of faith?

Alas, if only things really worked that way. So often we hide behind the safety of "thinking" about doing something, rather than just doing it. 

A good friend of mine sent me an email yesterday and wrote "I decided to stop thinking about doing things, and just start doing them." 

How beautiful is that? 

She was vulnerable enough to set aside whatever limiting mindset had been keeping those things simply as thoughts, and she just started doing. 

Actually doing it...that's the real magic. The things in your mind don't come to fruition by simply dreaming about how great they will be. (Although that would be lovely!) And the excuse of "I'm going to keep thinking about these ideas because I want them to be perfect before I share them" doesn't cut it either (*cough* Me. *cough*).

I was giddy with excitement for her. She took that step from "wouldn't it be great if..." to actually doing it. Huge. I've always believed, especially because I've seen this happen in my own life, when you start "going for it," that mindset becomes a habit. Once you realize that doing those things you are thinking about isn't causing an explosion or post-nasal drip...you keep doing them. It's empowering. Jumping into that next level or committing to that next chapter of your life is exciting! You begin to understand your own power and the power you have to shape your life. It wasn't that hard...you just had to take action and do it. 

Ok, ok, I know, it is easier said than done. So here are some things I've used to get me from thoughts to action. And its worked. 

1. "Whose voice is that?"

When you have a voice in your head that is negative or doubtful, questioning what you want and making you feel bad, know that it is NOT your true inner voice or wisdom. That negative voice is coming from someone or something else. Whenever I get a negative voice I ask, "whose voice is that?" Because that doubtful voice is never your own. It's your parents, family, friends, a societal standard, an article in a magazine, etc. Knowing that voice is not your own helps you disconnect from it and follow your gut more easily. (PS: If that negative voice ever comes back to revisit, even after you've realized it's not your own, greet it with a big hello and say "thank you, but you are not serving my higher purpose." Boom. Roasted.)

2. If you knew no one else in this world, what would you do? 

Ok, weird one, I know. And a little sad. But just roll with me here. Think about it...if you didn't feel like you had any commitments or obligations to anyone/anything else, if you were free from judgement, if you were the only person you had to please...what would you do? The first couple things that pop into your mind are usually what your intuition is telling you to do. They're usually things you want to do, but the little negative voice is holding you back. ...So release that negative voice.  

Always remember: "Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." There is a difference between "not succeeding" and "failure." Failure is what happens when you don't even try in the first place. Not succeeding is when that thing you tried just didn't work out. And that's ok. You'll never know unless you try. 

Take that chance. DO it. Don't limit yourself to simply thinking about it. You could be thinking about it the rest of your life. So whether it's committing yourself to doing a 5-minute meditation every morning, going a week without coffee (God bless you), moving to a new city, switching careers, or releasing a relationship that is no longer serving you...you can do it. 

When you start doing what is in alignment with your heart and soul, you start bringing even more of your gifts into this world. And they are only gifts that you can give. 

Let Go of Perfect

My vlog topic today: Perfection. 

How our idea and definition of "perfect" or "perfection," can be really limiting. 

For me personally, I tend to not post videos or blogs because I don't think they're "perfect" enough. Or I don't look "good enough" to post a video. I'm too embarrassed. Or I'm afraid that my idea isn't be "perfect" enough to be shared. Hell, it keeps me from wearing certain clothes sometimes because I don't think my body looks "perfect" or "good enough" to wear it. 

But I don't think I'm the only one being held back by that unattainable ideal of "perfect." It's ok for us to want things to be polished, professional, well-thought out, etc...but when it comes to us limiting or holding ourselves back because we're waiting for ourselves or something external to be "perfect"....Eff no. Let it go. Release it. 

So this video (far from my idea of "perfect") is me standing up to my standard of perfect when it comes to my writing and sharing of ideas. Shit, the video doesn't even fill up the entire YouTube screen ;) 

Enjoy! I'd love to hear any thoughts/ideas on this topic!

P.S. Since making this video I have found out my "temporary" living situation will now be my "permanent" living situation. Huzzah! 

OMG I'M BAAAAACKKKKK!

In my new neighborhood

Hello Beautiful Cyberspace Blog World!!

I'm back.

I know, I've been MIA for the past month or so.

Lots of (positive) change has been going on in my life, which required a lot of time/effort/energy/brain power/emotional endurance, so I gave my semi-Type A self permission to put The Glow Stick Diaries on a temporary "hold" while I focused my energies on my transitions.

Transitions include:

1. Deciding I wanted to pursue a job/career in holistic health and wellness in San Francisco.
2. Applying, interviewing and getting a new job in SF.
3. Putting in my two-weeks notice at work and packing up my apartment.
4. Saying good-bye to very special and wonderful people in my life (although I will see them fairly often...Napa isn't too far away ;)
5. Apartment searching in SF (what a shit show).
6. Putting my stuff in storage, moving into my apartment, starting a new job...

And currently tying up a few loose ends here and there. But other than that, my decision to move to San Francisco has been one of the best I made. Although I ran the gamut of emotions over this past month with all the change, it was all positive and so invigorating.

View from Alta Plaza park...a few blocks away.

I've only been in the city two weeks, but I feel so at home, so inspired, so comfortable and already feel like I have a work family. So grateful.

And might I add...after just 2 weeks of walking up these damned hills...my butt looks fantastic.

Anyways, even though full-on writing was on the back burner this past month, I certainly wasn't short of ideas, thoughts, inspiration, etc. Every time something popped into my mind, I wrote it down on a scrap piece of paper, on my iPhone, emailed it to myself - anything!

Blue Bottle Coffee = <3

So what I'm trying to say is, get ready for an outpouring of Lindsey's brain.

I'm so excited to get back to my passion project again :) I love writing, helping and inspiring in any way I can.

And as I sit here in my new, basically almost permanent (the landlord still needs to do *final* approval of my application) apartment, I am filled with such peace and gratitude.

Sending so much love to everyone and all my friends and family who have been there every second for me during this transition. I am one lucky girl to have so many supportive, encouraging people in my life. Thank you!

Why it's ok to not finish EVERYTHING on your to-do list

I love to-do lists. 

It’s like an organized brain dump onto paper. And ahhh, that satisfactory feeling of crossing/marking/checking something off. Or if you’re like me, you just ink the shit out of one item until it’s a black blob on the paper. Weird? 

But I used to be a little obsessive about finishing my to-do lists. If I felt stress, pressure or lack of control in my life, I "controlled" everything by becoming overly focused on my to-do list (and usually creating more work/activities/tasks that was remotely necessary).

I would put off fun, spontaneous adventures with friends or just simply relaxing because I was so driven to finish every. single. item. on my list. 

As you can imagine, that all went really well. (Not.) 

I would end up overwhelmed by the amount of items I had on my list, I would deprive myself of doing anything but those to-do’s and would feel guilty and angry with myself if I didn’t get through it all. 

Can anyone relate? It was like I was judging my success and productivity as a person on how much I accomplished on my to-do list...yeeesh.

But lately I seem to be having a new realization. A simplistic, "well-no-duh" kind of realization. One that makes the whole to-do list thing a lot more approachable, healthy and gratifying. 

I don’t have to get through the whole damn list. 

Accomplishing 2-3 things (or even just ONE) will still put me ahead of where I was when the day started. Baby steps forward, right?! I'm not a failure if I don't power through everything. 

I have released myself from the idea of "I need to finish everything." I am now content and pleased with the things I do accomplish. This new mindset allows me to have spontaneous adventures, go out with friends, have relaxing moments to myself and…just enjoy my day a whole lot more. The memories and experiences I’ve had in lieu of getting a few (now long-forgotten) tasks finished have been much more meaningful. Taking care of myself and engaging with others is more productive and satisfactory than crossing off one more item on my list. 

If I don’t get myself to the gym, that’s fine…I drank my lemon water in the morning and I did some yoga before bed. Granted, the gym has more of a direct effect on making my ass look good, but drinking lemon water is naturally cleaning for my body and kick-starts my digestion. And yoga calms my mind and body before bed. So, I still took care of myself today, even without the elliptical or weight room. 

I didn’t come up with some grand marketing plan for my website and blog today, but I created a newsletter sign-up form and embedded it into my website. I also wrote a blog post and promoted it. See? Still moving forward with my dreams and passions.  

Didn’t get my car washed, but I made it to the grocery store, cleaned my apartment and FINALLY took out my trash. Look, I’m still functioning! Even with a dirty car. 

And…there’s always tomorrow. A new day. Full of 24 hours.

Of course, you don’t want to use that excuse for everything on your to-do list, especially the items that you really don’t want to face… better to set aside a couple hours to get that one, or few, things done that aren’t fun. Because after a while, you end up thinking about those dreaded tasks for longer than it actually takes to do them. (Believe me, I’m saying that from personal experience!)

So, go into your day with 2-3 things you intend to accomplish. Be content with your decision. And now your energy is focused positively on those few tasks. 

If we go into our day thinking we need to get everything done, we tend to set ourselves up for failure and feeling guilty. Because no matter how super-human we are…sometimes completing our entire list isn’t possible. And it’s not worth staying up until 3am to finish. Seriously, dark circles under our eyeballs are not cute. 

Release yourself from the notion that you need to get everything done. Control and self-worth are not derived from a completed to-do list. Choose 2-3 things that are important to you to finish. And at the end of the day, be proud and grateful of what you accomplished. Focus on what you DID do, rather than what you DIDN’T do. You'll be amazed at how positive and at-peace you feel. 

(A cute notebook like the one pictured above isn’t required, but it certainly makes it all a little bit more fun.) 

Kick Ass and Be Fierce

My mantra for the day <3

What To Do With Negative Feedback (tequila-spiked lemonade anyone?)

The out-pouring of love and support I felt yesterday when my article was posted on Thought Catalogue was incredible. I am so grateful and thankful and feel SO beyond fortunate to have such encouragement and wonderful friends behind me as I move forward with this new venture. A sincere and heartfelt "thank you" to everyone; friends, family, acquaintances...it means so much to me and gives me even more fuel to keep doing what I'm doing.

That being said...haha, I made the amateur mistake today of flipping through the comment section of my article on Thought Catalogue today.

LOL. Wowsies.

There were the general, "very inspiring!" "great article!"

And my all-time favorite: "Good advice but not to be confused with, 'I can bang every person that I want, no matter who I am with.'"

And then there were the negative comments. Like, "ouch" kind of negative. Ranging from "this is a terrible article" and "a horrible piece of advice, as you obviously have a severe anxiety disorder" to some crazy troll Internet person who just lambasted me. It was almost deranged sounding...calling me derogatory names, tearing my writing apart...it was quite charming (not.)

I was skimming over this as I rode in the car (in the passenger seat Dad, don't worry) to the Marin Headlands and thankfully I had the sense to shut my phone off and put it away. I quieted for a minute and looked out the window as we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge. I felt a little sick, taken aback by the craziness of that one comment. I was able to shake it off quite quickly though and enjoy the rest of my afternoon. Especially the view from the Marin Headlands, I mean OMG gorgeous.

Our next stop was Stinson Beach, and as we relaxed in the on-and-off again sun I told my fellow adventurer what I had read and how I felt.

Honestly, I was glad it happened. I am the one entering the field where negative feedback and disagreement is 100% bound to happen. I'm setting myself up for it! And I know it. But on the flip side, there will be people who are hopefully inspired and motivated by what I write. I just want to help people, in any way I can, and those are the ones I want to reach. But it's not always going to be a bulls-eye every time.

I went on to tell him that not only was I glad it happened with the first article (I mean, let's just get this negative feedback going from square one and then it will never be a shocker again, haha!), but it also allowed me to toughen up my skin a bit for the upcoming journey.

Here were the two lessons I learned:

1. I will focus on the feedback, advice, constructive criticism and thoughts I receive from people I know and respect, and from those (strangers or not) who reach out to me in a respectful way. As someone said to me the first day I posted my YouTube video about this blog, "Don't invest energy pleasing the critics...it's a go-nowhere path." I now fully invest my energy, not in combating the critics, but in doing my best to reach as many people I can in a positive way.  
2. No more looking at the comments from my guest posts. Aha. Whether it's on the website/blog's Facebook page or the comment section itself, I believe it would be best overall to not review those sections. I am beyond open to criticism and feedback, but I think reading it on sites and blogs that are not my own, where it's not 100% my true audience, would be more detrimental than productive. Why expend that kind of energy? I'll focus on what my audience has to say on my blog and website. (Any other seasoned bloggers/writers have thoughts and feedback regarding this? :) ) 

Anyhoo. Sending love and gratitude to those who have given me encouragement and productive criticism. And now I'm off to go make lemonade, accidentally spiked with tequila, with those lemons I received today. Grateful for those lessons learned. 

Cheers! 

Your New Favorite Drink! (and it's not what you think...)

Aaaaaand drumroll please...your new favorite drink is....

Water. 

WATER. WATER. WATER. 

WATER. 

I cannot stress how important this is (or did the all-caps give it away?) Our bodies are made up of 65-70% water, so we, kinda, you know, need it to live. And the crazy thing is, almost 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Yikes.

So how much should we really be drinking? A good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day. For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, you should be drinking at least 70oz of water daily. And no, coffee/soda/milk/vitamin water/Red Bull/sugar shit does not count. Fresh, clear, plain ole water. Bonus: if you eat lots of (raw) veggies, water-filled fruits (think, watermelon) and green juices you are hydrating body even more. Huzzah!

Dehydration can lead to headaches, fatigue, drowsiness, increased cravings and even cause sluggish bowel movements. And when we feel hungry, a lot of the time we're actually thirsty! It's a good idea to drink a glass of water when you start feeling hungry...because more often than not, you're probably just thirsty.

Hydrating yourself with enough water will have a natural cleansing effect on your body, as it helps flush out toxins and keeps your bowels regular and flowing (which is super important when it comes to your health. We won't "go there" today, but much of your overall well-being is a direct reflection of your gut health.)

Drinking lots of water will also help reduce cravings. When you hydrate your body properly, you won't go as cray cray with those sugar/junk food/cheese/bread cravings. By drinking half your body weight in water, you will begin to feel more refreshed, awake and revived as well. Clients I've worked with have reported that their mid-morning and afternoon slumps became much less noticeable when they drank enough water (diet also plays a role in those "slumps," but again, another article for another time). Also...clearer, brighter, less wrinkled skin? Yep. Water. You'll have a more glowing complexion.

Put It Into Practice: 

1. Before you start sipping chugging your coffee and/or tea each morning, have a big glass of water. You don't have to stand at the sink and throw it back like you're having a beer drinking contest, but sip on it throughout the morning while you're getting ready or before you sit down to eat breakfast.

2. One of the easiest ways to ensure you are drinking enough water is to buy a reusable water bottle. Get a pretty one ;) Keep it by your side, on your desk, in your purse, take it with you on car rides, have it be your gym buddy...you get the picture. My reusable water bottle is 20oz...so I'm able to keep track of how much water I'm drinking by how many times I refill it. Pretty handy.

3. When you start to feel hungry, have a glass of water or take a few sips from your water bottle. Most of the time we feel hungry, we're actually just thirsty. That begin said, if you're still feeling hungry after you have your water, definitely eat!

4. Start small. Replace one caffeinated or "fake" drink with water each day. Instead of reaching for a third cup of coffee, a soda or Red Bull in the afternoon, etc., replace it with agua. Just give it a try :)
And here's a handy 7 Reasons to Drink More Water guide. Pin it, share it, love it, save it to your phone, print it out, hang it on your fridge, frame it (just kidding).

The most important moment of the Hay House Writer's Workshop (and some inspirational goodies!)

It was a week ago today that I came home from the Hay House Writer’s Workshop in Denver. It feels like just yesterday that I was there. But it also feels like this past week has lasted a year. Weird? 

Despite my time/space confusion, I wanted to share some of my favorite quotes from last weekend! And I also wanted to share the most important moment of the weekend...for me, at least. And it all happened during the last three minutes of the workshop on Sunday evening. 

For the past month or so, I’ve been telling my parents and those close to me that I feel like I’m standing on a cliff overlooking an ocean…but the ocean is covered in clouds and fog and I can’t see what’s beneath it. I hear seagulls crying and waves crashing and hissing as they wash up the shore, but I can’t see anything. I know and feel that something huge and amazing is underneath those clouds, but I don’t know what it is. The clouds are going to clear soon though, I can feel it. 

This image is coming from a more intuitive place, I’m sure, and it is constantly in my mind. 

During the last minutes of the workshop on Sunday evening, Nancy Levin (the Hay House Event Director) closed the workshop by reading a poem she had written in her book, Jump…And Your Life Will Appear. 

One of the last lines of the poem was this: 

“The clouds unveil the views when you are ready for the climb.”

I felt like I had been slapped in the face. 

“The clouds unveil the views when you are ready for the climb.”

The quote applied so perfectly to what I had been feeling for so long…and that’s when the tears started. 

I snuffled and blinked furiously as the workshop ended and then darted into the bathroom where I found a stall of safety for my tears to flow more freely. I was almost shaking. My heart swelled with some feeling that I couldn’t quite recognize.

As if I needed any more green flashing karmic arrows, it was then when I looked up at my coffee cup which I had placed precariously on top of the toilet paper dispenser. The message written on the sleeve, facing directly at me said: “Follow your passion. It will lead you to your purpose.”

OK. Ok, Universe. Ok.

Yes, I know, Oprah Winfrey’s words are on about three million other Starbucks coffee sleeves, but it still felt like another sign to me.

I regained my composure, unlocked the stall door, washed my hands and did one last loop around the conference center before heading back to my hotel. My sunglasses were pressed firmly into my face, as I was susceptible for more teary moments on the walk home. 

I relaxed at my hotel room that evening, listening to the crooning, soulful voice of Amy Winehouse, soaking up the energy of the day. Around dinner time, I filled up my water bottle with some white wine (truly the most rebellious thing I’ve ever done, other than accidentally running a red light) and walked to a small park next to my hotel. 

I laid down on the grassy hill and looked up at the blue sky, scattered with white, wispy clouds. Feeling peace and tranquility that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I sipped my wine and closed my eyes; embracing every last bit of passion, drive and excitement I had felt during the workshop. 

I am so grateful that experience. I could feel going into the weekend that there was going to be some major shift that came from it, and I was right. The workshop was exactly the fuel I needed to make the glowing embers turn into a fire. 

Here are some goodies I made from my favorite quotes at the Hay House Writer’s Workshop! Enjoy, Pin, Facebook, Instagram, Tweet, Share <3 

The Glow Stick Diaries: My New Blog!

What is leading your life, courage or fear?

Do you make decisions based on fear or empowerment? Daily decisions. Weekly decisions. Monthly and yearly decisions. Decisions about the future. Are those decisions based on fear and “what could go wrong?” or are they based on positive thinking, courage and what could be “new and great?”

It’s a powerful question if you want to take the time to think about it. 

When you allow your actions and decisions to be made from a place of fear and unease, the chances of moving forward or changing a current (possibly negative) situation are slim to none. Making decisions from a place of doubt will only keep you on the same path. It is difficult to move forward without the support of an encouraging and empowered mindset. 

Just think about it. Where do your decisions come from? Fear and doubt or positivity and power?

It can be scary to make decisions from a place of courage, faith and positive thinking. That requires a lot of trust. Trust in yourself, trust in the world, trust in  your predominant faith/belief system. It’s sometimes easier to stay inside your comfort zone, even when that comfort zone is made up of discomfort and unhappiness. 

But…change and development occur when you make decisions and act upon the idea of “what could go right,” rather than “what could go wrong.”

Powerful change, in fact. 

When you allow yourself to listen to your intuition, your gut, your body, and yours alone, you have empowered yourself with the knowledge of what is truly right for you. Once you tap into that inner guidance, that inner glow stick, making decisions from a place of empowerment and trust become much easier. 

When that inner wisdom becomes the leader in your life, it’s easier to find the courage to take action, make change and exude positive energy. 

It’s easier to take that “leap of faith” when you were too timid to do so before. 

Your “what could go wrong?” has turned into “what could go right?” and your mindset and actions are driven by empowerment. (Which, let’s be honest, makes you feel like one BAMF. Think kicking down a door and making a grand entrance into your new life that you’ve had the power and courage to create. BAM.)

And when I say “new life,” it doesn’t have to be a new job in a new city with a new group of friends…it can be as simple as cultivating a more positive mindset, a shift in attitude or a commitment to practice more self-care and self-love. 

When actions and decisions are led from a place of courage and positive energy, you become closer to discovering, creating and enjoying the life you want. When you live life from a place of fear and “settling” because it’s become comfortable, you may never realize your true potential. 

Begin to consciously shift your mindset and make more decisions based on courage, trust and empowerment. Let your faith be bigger than your fears…and a world you never knew existed will open up to you. 

Try this: the next time you are faced with a decision, and you find yourself responding based on fear or wanting to stay in your comfort zone, take a step back and pause. Take a deep breath and choose the decision/action/path that will challenge you and one that requires a little more trust and faith to carry out. You’ll feel like you just jumped off a ledge without a parachute, but don’t worry, you won’t fall too far before you begin to soar. 

(Btw, for those who have lived in a cave their entire life: “BAMF” = Bad Ass Mother Fucker)

Doubt vs. Faith

Just Because...

Small Acts of Kindness: How My Coffee Habit Made Me Feel At Home

Life is all about human connection. Well, mostly. And not "let-me-comment-on-your-Instagram-post" kind of connection. Like real, face-to-face, human connection.

Here’s a fun little anecdote about how my Starbucks Coffee habit addiction made me feel more at home.

I moved to Napa at the end of February, not knowing anyone, anything…just an empty apartment and me. I was fortunate enough to be in a work environment that made me feel like I had a family and life in Napa by the end of my first month here. But I was still obviously adjusting and getting to know the area. I felt like I had friends, but the idea of community was still taking form.

There was a Starbucks right down the road from me in a little shopping center. It was a 10 minute walk or a two minute drive, easy to get to before or after work, post-gym…basically what I’m trying to say is I went there often. Near the end of March, I walked in one day before work and the barista gave me my coffee for free. Surprised, I thanked him, smiled and walked out feeling grateful and happy. (Small things in life, right?)

Anyways, it happened again. And again. And again. He eventually introduced himself and his friend/co-worker. Almost every time I came in during the afternoons, he and his friend were working. And almost 100% of the time I would walk away with a free iced coffee or pay $.50 for it. 

I didn’t quite know what I had done to deserve it, but I was thankful and grateful nonetheless. Most of the time I left a tip (it was almost getting embarrassing and awkward at this point) because I didn’t feel comfortable walking away with a free coffee every time. As time went on, I got to know the two baristas and they got to know me, at least in a quick, happy conversation sense. The free coffees continued and I knew I needed to do something to “repay” them.

I looked forward to the days I went into the store…and it wasn't because of the free coffee. It was a place outside of work where I was recognized and there was always some positive engagement with the baristas.

Obviously getting them a Starbucks gift card was out of the picture. I hesitated in getting a bottle of wine. And as much as I would’ve liked to have baked them something, unfortunately that’s a little sketch nowadays (I mean, imagine the shit people could put in there?!) So I settled for some of my favorite snacks and chocolates from Trader Joe’s ( << always a good idea) and a hand-written note. The letter thanked them sincerely for their generosity and for helping instill a sense of community in me where I didn't have it before.

I dropped off the snacks and note with the main barista the other day when I was on my way to work. I was happy to finally “repay” them in a sense. When I came in this afternoon, the guy at the register greeted me and asked what I would like to drink. Half-way through my order he stopped me and said,

“Wait, you’re Lindsey, right? You’re the one that wrote that note!”

“Haha, yeah, that was me.”

“That was so sweet of you! We hung it up in the back there.”

Another girl popped her head around and said, “Oh, wait! Is that ‘Lindsey’? Oh my gosh, your note was so sweet! We loved it, thank you!”

I was a little red by now, but happy nonetheless.

At that moment, one of the two main baristas who had been part of the give-Lindsey-free-coffee campaign, came around the counter and gave me a heart-felt and sincere hug, thanking me for the note. I thanked him in turn and reiterated how much it meant to me to come in here.

I smiled like a goon while waiting for my coffee (which I paid for, THANK GOD) thanked them again and walked outside to where I sat and started writing this post.

I feel so happy. It doesn’t matter how long I live in Napa, I will always remember this afternoon. The connection, energy and kindness felt between people who are basically strangers. It goes to show that small, simple acts of kindness can make a difference to anyone. Those free coffees and snippets of conversation I had with the baristas made Napa feel more like a home to me. My very small form of re-payment meant a lot to the people there.

It’s moments like this that I am thankful for. I wasn’t hit over the head and knocked silly by some major life lesson, but I feel the same sort of shift and gratitude that comes from learning one of those life lessons.

Small acts of kindness my friends. Never underestimate that power.

The Best Piece of Advice (ever): “Pursue Everything”

The other night I struggled to fall asleep. Mindless complications in my personal life (i.e. boys/friends/work/writing/work opportunities/pet unicorns) left my brain buzzing and my eyes wide open.

None of it was necessarily bad, it just felt like I had my thoughts and emotions scattered down about 30 different paths. Different scenarios, different ideas, different thoughts, different feelings. Getting caught up in the dizzying, yet so addicting, habit of running “future scenarios” in my head. If I focused on this in my life…If I became closer to this person…If I pursued this interest and passion of mine…should I go to the gym tomorrow…why is Simon Baker married…this is what I’m going to say to this person if this happens…Lindsey. Yes? Shut up. Ok…. It. went. on. and. on.

Finally, I was beginning to drift off to sleep, managing to find comfort in the most awkward and ridiculous sleeping position ever (I mean, it was like I was doing a pirouette move in my sleep), but then…

Ding Ding. 

My phone alerted me of a new text message. It was midnight and I had to get up early the next morning. Thank God I live alone because some version of this came out of my mouth:

“WHO THE FUCK JUST TEXTED ME.”

I looked at my phone and saw a short message from a person and situation that I assumed had already had a natural ending… It was sweet, but it began a whole new wave of thoughts, questions and “what ifs” in my mind. And now my thoughts were going in 50 directions instead.

Everything became a cluster monkey in my brain and I literally started laughing out loud (again, grateful I live alone) because of the drama that I felt was surrounding my existence at that moment. (A dramatic, ego-centric thought in itself, I’m sure, but still.)

Per usual, I emailed my mom for her advice. Updating her on the different situations, problems, etc. I was essentially asking her “WTF should I do about this situation, this person, that whole thing… Mom, all I really want right now is to be paid to write and do theatre and find a way to marry Simon Baker.” (<< actual quote from my email, I kid you not.)

I sent a text back. And once the email was sent to my mother as well, my mind still continued to run its course. But like my physical body, after about one mile of “running” it began to sputter, slow down, collapse, face plant and fall asleep.

I woke up the next morning, unsure of why I felt so groggy (and, let’s face it, unsure of why the hell my alarm was going off). Then I remembered my hamster in its wheel act from the night before and I became sort of bug-eyed remembering everything that happened.

I checked my email, hoping the iPhone screen would semi wake me up. I smiled at my “Note from the Universe” and then clicked on the email my mother had sent back (thank God) with what was sure to be solid advice in what path to take, what situation/person to release from my life, what to move forward with, etc…

But her email started like this:

“Pursue everything!” 

WAT.

“Pursue everything!”

LOL. Wat.

She went on with a list of all that I should pursue…every situation, person, job idea, scenario and dream that I had asked her about the night before….I should pursue everything. Although thinking back, she never specifically said anything about the Simon Baker situation. Hmm.

Anyways, it hadn’t even occurred to me to simply “pursue everything.” I’m Lindsey and my life thrives on structure, routine and fairly solid understanding of which direction I am going.

I expected an answer that would help clarify what I should pursue, which path to take and what to release in my life. In other words, I was expecting advice that would ultimately lead to limitations, boundaries and closed opportunities.

But…why would I do that? I have no idea what will happen in the future and since none of these things on my mind were necessarily toxic to my daily and personal life, why shouldn’t I pursue each direction? Those that are meant to stay and/or teach a lesson will stick around and those that are not meant to be in my life will have a natural, organic ending.

“Pursue everything.”

What an awesome piece of effing advice.

So, I encourage you…rather than try to puzzle out your life, whether it’s with relationships, friendships, career opportunities, hobbies and passions, and restrict yourself to one path in particular, try it all. As long as something isn’t toxic, weighing heavy on your heart or bringing you or your dreams down, PURSUE IT. Putting your brain in over-drive imagining and thinking of future outcomes of different situations/people/opportunities in your life is exhausting and, in my case, causes sleep deprivation.

Release that notion that there is only one “right” answer or path to pursue. Try it all. Test all the waters. Give it all a shot. Why not? If someone or something is meant to be, the Universe will figure it out for you, not your logical brain (as lovely as its intentions are sometimes). Opening up to multiple opportunities, rather than limiting yourself to one or a few, will let so much more positive energy and opportunity flow into your life.

And with that all said and done, I’m going to finish my wine and head to bed. Mind free and clear from worrying about which path I should pursue. Because right now, I’m tryin’ it all.